Chapter 7

            Andraya tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Too many emotions were running through her heart and mind, conflicting with one another so that she couldn't find peace enough to fall asleep. She sighed as she looked out the window, seeing the sky beginning to brighten. It was almost time to travel again…and she'd be dead tired, again.

            Though I wouldn't mind riding with Sain again…

            Whoa, wait! Where had that thought come from? Andraya turned over again, burying her head in a pillow. Sure he was nice to her, but that was it…

            Right?

            Andraya sighed again, turning onto her back. She stared at the ceiling, giving up on sleep. Maybe I should go take a walk to tire myself out… She got out of bed and got dressed, slipping into her shoes as she walked down the hall. Nearing the stairs, she heard voices from a room, and, being a naturally curious human being, stopped to listen.

            It's Kent and Sain…I wonder what they're talking about? she thought, leaning closer to the door so she could hear better.

            "I don't know why, Kent. It just seemed like the right thing to do…"

            "If Serra and Priscilla never get to heal anyone, how can they be expected to progress in their abilities?"

            "Kent, she didn't seem to be in a mood to deal with Serra."

            "Priscilla then!"

            Andraya heard Sain sigh. Is he talking to Kent about buying that vulnerary for me? And…Kent's mad at him? I wonder—

            "You're going to end up worse than me if you keep eavesdropping like that."

            Andraya spun around, embarrassed to be caught listening in on her friend's conversation. "Oh, hello Matthew…"

            "You know why they're talking about you, right?"

            "Um…I guess Kent heard Sain bout me a vulnerary and got mad?" Andraya guessed, hoping the thief would tell her the real reason Kent seemed so angry.

            "Hmph." Matthew looked around, taking a step closer to Andraya. "Well, I'll tell you one thing, you've got a lot to learn about spying." With that, he retreated into the darkness of the stairwell.

            "Matthew!" Andraya hissed, not wanting to be heard. Damn…she thought, returning to her room. Well I doubt I'm going to sleep even if I do go for a walk…so I guess I'll just stay here… On her way back to her room, though, she heard voices behind another door: Eliwood and Ninian. Oh…I really shouldn't listen to them…

            But she leaned closer to the door anyway, more out of self-pity than of curiosity. She heard them speaking, but they were both talking too softly make out what they were saying. She could perceive their tones, however, which was enough to tell her that they weren't simply talking about battle. She turned around…

            And ran smack into Sain.

            "Ah! Uh…hi, Sain…" Andraya stammered, taking a step away from her companion.

            "Andraya, were you eavesdropping?" Sain asked, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

            "Well aren't you interested in my business!" Andraya said, walking back to her room.

            "I wouldn't be the one to say such a thing if I were you…" Sain smirked, following her into her room.

            "Fine, but don't think I'm turning into Matthew. I didn't even hear any of what they were saying…" Andraya sat on the bed and sighed.

            Sain grabbed a chair from the corner, flipping it around to sit in it backwards. He rested his chin on the back of the chair, staring at his comrade. "Then why do you look so stressed?"

            Andraya just sighed.

            "Oh, right…you don't wanna talk about it," Sain said, still staring at her. Just tell me, 'Draya. Let me show you I'm here for you…

            "Well…I think…" Andraya got up and closed the door. "If I tell you, just to get it off my chest, that is…you have to promise not to repeat a word of it to anyone…please."

            "Of course! I'm not Matthew, either," Sain said, smiling gently.

            Andraya smiled back faintly, and sat cross-legged on the bed. "Well…I guess the bottom line is…I…" She paused. Am I really telling him this?! I must be crazy!!

            She glanced at Sain, who was still staring at her with the most sympathetic look on his face. He really does care, though…and he only wants to help me…

            "I used to—Well, I am…in love with…" She paused again, but, realizing it was too late to back out now…

            "Lord Eliwood." There, she said it. She looked up from the floor to see Sain's reaction. Where she expected surprise, she only saw compassion and understanding. She looked at him quizzically, wondering why he hadn't repeated her confession in disbelief yet.

            "I know," he said simply, his expression unchanging. "You have for some time now, haven't you?"

            Andraya groaned. "Is it that obvious?" she asked in dismay.

            "Not to someone like Kent who doesn't even know what love is, but…to a close friend, yeah, I guess it is."

            Andraya smiled at Sain's comment about Kent, but it faded as he completed his sentence. "It's just…I knew I never really had a chance, I mean, I was too shy to even speak to him most of the time…Not that he ever really talked to me, anyway…" Andraya sighed for what must have been the hundredth time that night.

            "Yeah, I know what that's like," Sain commented, smirking. Andraya laughed a little, which only made him smile more. I think she's cheering up!

            "I don't even know what he sees in Ninian…"

            "They both have the same dominant trait."

            "Which is…?"

            "Being really, really weird!"

            Andraya laughed. She was feeling a lot better, like a huge weight was being taken off her heart. "Thank you, Sain," she said, "You're a great friend."

            Sain smiled again. "Really?"

            "Yeah." Andraya got up and walked over to Sain. "You've made me feel a thousand times better in five minutes than I ever thought I'd feel in a lifetime…" She reached down and wrapped him in a hug.

            Sain was frozen in her embrace for a second, not expecting such a gesture of kindness from Andraya. What the hell am I thinking? He came back to his senses, and returned her embrace, enjoying the moment. Unfortunately, she pulled away after a minute, thought the hug did last longer than he expected…

            "I guess I should let you get back to sleep, then…" Sain said as he got up and headed towards the door. He got as far as getting his hand over the doorknob before Andraya protested. He smiled when she did, knowing he had his back to her.

            "Don't go, Sain…I mean, if you aren't too tired or anything…"

            "Nah, I've been restless lately," he said, returning to his seat on the chair.

            "Me too…thanks," Andraya said.

            Sain sighed. Well…she seems grateful, and she's smiling again…

            I really, really love this girl.

A/N: So what do you think? R&R pleaaaaaase!!!! Anyone who read up to here before I revised, Chapters 1-7 are basically the same, just with a little tweaking. The prologue is new, and so is everything from here on.