Royal Determination

Ashelia B'nargin Dalmasca Heir to the Dalmascan throne [Tracking royaldetermination]

[royal-determination]

You Are The Moon (AU) || Ashe + Saix

[lunaticberserker]

Closely surveying the princess as she walked alongside him, Saix did not press the subject at her terse response. Whatever she would say, she would. Months spent alongside her had taught him that much, at the very least. Although, he had to admit that he was fairly curious as to why she was avoiding the issue. Ignoring the stares from the nobles as they passed, Saix could nonetheless sense the tension roiling underneath the royal’s blank facade. 

"However I am treated here is better than where I once was," he answered enigmatically. "Where we both were, as a matter of fact. There is no reason for complaint… But you are correct. I enjoy my privacy." Gazing at the flowers they walked beside, he threw a questioning look her way as Ashe began to talk of simpler times. It wasn’t often she would speak so easily about her childhood, and true to her personality, she left the sensitive topic fairly quickly to discuss the library within the palace. Saix’s lips turned downward in a minuscule frown. It would seem they both possessed their fair share of delicate issues.

Allowing the princess to pull him inside her room— he had no care for decorum, after all— he watched blankly as she approached him with an oddly-shaped package. A shape that soon made his eyes widen and lips press into a thin line as she withdrew the blade from the scabbard. 

It was beautiful, there was no denying it. A swordsmith’s masterpiece. And as Ashe held it out for him, he found himself hesitating. As he always did when the title of Guardian came up. They had already argued this point nearly to exhaustion, and yet she continued to press her opinion, ignoring all his arguments. 

But some part within him wanted to accept this honor. To prove to this woman that saved him that he was capable of returning the favor. That he was capable of being just as much a friend as she was to him. However, with every pulse of his heart that desired to defend her, there was an opposing wave that reminded him of his own weakness. That no matter how much she believed in his ability, there would always be his own monsters to face. And one day, those monsters might be enough to destroy the both of them.

"Ashelia…" he sighed, shaking his head. "I cannot. I have already told you this enough times. Find yourself another to take my place."

[royal-determination]

Ashe stood in silence, her grey eyes gazing at him evenly as he eyed the blade. Even before he spoke, she knew he'd fallen in love with it. The princess had drawn up the plans herself in between meetings and meals. Whatever spare time she'd had was spent on the creation of that blade. In short, she'd ensured that it was perfect for him. And so, she stood there - waiting patiently for the denial that she knew would follow the offering of this gift. It was either too lavish for him or represented something that he didn't wish. That was the sort of man Saix was.

Ah, and there it was now. Right on time. "This isn't about being a Guardian, Saix. This is about what you mean to me." A pause. She tilted her head quietly, thinking over her next words carefully. "You are the most precious person in my life at this moment. My most trusted friend. You mean enough to me for me to abandon my throne after just receiving it in order to save you. So please, listen to me." She kept the blade held out for him, but the weight and effort of doing so was causing the princess' arm to begin shaking. Or perhaps it trembled for another reason.

"I refuse to find another Guardian. I cannot think of anyone but you. You're the only person who sees me as Ashe, not Ashelia. You do not need to take up the mantle, Saix. I am more than capable of defending myself. The reason I had this blade made for you has nothing to do with your decision. You need to be able to protect yourself. With your build and ferocity in battle, this is the best weapon for you. A claymore will allow you to throw yourself into a fight. You will be strong offensively, but not defensively. I, however, am strong defensively. We will balance each other out."

Leaning the claymore against her bed, the princess fixed him with a determined gaze. "You will not leave this room without that blade, Isa. I refuse to allow you to leave without it. And I think the both of us know how stubborn I can be." The princess was already preparing for an argument with him - her shoulders raising slightly, mild excitement showing itself in her eyes. It would be a sign of his health if he rose to the challenge. After all, they'd argued constantly months ago. "Either take the blade or spend the night in my room." 

[royal-determination]

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[royal-determination]

Desperation (AU)

The odds were not in their favor.

