12-18-07. Revised 9-15-08.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem.

Only a Dance

Chapter 2

Florina.

She walked to him with her head held high and shoulders proud. It was hard to believe she was the same woman Sain had met more than a year ago, the one who had shrieked and scurried away when he'd barely introduced himself. He'd thought to keep his distance from her after that, but perhaps fate had something else in mind. He had been taking a walk near Caelin Castle when he heard…

"It's such a beautiful day, isn't it, Huey! What shall we do today?"

Sain's ears perked up. That voice sounded familiar, and yet not. He walked to the grove of trees to his right, telling himself he was curious only about the woman's identity, not whether this "Huey" was her friend or beau. But when he saw who was in the grove that afternoon, he found not a man and woman, but a pegasus and woman. The woman being the lady Florina, to be exact. He cocked his head and smiled at the sight of her talking out loud, and very animatedly, to her pegasus.

There was no hesitation in her speech, no shyness in her manner. She spoke with her hands in a lively way that made her eyes shine and her smile fairly dazzle. He'd never seen her like this before, and was surprised to find that beneath the shy exterior, she was actually very cute.

"I never suspected, Lady Florina," he said, stepping into the open.

"Ah!" she gasped, turning to him with huge blue eyes. "S-Sir Sain. I…I didn't know you were here."

"Else you wouldn't have been talking out loud to your horse?"

She looked up at him then, as he'd hoped she would. "P-Pardon, sir…but Huey…Huey is not a horse."

"Is he not? He eats carrots doesn't he? Sleeps in a stable and all that?"

Her eyes flashed for a moment, not the blue he'd thought they were, but a blue-gray. "H-horses don't have wings, s-sir. And there's much…much more to her than eating carrots and sleeping in stables."

Sain stifled a grin before sighing. "I find myself terribly jealous of him, Lady Florina."

"J-jealous?"

"But of course. Jealous that you would be so comfortable with this animal when I have never seen you so around a person before."

"What? But…but that's not true at all," she said. "I'm like this with Lyn…and my sisters…and…"

"So I must grow wings and feathers or become a woman to please you?" Another sigh. "You ask too much of a man, my lady, but I would do so if only to win your affection."

Utter silence. She just stared at him, this look on her face as if wondering whether he had escaped from the madhouse. The silence dragged on, and just when Sain was sure he had grown feathers, or hoped so because he really didn't want the alternative, her eyes crinkled up and she covered her mouth with one slim hand. He peered closer, slightly alarmed by the muffled sounds coming from her, then his eyes widened.

"I say, are you laughing at me?"

She really laughed then. A full, long laugh that brought tears to her eyes. He glared at her in mock indignation, but had to smile at the amusement beaming from her face.

"Sir…" she began, wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Please, just call me Sain. After what I just said, I think we're past formalities."

She shook her head with a smile. "Sain…and you can call me Florina. But really… has anyone ever told you that you are quite… strange?"

Sain grinned. "A few people have made noises to that effect, especially my sisters. I just ignore them. Besides, I have it on the highest authority – my mother's – that I can be rather charming." He offered his arm. "Care to walk with me while I demonstrate? Perhaps I can even convince you that my company is preferable to that of a pegasus."

"You can try," she said as she took his arm, still smiling. "But there are few who I...whose company I prefer to hers."

"Hers?" Sain looked at the pegasus quizzically. "Isn't Huey a male name?"

"Well it is, but it was the only name she liked."

"Well that does make it harder for me, doesn't it? I have to best not only a pegasus, but a female pegasus at that." He winked at Florina. "I believe that is a challenge, my lady. And I'm not a man to back down from a challenge."

"Do your worst, sir."

"Didn't you just say you would call me 'Sain'?"

Minutes stretched to hours and all too soon Sain found himself sitting beside her on the grass and watching the sunset. The day was done, but he didn't want to leave just yet. He sneaked a glance at her as she talked about her pegasus, affection plain on her face. Beneath the shy demeanor was a woman who became quite animated when she laughed, who liked to talk when she was comfortable, and who seemed to view the world with an openness that he found endearing. She didn't judge, simply accepted people – and animals – for what they were. She also had the adorable tendency of blushing at anything remotely flirtatious, which made him want to flirt all the more. He wanted to spend more time with her, and if friendship was all she wanted, then he would be nothing but a friend. He asked her to spend the morrow with him, and was delighted when she blushed and said "Y-yes."

