Chapter 12
The next morning, Sain found the lords and some of the other members of the group gathered in the inn's sitting room, all trying to get a look at the map the tactician had spread over a table. The tactician was explaining a plan, and apparently, not everyone agreed.
"I assure you, this is the best strategy we can hope for," the strategist said with a sigh. "I doubt Black Fang knows of these roads, they've been out of commission for years."
"Exactly my point. It'll be rough traveling, costing us time we can't afford," Hector replied sternly.
"It's the only way to get to Nisea with minimal, if any, resistance," the tactician retorted.
"Hector, I'm sure our tactician has considered all facets of his plan before putting it up for discussion among us," Eliwood said.
"Nisea?" Sain interrupted, walking into the room. "Isn't that where Andraya's from?"
The tactician looked at him blankly, as if he'd lost his mind. "And?"
"Andraya has a…troubling past that I'm sure she'll be reminded of when we travel there," Lyn said.
"Oh, I see." The tactician paused, consulting the map. "I don't see a way to avoid it though. We're going to need a resting place on our way to the coast, and Nisea's the most convenient and obvious place to do so."
"How can you even think of that? Seeing that place rebuilt, where her mother died!" Sain exclaimed, taking a step towards the group.
"Sain…I hate to say it, but Andraya isn't the only one in this party," Lyn said gently. "We need to stop there. You heard the tactician, there's no other option."
The cavalier sighed. "Are you sure? There're a lot of coast villages—"
"Sain." Eliwood gave him an odd look. "You're being unreasonable."
Sain started. Since when is Eliwood taking etiquette lessons from Hector?
"I'm sorry, Sain, but there's really no way around this," the tactician said after taking one last look at the map. "I have the utmost concern for every member of this group, you know I wouldn't deliberately have us travel to a place that would cause anyone emotional distress."
"She won't be as strong in battle," Sain said just to give a reason, knowing full-well that it wouldn't be true. She could never weaken in battle.
"Hopefully, by traveling through Nisea, there won't be a battle." The tactician gave Sain a sympathetic look. "Perhaps you should tell her where we plan to travel, Sain. She seems to confide in you, and it would save us from later shock."
Sain sighed. "When are we leaving?"
"Early tomorrow morning."
The cavalier nodded, and left the room. What a way to follow up such a great evening…he thought as he climbed the stairs. He came to his friend's room and knocked softly on the door.
"Andraya? It's me…"
"Oh! Sain! Come on in!" he heard Andraya call cheerfully from inside her room.
He entered the room and shut the door behind him, trying not to look to sad. "Wow, you're up already?" he asked, seeing she was already dressed and reading a book.
"Yeah, I'm reading this book an old friend wrote about magic technique," she said, not looking up from it. "It's taught me a lot already. I was just brushing up."
"I wish he had written one on how not to attack four cavaliers and a sage with bolting magic if you want to stay alive."
Andraya looked up, confused my his sudden pessimism. "…Sain?"
He sighed. "Andraya, we're traveling tomorrow."
"You say it like it's a bad thing!"
"It sort of is," Sain said, walking over to the edge of the bed where Andraya was sitting. He sat beside her. "We're…going to Nisea, Andraya."
Andraya's eyes widened slowly as she stared past Sain and out the window. Nisea…?
"Andraya," Sain said gently, taking her hand in his.
She suddenly snapped out of her daze and focused on Sain. "What? It's not like it's going to hinder me in battle. I'll be fine, it's fine…" she said, breaking away from Sain and walking to the window.
Sain rose and followed her. Hesitating slightly, he put his arms around her waist, as he had done the previous night on the hilltop. To his surprise, she ripped his arms from around her and spun to face him.
"I said I'm fine!" she yelled, face reddened with anger.
"I—I didn't say you weren't!" Sain stammered.
"Well—then—"Andraya said, turning around. "Then…don't…"
"Comfort you?" Sain asked softly. Andraya didn't reply, but her shoulders started to tremble slightly. She put her hands to her face, her back still facing him.
"Sain…no, I'm sorry…" she turned to face him, tears streaking down her reddened cheeks.
Sain hesitated, not knowing whether to expect another outburst.
"Oh, Sain…"Andraya said, suddenly closing the distance between them and wrapping her arms around him.
"Andraya…" Sain held her close, stoking her hair slowly.
"Why…why Nisea…"she sobbed into his shoulder.
Sain sighed. "I tried to talk them out of it, 'Draya…they said it's at the end of some road Black Fang doesn't know about, and it's close to the sea, and in the perfect spot for a rest…"
Andraya nodded slightly, pulling away from him slightly, keeping her arms around his shoulders. "You…tried to talk them out of it?" Sain nodded. "W—Why?"