Then again, they'd never truly been in their favor. Outside of the dedicated few who had followed her into the underworld, the majority of her resistance was made up of men and women who had never carried a blade or cast a spell. The Dalmascans were a proud people. Inside all of them was the sort of pride that didn't sit well with being crushed under the thumb of the Empire. It had been bred into them from the very beginning, from before Ashe had been born. And she, the descendant of the Dynast King. The queen that would right history and lead her people into a safer future.

The first step toward her destiny had been the most difficult. The Occuria never promised that it would be easy. Some of her friends had died in the first few skirmishes. At times, it felt as if all hope was lost. And yet, Ashe persevered towards the rescue of her kingdom. No longer could she allow such actions to be taken against her people. As time wore on - as more people died to Archadian blades - her small group became more vicious in their tactics. No longer was it an elite fighting unit dead-set on following the rules of the battlefield. Just like the people of her country, they had grown desperate for victory.

It was this desperation that brought them to the gates of Rabanastre. Her resistance, in whatever bits of thrown-together armor they could muster against the might of the Archadian Judges. It all came down to this moment. If they failed here, they would die. If they lived, the kingdom would be in her grasp once more. There would be no surrender. Fight and live. Fight and die. But Ashe wouldn't allow herself or her comrades to fall. The group she'd amassed could have been larger, true, but they had more heart than all of those in Archades combined.

Lifting her blade to the sky, Ashe signaled the halt of her troops. Turning around to face them, the princess gave a deep sigh. She'd never been good at speeches. And yet, her resistance needed this - now more than ever. Taking her position on a rocky outcropping, she looked over the men and women she commanded. "We are walking to the other side of the horizon. We go with firm steps." Ashe was surprised by the self-assured tone she used. She was sure it would be trembling. "Every living being dies someday. Whether we are ready to die or not, that day will surely come. Today might be that day for some of us and it may not. I will not lie and tell you that we are blessed in numbers. However, we will fight against our fate. We must not give in to our fate. With sorrow and confidence in our hearts, we will show the will to move on." Silence followed her speech. And then, suddenly, in one fluid movement, the entire group saluted her. And Ashe knew they were ready.

The guards at the main gate were overwhelmed in mere moments. In a moment of childish naivety, Ashe felt as if they stood a chance against the more elite members of Archades' military. But oh, how wrong she was. For every soldier that was killed, two of her own were lost. The princess rushed forward, striking each foe with almost feral strikes. Gritting her teeth as her blade struck true each time, she cut a path towards her palace - a palace now draped in the colors of the Empire. If she could make it there, she could end it all. Her troops wouldn't die. And so, no matter how many enemies stood in her way, Ashe would not allow them to stop her. She had to make it. She had to.

What greeted her at the steps of the royal palace was nothing short of shocking. Judges - more than she had ever seen - surrounded her main target. Vayne Solidor had not fled the city. Did he wish to die so badly? "Hiding behind your guards? And here I had thought you smart." Ashe hissed the words at him, wishing that her body was not covered in a sheen of sweat brought on from over-exertion. Vayne only shook his head wearily.

"I had hoped for something much more civil, Lady Ashelia."

"You lost your right to civility quite a long time ago." Her patience was wearing thin. There he was - the prey she'd been hunting for so long that she could barely keep herself in check long enough to speak with him. Though it was her against six Judges and one man of unknown ability, Ashe was determined to remove him from his seat of power. Vayne laughed at her expression before snapping his fingers - causing Ashe to drop into a defensive stance. And yet, it was all for naught. Electricity, as if called down from the sky itself, smashed into her body. Swallowing a cry of pain, Ashe forced herself to stand. "Nice trick. My turn." Panting, the princess sheathed her blade and closed her eyes.

Heaven's Wrath. The most dangerous of all Magicks. The heavens themselves opened up, raining down upon the Judges and Vayne himself. And though the group scrambled to escape, when the dust cleared, all but one was dead. "Leave." Ashe growled the word, forcing herself to remain standing. Vayne stared at Ashe in disbelief. Then, slowly, a smirk curved his lips. Striking out, he caught Ashe with his blade - just barely knicking her across her stomach. Pain bloomed as blood began to stain her clothing. With a screech of fury, the princess met his second strike evenly - gritting her teeth the moment steel hit steel. Quickly, Ashe lifted a foot and kicked Vayne square in the gut, sending him stumbling back. And then she was upon him like a lioness with her prey.

