A/N: Thanks for the reviews so far!! And yeah, I know it seemed like a really fast update last time, but I just wrote 2 chapters at once 'cuz I was on a roll! FF.net just decided not to make them both appear together, even though I uploaded them within a minute of each other ;P Anyway…heeere's:
Chapter 11
Kent looked out the inn window at the two silhouettes standing atop a hill outside the village. He could hardly believe what he was seeing lately—Sain actually be loyal to one girl, a girl that appeared to be falling for him, too. Sain had started making his move at just the right time, when Andraya needed a friend the most. He provided a distraction from Eliwood, and was apparently succeeding in replacing him.
Kent watched as Sain held Andraya in his arms, silhouetted against the sunset. He wasn't in love, and never had been, but he couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as he watched them. It must be great to have someone care for you like that, to make you laugh when you're sad and comfort you when you're hurt…
He sighed, and turned away from the window. It was getting dark, and he might as well go to bed.
Walking up the stairs, he heard Eliwood and Ninian talking softly from inside a room with the door slightly open. They spoke affectionate words to each other, completely unconcerned with battle and the war plaguing the world.
Kent entered his own room, sitting on the bed and sighing again.
Why do I feel so…so lonely?
"It's getting dark," Sain said gently, still holding Andraya in his arms.
"Yeah…"
"So we should probably head back."
"Mm." Andraya had rested her head against Sain's chest, and really didn't want to move. She closed her eyes, feeling the breeze blow over her face and tousle her hair.
Sain felt like he was going to explode from happiness. The girl of his dreams was in his arms, and she didn't look like she was going to move any time soon. He had dreamed of this moment for a while now, and finally…he had it…
"Sain?"
Sain glanced down at Andraya, who was already looking up at him. "Hm?"
"I guess…we should go now. It is getting dark…"
He smiled. "So I'm right yet again. No one ever learns, do they?"
Andraya smiled back, reluctantly unlinking Sain's hands from around her waist and turning to face him. "Thank you for bringing me here, Sain…" she looked back where the sun had been setting just a few moments before. The same sky was now dotted with stars, the moon peeking out from below the opposite horizon.
Sain reached out and took Andraya's hands in his. "You're welcome, 'Draya. Anytime."
Andraya smiled back at him and squeezed his hands lightly. Wow...he looks…amazing …she thought, no longer questioning such impulses. She watched his hair blow in the light breeze…his features silver from the moonlight, his eyes sparkling along with his smile…
"Andraya?" Sain whispered, afraid that speaking louder would ruin their moment. I wish I could tell her I love her…but…
"Right…let's go before it gets any darker," she replied before he could say anything else, and a few minutes later they had climbed down the hill and were on their way back to the village, hand in hand.
Andraya let go of Sain's hand as they entered the inn, though no one was in the main sitting room to see them.
"Where is everybody?" she asked.
"I don't know. Probably in bed," Sain guessed. "We did have a battle today, remember?"
"Wow, that seems like it happened so long ago!" Andraya said, yawning.
"You look tired, maybe you should get to bed, too," Sain suggested, looking down at the floor. He didn't want to leave her, not for a second…but how could he even suggest such a thing to her when he didn't even have the courage to tell her how he felt?
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Andraya said, stepping closer to Sain. She reached up and hugged him for what seemed like an eternity to the cavalier. Before she let go, she kissed him lightly on the cheek.
"Goodnight, Sain," she said, keeping him in her gaze as she headed for the stairs.
"G-Goodnight…'Draya…" Sain said, still in shock from being kissed, even if only on the cheek. Andraya smiled and looked at the floor, blushing slightly, then headed up the stairs and into her room, shutting the door behind her.
Sain's hand instinctively touched his cheek where Andraya had kissed him, his eyes still wide with surprise. He grinned. Maybe she cares about me after all…he thought as he headed up to his room. He still has his hand on his cheek and the silly grin on his face as he walked passes Kent's open door.
The other cavalier looked up from polishing his lance as Sain walked by, guessing by his expression what had happened. He sighed and turned back to his lance, wondering why he felt that pang of jealousy again.
Andraya lay in bed, unable to sleep. She had kissed him almost instinctively, and it had felt so…right. Am I falling for him?
Of course she knew the answer to that question... She had been falling for Sain for a while now, though she had refused to admit it, despite her heart screaming it at her over and over again. She didn't know what to do, though. I wonder if he loves me too…or if he's just a really great friend trying to make me feel better about losing Eliwood…
Eliwood. She hadn't even thought about him in so long! The pangs of jealousy she used to feel when she looked at Ninian were gone completely, replaced by love for Sain…
I…love him? she thought again in disbelief. She turned over to look out the window, seeing the stars and moon for the second time that night.
She remembered how she felt when Sain had first put his arms around her, and realized she shouldn't be so shocked that she did love the cavalier. I haven't felt like that since…since I dreamed about Eliwood holding me like that…
In his own room, Sain also stared out the window at the same stars. I wonder if she is truly over him, he thought. I would look like a fool if I told her how I feel, only for her to tell me she's still in love with Eliwood…
But she kissed me! Just on the cheek… but still! he thought, trying to convince himself that she did actually care about him, even if not as much as he cared for her.
I have to tell her, he thought, rolling on to his back. Next chance I get, I'm going to do it. Just to find out whether she still loves him or not, to find out if I even have a chance with her or not…
Right…I'll tell her…
…yikes.
A/N: R&R Please!!