Almost complete revisal of this chapter, kthankyou.

-x- Cup Number One -x- (Also Known As, The Truth)

Ninian paced back and forth in front of the tent. Her skirts swished the ground and grew damp from the morning dew clinging to the grass, but she took no notice. Her delicate face twisted with frustration and uncertainty.

She had to tell him today. She couldn't keep this up any longer. It was wrong and deceitful and she had to put an end to it.

Ninian's features resolved into determination. She turned on her heel and reached forward to part the tent flaps, but someone did it before she could.

Florina poked her head out of the tent before fully emerging from the dwelling. She gazed curiously at Ninian. "Ninian? What are you doing here?"

Ninian shook herself out of shock and smiled hastily. "Oh! Good morning, Florina."

Her friend gave her a concerned look, hugging the tea tray she had been carrying to her chest. "You're…going to tell him today, aren't you?"

Ninian twiddled her fingers nervously. "That's right! I am! I should, shouldn't I?"

Florina smiled reassuringly at her. "Lord Eliwood will take it well! He's…he's a kind person! Why don't you go tell him right now? He didn't seem busy when I gave him his tea."

"O…" Ninian took a deep breath. "Okay! It'll be fine. It should be fine. I think it'll be fine…"

"Calm down, Ninian…" Florina gave her a gentle push towards the tent. "Good luck."

Ninian looked back at the falcoknight and smiled weakly. "Good luck with your thing, too."

Eliwood looked down at the tea on his table. He sighed; it had been a long night for him, strategizing ahead about the battle that had to be fought today, worrying about his army, and…thinking about his father…coffee would have been more welcome, but tea would have to do.

He brought the cup up to his nose and sniffed it. It was really rather peculiar-looking tea, but it did smell nice. And Florina had gone through all the trouble of bringing it over to him. The lord raised the cup to his lips. Next time he saw her, he'd thank her properly, perhaps match her up with Hector –

"Lord Eliwood?"

Eliwood widened his eyes over the rim of the cup before putting it down to see who had spoken. It was Ninian, standing in the tent entrance, the cold sunlight filtering in around her and dimming her to a silhouette. From his vantage point, her expression was unreadable and Eliwood suddenly had a feeling that his morning was going to take a turn for the unexpected.

"Good morning, Ninian," he greeted her. "Is something wrong?"

Ninian had stepped into the tent and was standing before him, looking as nervous as a deer confronted by a Sacaean. She was one of those types of women that grew more beautiful as they became more distressed, and Eliwood eyed her with honest appreciation. "No!" she burst out. "Nothing's wrong."

Eliwood raised an eyebrow, and drank from his teacup. He blinked several times, before focusing on Ninian. "Then…you wanted to speak with me?"

Ninian's eyes went huge and she shook her head mechanically. Eliwood finished his tea and put it down on a saucer, beckoning her over. "Well, I wanted to speak with you. Come, sit."

The dancer stood frozen for several seconds, and then seated herself stiffly before him. Eliwood regarded her with vague puzzlement. "You seem as if you don't want to be in my presence, Ninian. That…hurts me."

Ninian was startled out of her rigidity. Her eyes went wide again. "No! It's not that. Please, Lord Eliwood…believe me when I say that I always enjoy speaking with you."

"But…recently, it seems almost as if you've been avoiding me."

Ninian's hands tightened in her lap. Eliwood looked at her for a moment before shaking his head. "I'm being overly paranoid. Forgive me." He pushed the tea aside and put his hands on the table. "I…simply wanted to say thank you. Ever since you joined us, our army's morale has never been higher."

"They just enjoy my dancing, my lord," murmured Ninian modestly, suppressing a sigh. Eliwood shook his head.

"It's not only that, Ninian. You're always working so hard for the army…going among the foot soldiers and distributing food…searching the battlefield for the wounded and re-energizing them with your dance…cheering up the soldiers in the infirmary…doing our laundry, for Roland's sake."

Ninian couldn't take it any longer. "I've been deceiving you, Lord Eliwood!" she blurted out, to stop him from saying anything further.

Eliwood stared at her in surprise. "Wh – what?"

"Last week," Ninian said tearfully, "Rebecca and Louise and I were sorting the clothing…and I mixed your undergarments in with Serra's peignoirs…"

Eliwood stared amazedly at her. He was trying not to laugh.

Ninian's voice was gradually becoming more muffled as she put her hands up to her face. "So they turned pink…but I never said anything and…you didn't even accuse me and…I've been so dishonest…"

Eliwood laughed, now. Ninian's miserable face half-hidden behind her fisted hands was so endearing and so comical at the same time, he couldn't help himself.

"You were avoiding me because of that, Ninian?" he said finally, trying to regain his composure.

"Because of that?" The Ilian dropped her hands. "My lord, I was betraying your trust! You may not understand because you are so good yourself, but…I…"

"Don't look so sad, Ninian." Eliwood continued to smile. "It was nothing! That's why I didn't bother to say anything. I didn't want to embarrass you, and besides…"

Ninian was still pink with shame. "B-besides?"

Eliwood scratched his cheek. "Having pink boxers isn't so bad…they sort of match my hair."

"…" Ninian smiled at last. Eliwood reached across the table and touched her face. "I've been waiting for you to do that all morning. You still look most beautiful when you're smiling."

Ninian was also one of those types of women that trembled at the soft touch of a man. "Lord Eliwood…"

"I have not known you long," he said softly, "but I have seen your true spirit emerge as a result of the trials and hardships you have endured. I have seen that you are strong…and kind…and blameless – "

"But you don't know who I am," said Ninian almost inaudibly.

"You're right," Eliwood said quietly. "That's why I want to stay with you. I want to know you…your favorite color, your habits, what kind of food you like – everything."

Ninian put her hand against his on her cheek and closed her eyes. "Eliwood."

Eliwood leaned over. "Ninian, to me you're – "

Someone burst into the tent. The two jerked apart at the sight of Hector, breathing hard. "Eliwood! …Ninian?" Puzzled, he looked at her, then at their flushed faces, and coughed. "Err, well. You've got to come with me. First that pegasus knight…Florina…she turned into a cat. Then Lyn and Rath started acting strange…and now Hannah's throwing a fit!"

Eliwood and Ninian looked at each other. Without further ado they both rushed out of the tent with Hector.

Support convos are cheap! Being silly over boxers is better.