"Leave. If you do not, I will kill you here and now." The sounds of battle had stopped. Behind her stood the remnants of her resistance. Vayne stared at Ashe evenly before scrambling up to his feet. Her troops parted evenly. A sea of people separated to allow Vayne to pass unharmed. And as Ashe watched him go, it dawned on her:

In freeing her country, she had in effect imprisoned herself.

[iasant-deactivated20150714]

[royal-determination]

ooc: maybe final fantasy 12 characters will be in kh3. maybe ashe will be in kh3. maybe ashe will become a well-liked character who people know. maybe people will see ashe's complexities instead of brushing her off as a bitch. holds head in hands and tries not to cry. all i want is ashe to get recognition, that's all i want.

[royal-determination]

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[the-confluence]

"She has to keep up appearances now, so she would never say it, but…I think she misses him."

[royal-determination]

You Are The Moon (AU) || Ashe + Saix

[lunaticberserker]

Saix followed her glance toward to moon. Hm. It was almost time. Strange how it had escaped his notice. Usually, the moon’s cycle was at the forefront of his mind, governing his habits and his moods until the full moon passed. But in Ashe’s palace, his mind had wandered, giving him a rare semblance of peace. However, such peace did not allow him to forget the deal between him and the little princess. A lower cell, with only Ashe herself as his ‘guard’ standing sentry. He still was uncomfortable with the notion of her remaining such close quarters during that time, but there would be no dissuading her. Saix knew as well as anyone else that the noble could have a devilish streak of stubbornness when it suited her. 

"Were you now?" he said, raising a brow as he noticed her slide her fingers across that marketplace trinket. Nonetheless, he remained silent and allowed her to speak as she began to talk of the occurrences in court in the past two days. Despite Ashe’s irritation, however, he could not help the small smirk that came to his face. For all her stubbornness and faults, he could admit— to himself, at least— that he had missed the little princess. Suddenly, it seemed far too long since she had conversed so easily with him.

But before Saix could add his own voice to the conversation, the princess stalked off, leaving him to trail after her. Giving a small sigh and shaking his head, he nonetheless followed down the stairs, his steps intentionally slow. 

"I have been treated well," he replied simply. "But I am afraid that my days have been far less eventful than yours. There’s nothing truly to tell you. I’ve wandered around the halls, trying to find the library. … Directions would be appreciated, needless to say." 

[royal-determination]

Ashe was surprised that he followed her immediately without comment. In a different time, he might have said something snarky. "I was." Ashe didn't elaborate, instead walking with her hands folded behind her back. Each guard they passed stood at attention. Each noble they passed bowed deeply - but not before giving a questioning look to Saix. It was enough to make Ashe's jaw clench. Things had certainly changed and the princess could no longer tell if they were for the better or for the worse. Slowing her steps until she was side-by-side with him, Ashe sighed deeply.

"It's good that you've been at least treated like a human. I didn't wish to have another discussion with the palace guards. I doubt you would have enjoyed such attention being drawn to you." She paused in her walking briefly to gaze at the inner garden of the courtyard. It was empty now, save for the flowers that were currently in season. With a soft sigh, she turned back to him and began walking once more. "When I was younger, this place seemed much more alive than it does now." Glancing toward him when he mentioned the library, the princess chuckled to herself. They had met in one, all those months ago. Their first meeting.

"I'll show you were it is. I believe that, for tonight, my advisers won't be bothering us." Coming to a stop in front of her own room, the princess opened it and pulled him inside before he could bother protesting about the propriety of it all. "I've had something made for you." The room itself was clean and sparsely furnished. Save for her bed, a wardrobe, a chair, and a portrait of her parents and herself, there was nothing of note. Well, except for a large item wrapped in cloth on her bed. "Guardian or not, you need to be armed."