Over the next few months, they spent most of their time in each other's company. She taught him how to approach Huey without getting bitten; he showed her how to get honey from beehive. They trained and laughed and talked about anything, everything. And it was only when Eliwood and company came to Caelin that Sain realized her stammer had mostly disappeared around him – and returned around men she didn't know. She tried to thank Hector for saving her that first day, but ran away without saying a word. When she told Sain about it at dinner, he asked, "What is it that makes you so nervous around men?"

"I don't know," Florina said. "I've always been a little shy around people I just met, but men especially. Even more so when they're really big and strong and loud… I've never felt comfortable around men at all."

"What am I then, if not a man?" he teased.

"But you're not a man, Sain, you're you." He wondered if he should feel insulted, but then her eyes widened and flew to his face. "Oh no! I mean…or rather I didn't mean…Blast."

He laughed. "Why thank you…I think."

"That was terrible of me to say."

"Think nothing of it," he said jauntily.

"But you know…" She sent him a sideways glance and smiled. "I meant it, in a way. You are a man, after all, but I feel comfortable around you. It's strange."

"How so?"

"Well, don't you think it's funny that we turned out to be friends? We're quite different, you and I."

"That only makes it more interesting, doesn't it? I'm glad to be your friend, Florina." She smiled, and Sain thought he would never tire of reading her emotions in the color of her eyes. They were usually blue-gray, lovely to be sure, but no match for the soft gray her eyes became when she was happy. They were that that color now. And that made him smile too.

Sain didn't realize they had stopped talking and only sat there, looking at each other, until a tankard suddenly plopped in front of him. He looked up to thank the serving maid -- and missed the blush on Florina's cheeks. After the maid left, he took a hearty gulp of his ale and then offered it to Florina.

"We might need more of that before the night is through. This is serious, Florina, and we can't rest until we defeat it."

"Defeat what?"

"Your fear of men, of course." He grinned. "And I know just the thing."

For the rest of the night, Sain made Florina talk about her fears and how she could – with practice -- talk to men. She didn't want to at first, saying she'd already tried this with Huey and it didn't work. But he prodded, teased, and lectured by turns until she sighed and said she would try if it meant so much to him. Her resigned look told him how well she liked that idea, but he didn't think she came to regret it. They talked and laughed and drank – the drinking helped the laughing – until the wee hours of the morning. The first red streaks had appeared on the horizon before a slightly drunk Sain stumbled out of the hall carrying a very drunk Florina who was declaring they would do this again in the morning. The practicing, of course, not the drinking.

And so they practiced. Over the next few weeks, they did little but talk of how Florina could speak to Hector, and any other man, without being overcome by nerves. Sain was patient, suggesting conversational topics, showing her how easy it was to hold someone's gaze, making her laugh when she felt discouraged. And always telling her that she was a match for any man. It worked, slowly but surely. Though Florina had yet to try her newfound skills on anyone else, Sain could tell she felt calmer, more confident, and knew that next time Hector approached her, she wouldn't run away.

Then one afternoon, Sain leapt out from behind her, bellowing her name in his best imitation of Hector's gruff voice. She jumped and spun to face him, eyes wide, and then flew at him for scaring her so. He could barely defend himself from her fists because he was laughing so hard, and gasping "It was only practice!" She really was annoyed, but was soon laughing as hard as he. They couldn't have known that hours later Hector would stride up to her, bellowing her name and demanding to know what she'd been trying to tell him. To everyone's surprise – and Sain's delight – she only burst out laughing, and then faced the confused lord with her head high and said her thanks without a stammer to be heard.

Later that night, she told Sain, "If I can speak to Hector, who is without a doubt, the biggest, roughest, manliest man of my acquaintance, I can speak to anyone!" He couldn't agree more.

He watched her grow more confident in the months that followed. She spoke and laughed more easily than she did before, and she drew more than a few admiring glances from men. Glances she must not have seen, because she never blushed at them the way she did when he directed those same glances at her. She also worked hard to improve her fighting skills, mastering the sword as well as the spear. She did so well that Fiora offered her a place in Ilia's finest division of pegasus knights, but she refused. He couldn't understand. She loved Ilia and had always dreamed of fighting by her sister's side. He told her to go, that she deserved to have what she'd always wanted. He didn't know why she looked sad upon hearing that…or understand the hollow feeling in his chest when he thought of her leaving.