"Because I knew what kind of memories you had there, you told us all when you first met us, remember?"
"I know I told you, but…" Andraya shook her head. "Never mind…"
"Andraya, I—" He trailed off. She looked up at him suddenly, as if she expected him to say something important.
"I…care about you. And besides," he added with a casual smile. "It's what friends do, right?"
Andraya smiled slightly and nodded. "Right, friends."
Sain looked at her oddly. Before he could comment on her strange response, however, she wrapped him in a hug again, thanking him for the second time for comforting her when she needed it most.
"Anytime, 'Draya. I mean it," Sain said softly.
"Thank you, Sain…"
Knock-knock. "Andraya? …Sain?"
"Coming," Andraya pulled away from Sain slowly, not wanting to let go. As she pulled her arms from around his shoulders, she gently ran them down his arms. She lingered there for a moment, but the person at the door knocked again, and she reluctantly went to answer it. "Kent?"
"Just came to tell you…both," he said, looking past her at Sain standing behind her, "that there's been a change of plans. We're leaving now."
"Now? Why? Has there been a threat?" Andraya asked, concern in her voice.
"I'm not sure. All I was told was that there's been a change in plans and to meet out front as soon as possible," the cavalier replied.
"Okay, be right there," Andraya said. Kent nodded and headed outside.
Andraya hastily threw her book and a few other belongings into a bag. "Sain," she said, not looking up from packing. "You better go pack your things."
Sain couldn't respond however, couldn't even move. The way she had touched him…
"Sain?" Andraya asked, looking up from her packed bag.
"Oh, I travel light. Everything I need is already with my horse."
"Then you better go get your horse!" Andraya smiled gently. Did I have that great an effect on him? …And why do I care!
"Right…" Sain walked slowly to the door and down the stairs, Andraya following behind. When they got outside, they saw the rest of the group ready and waiting, Sain's horse included.
"Hurry up, you two!" Kent said firmly, leading Sain's horse to the pair. "We need to get moving quickly. It appears Black Fang has somehow tracked us here, and we don't want to make trouble for the village. We need to get out, now!"
Sain nodded, mounting his horse quickly. He held a hand out to Andraya. "You can travel faster on horseback," he said simply.
Andraya mounted the horse behind Sain, and the group quickly left the town, headed for the coast along the road the tactician had mentioned earlier. Everyone on horseback was carrying at least one other person so the party could make better time to their first campsite before dark.
"You alright back there?" Kent called to Rebecca, quickly glancing over his shoulder at the archer.
She nodded quickly, but still clung to the cavalier for dear life. Oh I do hate horses! she thought, squeezing her eyes shut tight.
Sain and Andraya were having more fun. They were constantly joking and laughing with each other, seeming not to have a care in the world. They had pulled ahead of the group a considerable distance, attempting to find a good place to set up camp.
"How 'bout here?" Sain said, grinning and pointing to a lake.
"Sain!" Andraya scolded, playfully punching him in the arm. "That's a lake!"
"So I thought we'd do a little swimming! I'm sure Serra could use a good swim."
"Sain! Serra can't swim!"
"My point exactly."
Andraya lightly punched Sain again, but laughed as she did so. "How about that clearing," she suggested after a few more minutes of riding. "It's big and flat, but hidded by those trees along the side of the road. We'd be practically invisible at night."
"Aww, I was holding out for the lake," Sain said, glancing back at his friend and grinning again.
Andraya just shook her head and smiled back. They had stopped near the clearing to wait for the rest of the group to catch up.
"Have you two found something?" Eliwood said, joining them.
"Yeah, this clearing," Andraya said, pointing. "It's big enough for the whole group, but surrounded by trees so we won't be visible from the road."
"Good thinking!" Eliwood smiled and headed back towards the rest of the group
Sain smiled slightly at the way Andraya had spoken to Eliwood. She hadn't seemed nervous at all, like she used to be when speaking to him. And she hadn't so much as flinched when he gave her that "astonishing" smile, as she had called it in her journal…or so Matthew had said. She definitely acted differently from when she used to love him.
Wait.
Used to love him?!
"C'mon, Sain, what're you waiting for," Andraya said with a smile. Startled from his thoughts, Sain realized the group was moving into the clearing and setting up camp.
"Oops, must have been daydreaming," he said, riding into the clearing. Andraya gave him a quick squeeze before taking her arms from around his waist and dismounting Sain's horse.
It only made his smile wider.
A/N: Reviews pleaaaaase :) I hate to whine, but hey, Serra gets to get away with it! ;)