It was mid-afternoon, a rather dismal day in Corus. Alanna was out on the training fields practicing archery-she had been saying something about training under moist conditions, Cythera recalled. It didn't matter. The important thing was that she was out of the way.
Cythera, swiftly tying back her hair with a white ribbon, headed along to Sandry's room. Knocking on the door, she was greeted by the needlewoman's gentle voice.
"Who is it?" Came the muffled voice from within the room. Grinning, Cythera replied, "It's me."
There was the sound of footsteps, and then the door swung open. Sandry had a needle in her mouth, and behind her Cythera noted a piece of silk she had clearly been in the middle of embroidering. Breezing past her, Cythera sat down on the bed and gestured to Sandry to shut the door. Obediently, Sandry closed the big oak portal and came back over to her chair. Picking out stitches as she spoke, she asked calmly, "What was it you wanted?"
"In the short term? Food. In the slightly longer term, to organise Alanna's birthday in yet another example of my complete domination over her life." She smirked. Still sewing steadily, Sandry's eyes narrowed accusingly.
"You planned that answer, didn't you? You actually sat down and thought it out."
"Oh, give me some credit! I did it as I was walking. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is that I want to give Aly a decent birthday, and I'm starving."
Sandry rolled her eyes and gestured towards a tray of fruit and biscuits on the dresser. Chuckling, Cythera brought it over and sat back down, holding it on her lap. Leaning in towards her work, Sandry looked over the frame smiled at the sight of Cythera wolfing down plums. Clearing her throat noisily, she glared at her friend until her Cythera's expression became rueful.
"So," said Sandry conversationally, "What's all this about Aly's birthday?"
Swallowing a mouthful of gingerbread, Cythera explained, "It's in a month's time. We'll sort out a picnic or something, but I thought I'd let you know so if you wanted to get her a present…"
"Of course I want to!"
I thought you might." Cyth smiled happily. "Tell the others, will you? And Gary?"
"Of course." Letting her eyes unfocus for a moment, she made contact with the others. It took only the lifetime of a heartbeat to relay the message.
"I told the other three," She informed Cythera crisply, "and Briar was with Gary, so he'll tell him."
"Right."
"Now tell me about you and Raoul."
Definitely a blush. Cythera folded her arms and glared. "We're friends!"
"Oh, come on, Cyth… I can see it, Tris and Daja can see it, Aly can see it… You're supposed to be the romantic one! Admit it!"
"There's nothing to admit!"
"You're in love with him!"
Cythera flopped back on the bed, and Sandry moved to sit next to her. She was surprised to see that Cyth's eyes were almost frightened, but there was a smile on her blushing face.
"I don't know what I feel." It came out almost as a whisper. Sandry swore she could hear the lovesick girl's heartbeat. "When he looks at me, I feel like I want to die, but it's a good feeling… Like I'm so happy I could sing… And I think about him all the time… And when he laughs, I want to laugh with him, for ever and ever." She looked at Sandry with big, mournful eyes. "If you think about someone always and you never, ever want to be without them, that means you love them, right?"
All unbidden, a vision of piercing eyes and black hair floated into Sandry's eyes. Her reply, when it came, was quiet.
"Yes, Cythera…." She murmured a newfound wonder in her voice, "I think it does."
A/N: Thanks to all of my reviewers! I think this chappie is a bit OOC, but I figure, they're in love! They're gonna act a little differently!