Unwrapping the item, she showed the leather scabbard to him - a scabbard that carried the crest of the Dalmascan royal family. With little effort, she withdrew the claymore from it's scabbard. The blade itself was remarkable, inlaid with a golden half-moon and a silver half-moon near the hilt. "I had it balanced for someone of your height and weight. Despite it's size, it shouldn't be too difficult to handle. And it has a name..." Ashe smiled slightly, looking up at him. "Zahav Yerah. Golden Moon." Sheathing it once more, the princess held it out to Saix. "It's your's."

[royal-determination]

You Are The Moon (AU) || Ashe + Saix

[lunaticberserker]

His footsteps echoing through the open air corridors, Saix glanced nonchalantly at the wall’s carved vines twisting and winding together toward the ceiling. Being housed in such opulence almost came as a discomfort to him, having only known cells and occasionally permitted to wander grounds of various asylums. But this was his home, for now at least. There was no use in simply sulking and keeping to his room. Besides, now was the only time that he might encounter the little princess.

Despite his earlier protests, the weather was indeed too warm for his coat during the day, and so Saix had finally given in and worn the jeans and shirt he had bought from the bazaar with Ashe. Admittedly, the soft cotton of the grey shirt was far more comfortable than the stiff leather of his coat, but Saix would hardly let Ashe have the satisfaction of that particular confession. He scoffed to himself, passing by fragrant blossoms and signs of opulence that he was not accustomed to. 

Ah. There she was. Leaning against that rail, her blade gleaming in the moonlight. Finding her here was almost a routine now. Perhaps in the past Saix would have been irritated at this semblance of companionship, but now, as a foreigner in a strange land, he could only grasp at any semblance of familiarity. And if Ashe became that semblance, that admittedly brought a sense of comfort to Saix. Simply put, he trusted her.

Not that he would ever admit it aloud. 

His shoes padded quietly as he ascended the smooth, marble staircase. “You seem preoccupied with your thoughts," he stated. “Are your meetings truly so troublesome? Or perhaps it is your subordinates?"

[royal-determination]

The wind stirred her hair as Ashe lifted her head to stare out upon the city. Signs of her battle with Archades still manifested themselves. A building being rebuilt. Rubble being moved. Symbols of the Dalmascan resistance still painted on the walls. All of it, there to remind Ashe of what she had fought so hard to win back. And, perhaps, a warning of what would return if she let her guard down too easily. Her small kingdom, though happy, was battered and bruised. The words alone brought unbidden thoughts to her mind. A pained Saix, the way he'd looked...

It was these thoughts that Saix's words broke her from. Grey eyes glanced up at the moon. Third quarter. Soon, the time would come. The two of them would be at their most vulnerable. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you noticed." The princess turned to look at him - her body silhouetted by the rising moon briefly. Then, she stepped away from the balcony's railing to get a better look at him. She did, indeed, appear exhausted. "I was just thinking about you." Lifting a hand, she brushed her fingers against the charm she wore before.

"The advisers are as arrogant as ever. They keep pushing me toward things I do not wish. The pressure now involves finding a champion. They balked when I said I'd champion myself." A frown crossed her lips. "As if I'm some weak little girl. They've forgotten who it was that liberated them. No wonder they were Vayne Solidor's yes men while he was in power." Wrinkling her nose, the princess gave a quick shake of her head. "Sorry. I doubt you came to listen to me talk about about a group of men I would sooner see die than listen to the advice of." A pause. Ashe looked at him. Perhaps the time was right. "...I have a something to give you." Stepping past him, the princess descended the stairs. It was clear that this was not a present or a favor. Saix had no choice in the matter.

"How have you been treated in my absence? Tell me everything you've done these past two days."

[royal-determination]

You Are The Moon (AU) || Ashe + Saix

The city of Rabanastre glimmered at night. Hundreds of lives went on in the streets below. Children were read bedtime stories. Friends met for late supper. Lovers disappeared into the night, away from the prying eyes of family members. Rabanastre, the crown jewel of Dalmasca, bustled on despite the darkness. And despite the war that had once raged at their doorstep, things seemed to be slowly going back to normal. It was due in no small part to their crown princess. The same princess that stood above them on the viewing balcony.

