A/N: Wow, it's been a while. But if you're reading this, that means you're still interested, right?? :) Thanks for being patient. I'm gonna try to be more prolific in the future, but you know…school…*sigh*

Anyway, on with the story!!

Chapter 16

            The next morning, Andraya awoke to the sounds of people arguing. It seemed no one could decide where they wanted to go, and had been up all night disputing it. She sighed, trying to ignore it the best she could, despite having her own argument with herself.

            Of course she wanted to stay in Nisea and protect it. Last time the village was attacked, she had been defenseless, able to do nothing but watch it burn. The right thing to do would obviously be to stay and defend her hometown…

            But every time she seemed resolute in this decision, Sain's face raced through her thoughts, drowning them out with one charming smile. Then her decision would shift to wherever Sain went, she would go…only to revert back to staying in Nisea a few moments later.

            "Andraya?" Sain called quietly from outside her tent.

            "I'm coming," the mage replied quickly, going outside. "Meeting time?"

            Sain simply nodded.

            Andraya sighed, still unsure of what she would do. With any luck, the tactician would just assign them all to a group without discussion.

            "Alright, everyone, just calm down, okay?" the tactician yelled over the raised voices of the party. "I've decided to just split you up into two equally strong groups so that we get the best shot at each objective. Hopefully, this will please everyone."

            Everyone began whispering and murmuring amongst themselves again. Andraya looked up at Sain, trying to read his features. She found nothing.

            "Alright…so basically I'm gonna split up each type of soldier, got it? So let's see…going to the coast, I'll only need one reliable cavalier…" He glanced over at Sain and Andraya, but quickly diverted his gaze to the other side of the group, frowning. "Kent, you're going. And…let's see, we need some magic. So how about…" Again, he glanced in the couple's general direction. "Well, we should only need one. Erk, you'll go. YES OKAY SERRA, you can be the healer for this group, just please stop screaming in my face!"

            Andraya giggled at the pink-haired healer practically attacking the tactician. Sain looked at her and smiled, glad they were going to be protecting Nisea together. Andraya squeezed his hand out of happiness for the tactician's compassion. Everyone else was split up equally, and everyone eventually wound up happy with the decisions made, though there were a number of arguments in the process.

            "Alright, so last is the lords. Eliwood, I think you should stay and protect Nisea." Eliwood glared at the tactician, apparently still convinced there were no more bandits in their wake. "Lyn, I hear you know my tactician friend in Nisea, so you can stay and help Eliwood learn a thing or two about tactics. Hector, I'm going to need you at the coast, so you'll be coming with me. Now," he looked at the group. "Is everyone finally happy?" Everyone nodded. "Good. 'Cuz that was way too complicated already. You guys are so stubborn…ANYWAY, let's get packing now so we can get to Nisea before nightfall. Those bandits can't be far behind. Get going!"

            The group went their separate ways to their tents to gather their belongings. Eliwood immediately began arguing with the tactician again, with Lyn and Hector trying to calm him down. Andraya smirked at the sight as she headed for her tent. She gathered her books and took down the tent, folding it into a small pack. After a short while the group was traveling again.

            Andraya didn't ride on Sain's horse this time, as per the tactician's request. The road had seemingly dead ended at a forest, and the group had no choice but to plow through it, making it difficult for the cavaliers to keep up. The tactician had asked anyone on foot to travel ahead to avoid being sitting ducks for any bandits lurking in the area.

            "So, Kent! You get a little taste of adventure!" Sain called to his friend.

            "I suppose," the other cavalier replied, attempting to ride around a fallen log. "A battle is a battle; the location makes no difference to me."

            "Aw, c'mon. See, that's you're problem! Have a little fun. You get to go to the coast! Have you ever even been to the coast?"

            "Well…no, I suppose not. But it can't be all that exciting."

            Sain sighed. "Kent, just lighten up."

            "Am I really that uptight?"

            "Yeah, you are. Hate to break it to ya."

            "Oh," Kent said.

            "There may not even be a battle."

            "What?"

            "At the coast. All you're doing is asking around for some information and scoping out the area. If there's going to be a battle, it'll most likely be in Nisea," Sain said.

            "You're point?" Kent looked at him quizzically.

            "You can have fun!"

            Kent rolled his eyes, sidestepping another fallen tree. "We have a mission to carry out. There is no room for fun when attempting to fulfill an objective."

            "Kent! There you go again! I swear, you're never going to learn," Sain said, getting a little further ahead. "Catch up, will ya? I can't even see the rest of the group anymore."

            Kent shook his head, urging his horse to a fast walk through the brush.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

            "Andraya, may I ask you a question?"

            "Um, sure, Eliwood. What is it?"

            Eliwood moved a little closer to the mage, lowering his voice. "That night I asked you about Ninian, you snapped at me. Why?"

            Andraya started, caught off guard by the question. "Uh, I wasn't sleeping well. I guess I was just irritable because of it."

            "C'mon, Andraya. Tell me the real reason."

            "If you know there's another reason, why are you even asking me?"

            "I said I know there's another reason. I never said I knew what that reason was."

            "Well, I don't know what you're talking about. I get really irritable when I don't sleep. Ask anyone here, they'd run in fear at the thought of it."

            Eliwood smiled. "I'm sure they would. But why weren't you sleeping well?"

            Andraya stared at him. "Why in the world would you ask me that?!"

            "Because…I'm concerned."

            "About?"

            "You. I see you're fine now, but I'm afraid I may have…hurt you. Unintentionally."

            Andraya's face softened. "Well, even if you did, I'm alright now."

            "Thanks to Sain?"

            Andraya smiled and nodded. "Yeah."

            Eliwood continued to look at her. "I'm sorry, Andraya. I guess I was too focused on the battles and the fighting…I failed to see the better side of life."

            Andraya giggled. "Like Kent!"

            Eliwood laughed. "Yes, I suppose so. Perhaps someone should speak with him," he said, turning serious. "It got me in a lot of trouble. Even Ninian criticized me for being too involved with battle. And once I realized what I had done to you…"

            "Is that why you've been so irritable lately?"

            "I'm afraid so."

            Andraya smiled. "I appreciate that."

            "So you're not mad?"

            "No…It was troubling at the time, but thankfully, Sain is such a kind person."

            "Yes, so I see." Eliwood looked up; someone had called his name from the front of the group. "Ah, duty calls. Thank you, Andraya."

            "Thank you," Andraya said as he departed. She smiled. Well, I guess he's not completely blind after all. I think he and Kent should sit down and have a long talk. It'd do them both good!

            A scream from somewhere ahead of the group ceased her smile. What the…She ran ahead, trying to see what was happening.

            "Bandits!" Lyn yelled back to the group. "Andraya! Go get the cavaliers! Tell them to get here as quickly as possible! We need lances!"

            Andraya nodded and ran in the opposite direction, searching the woods for Sain and the other cavaliers and paladins. She quickly lost her sense of direction though, and could only guide her movements from the sound of battle behind her.

            Where are they?!

A/N: Thanks for being patient, guys!! More coming as soon as I can write it! :)