Chapter 9

            "Psst! Andraya!"

            "Matthew? What do you want…" Andraya said with a sigh.

            "Well, if you're going to be that way about it, I guess I won't tell you why Kent and Sain were fighting after all…" Matthew smirked.

            "What! You know?"

            "Of course I do! What kind of thief do you think I am?" Matthew said, a look of mock hurt on his face.

            "Argh, just tell me!"

            "Well, well! Such concern. I wonder why, hmm?" Matthew smirked again, his amusement unhidden.

            "Matthew!"

            "Okay, okay! Sheesh!" the thief said, taking a step towards Andraya.  "Anyway, it seems Sain slept in your room last night."

            "He did? Oh, we were up late talking, neither of us could sleep," Andraya said. "Why didn't he go back to his room after I fell asleep?"

            "Apparently, he was afraid that by leaving he would wake you. Personally, I suspect other reasons. But not the reason Kent suspected when he walked in on you two this morning."

            "What reasons? Wait, Kent? Oh, no, what'd he think?!" Andraya exclaimed, realizing what had happened.

            "Just…reasons, yes Kent, and you know what he thought." With that, Matthew smirked again as he slipped into the woods on the side of the road the group was traveling on.

            Now I get it…Andraya thought, searching the group for Kent. She ran to catch up with him.

            "Kent?"

            "Oh, hello Andraya." Kent said, looking down at her.

            "Kent…I just found out why you were fighting with Sain, and I wanted to clear things up. Nothing happened, really. Sain and I were talking, and he was actually cheering me up from the mood I've been in lately. He was even going to leave, as a matter of fact, but I asked him to stay and talk with me some more, and I guess I fell asleep at some point. He never moved from the chair on the opposite side of the room though, I swear."

            Kent looked at her suspiciously. "Did Sain tell you to say that?"
            Andraya glared at the cavalier. "Of course not! He's been really sweet to me, he would never dream of taking advantage of anything."

            Kent sighed. "I guess I have an apology to make, then. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, Andraya."

            The mage smiled. "No problem. Just don't jump to conclusions, ok?"

            "Sure thing."

            Andraya fell back in the group where Sain was riding. He seemed happy to see her actually coming near him again, smiling broadly as she came closer.

            "Hey, 'Draya! Decided to forgive me? Couldn't resist my breathtaking charm?"

            Now that's the Sain I remember! "Sain, I just found out what you and Kent were fighting about, and I spoke with Kent. Everything's cleared up, and he's going to apologize. He says he's sorry for the misunderstanding."

            "Oh, does he now?" Sain said, relieved to hear the news. "When is he just gonna accept that I'm always right?"

            Andraya laughed. "Oh, Sain…"

            Sain smiled down at her. "So, you want to accept that offer I made this morning now that you've deemed me human again?"

            Andraya smiled back. "Sure!"

            Sain helped his friend onto his horse again, but this time, the mage was more conscious of the physical contact it made between her and the cavalier. She hesitantly looped her arms around Sain's waist, tentatively hanging on.

            "You know, 'Draya…you might fall if you don't hold on tighter," Sain said softly, not even turning his head to speak to her.

            Andraya simply nodded, and wrapped her arms around him tighter. She leaned forward, placing her head gingerly on his shoulder.

            After a few more awkward moments of silence, Sain started joking around again, making Andraya laugh almost constantly. Kent turned around a little later to see how they were doing, guilty at having caused Andraya to be mad at Sain. When he caught sight of them, though, he knew it was alright, and turned back around to mind his own business. Andraya had been playfully punching Sain in the shoulder, no doubt his "punishment" for some rude, but rather amusing jokes he was making.

            It won't be long now... Kent thought, smiling and shaking his head.

            I bet she's completely forgotten about Lord Eliwood.

A/N: I love writing fluff, it makes everyone feel all warm and fuzzy inside! ;) R&R please!!