Ashe leaned against the railing - no, not leaned. Leaning was too dignified a word for what she was doing. Her arms folded on top of the railing. Her chin rested upon her arms. Ashelia was doing what she did best: brooding. Two days since their little excursion into the Muthru Bazaar and her advisers had decided to keep her busy. The sandstorm from which they had emerged had, yes, created some havoc. But she knew the real reason she'd been locked into the meeting rooms from the moment she woke until late at night - they were keeping the two of them separate.

Grey eyes closed. A sigh was heaved. They'd finally let her leave when she'd proven to them, repeatedly, that all of her contingency plans would work out. There would be no one to go hungry under her watch. Then again, striding into the meeting room with a sword strapped around her waist probably helped matters. Even now, the sheath glinted silver in the moonlight - a stark contrast to the delicate white dress she wore. She wanted to be out, away from the palace. Free to live her life as she wished. But that wasn't possible any longer. It had been a foolish, fleeting dream. A 'once upon a time' with no end. Reopening her eyes, she leaned further over the edge to see beneath her. People milled about outside the palace walls.

Saix would come soon. He always did. The darkness drew them to one another, time and time again. Unlike everything else in her life, he was the last true constant. Dependable. Like clockwork. And so Ashe waited, watching her subjects in silence.

[royal-determination]

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[royal-determination]

Headcanon: Personality Type

Ashe is a very clear ISTJ. She has a very strong sense of duty to her country and will stop at nothing to free them from the hands of Archades. ISTJs are known for their inability to understand emotions - something that Ashe has always struggled with to the point of being uncomfortable expressing the more 'tender' side of emotions (or any emotions except for anger and annoyance). ISTJs are highly loyal to those that they become friends with and are incredibly dependable when it comes to helping those who they trust.

[empathmoineau]

In honor of Sexual Sunday, you guys should ask muse awkward sexy questions.

[utthenera]

Favorite Video Game Characters (Part 2/?) — Ashelia B’nargin Dalmasca (Final Fantasy XII)

"Dalmasca does not forget kindness nor ill deed done.  With sword in hand she aids her allies, sword in hand, she lays rest to her foes.  This nethicite I hold must be my sword.  I will avenge those who have died.  And the Empire will know remorse."

[royal-determination]

Escape [Open!]

Thunder rumbled in the distance. It was a sound Ashe had come to associate with many things. Heavy rains often meant lives cost in Dalmasca. Conversely, it now meant it was safe to move without being detected by Archades. The heavy rains made it difficult to travel in the Estersand without being bogged down in the wet sand. Most people decided to shutter themselves in until the rain passed. Ashelia was not one of these people. She never had been. Rains, to her, were much more than a danger. For Ashe, it was the sound of freedom and a call to battle.

There, however, would be no battles in this place. At least, not the type that Ashe had come to associate with the distant noise. Grey eyes scanned the sky above her - or what little she could see of it between the leaves. The afternoon sunlight was fading fast. By the princess' own estimates, she probably had little less than an hour to make it out of the forest she was currently lost in. An hour to make it to some semblance of safety. Then again, Ashe was not the type that sought safety. Squaring her shoulders, she paused to listen to the world around her. And that was when she heard it - the distant snap of a twig. Her entire body tensed. Someone had been following her. Forcing her body into motion, the princess assessed her current situation. Her combat ability would be limited. Ahead of her, she could see a break in the trees. Rain pelted her body as she came closer to the break only to realize why it ended so suddenly - a cliff. Grey eyes narrowed. Well, it was either face her tracker in a way that could end with her being killed or do something incredibly idiotic.

Ashe liked the idiotic option much better.

Turning on her heel, she started back into the woods only to spin around and sprint toward the cliff. Then, gritting her teeth, the princess launched herself from it. Had it not been raining, she might have been able to land on her feet and continue running into a more suitable environment. As it was, her feet slipped on the mud and sent the princess tumbling down to rest at the foot of the cliff. So much for being combat-ready.

[royal-determination]

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[royal-determination]

ooc: yes hello i'm back! i just submitted my app so hopefully it will get approved and i'll be a member again! if not, i guess i'll just go indie on this blog...

anyway, just dropping by to say hi!