But this was not a night for such thoughts. Sain shook his head and took a deep breath, willing those somber thoughts away, and greeted Florina with a smile.

"Good evening, Florina."

"Same to you. It's a lovely night, isn't it?"

"Aye, though more lovely now that you are here." He grinned when she rolled her eyes. "What kept you for so long?"

"I went for a ride. Huey was restless."

"Restless, huh? I've always said pegasi are too high strung."

"Only because a certain someone tried to ride her today." The corner of her lips curved into a smile. "You're just lucky that kick missed."

"Just wait, Florina. One of these days, she'll let me ride her."

"Even though they say pegasi never let men ride them?"

"Especially because they say pegasi never let men ride them," he returned. "Well I'm glad she's feeling better. I was worried you wouldn't make it tonight."

"Actually, Sain…" The smile was gone from her face. She bit her bottom lip and looked away. "There's another reason. I…well, Huey wasn't the only one who felt restless tonight."

Sain frowned. "Are you all right?"

"No – I mean yes, I'm fine. I…just needed time to think, that's all. Only I lost track of time and I knew you were looking forward to tonight and …"

Sain puts his hands on her shoulders, worried by the sudden pallor of her skin and quavering in her voice. "What's wrong?"

Her eyes were huge when they looked up at him. "Sain…there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something I should have told you long ago, but I never could, and then I didn't want to tell you to tonight because I didn't want to ruin –" She broke off and took a deep breath. "I...I think…I mean, I feel –"

"Sick?"

"No!" Sain drew back, shocked by the vehemence in her voice. "I mean to say," she said more gently, "how do you feel about me, Sain?"

"How do I feel about you?" he repeated warily.

"You know, what am I to you?"

"Well…you're my friend. And I'm yours, aren't I?"

"Of course, but…" She searched his gaze. "Have you ever thought of me as anything else? As… a woman?"

Relief flooded through him. "No, of course not, naturally. You know I don't see you like that."

"Oh."

Her crestfallen expression made him even more confused. He took both her hands in his and said, "Florina, if ever I made you feel uncomfortable, you have to let me know. I know friendship is all you want, so I wouldn't make advances." She said nothing still. "Florina, you know that I…I really…" She looked up then, something like hope in her eyes. "Care about you as a friend. I would never-" He stopped, baffled by her exasperated sigh and the way she looked up at the sky in supplication. "What?" he asked

She shook her head…and somehow he was certain she was laughing at him. "It's nothing, Sain. Forget I said anything."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course," she said with a bright smile – too bright -- and took his hand to lead him to the dance floor. "Now let's dance."

"Something's bothering you," he insisted. "Just tell me."

"I'm fine," she said, not looking at him. "Really."

He knew what that word meant. "Florina, I will make you tell me eventually." The music began so he took her right hand in his left and put his other hand high on her back. When she put her free hand on his shoulder, he asked, "And why are you in such a hurry? Is the waltz one of your favorites or something?"

She shook her head. "No, I've only danced it once or twice. But…it's something I've always wanted to learn." She met his gaze at last and he was bemused to see a slight smile on her face. "I wanted to dance it with you."

How could he resist that? "Your wish is my command, my lady," he said, telling himself he'd ask her again later as he swept her into the dance.

At least, he tried to do so. He tamped down a smile as he looked at her bowed head and watched her studiously watching her feet. "The view is much better up here, you know."

A laugh escaped her and she raised her head just long enough to send him a wry glance. "But I don't want to step on you."

"I think I can handle it." No response. "I'm serious, Florina. Dancing is all about moving to the music, letting it flow through you, not having to think – are you counting?"

"Umm…no?"

Sain laughed and brought them to a stop. "This won't work."

"What won't?"

"You have to relax."

"I am relaxed."

He looked at the hand clenching his shoulder. "No, you're not."

She sighed. "Sorry."

"You shouldn't be. It's only a dance, after all. Just follow my lead -- and stop looking at your feet."

"But I can't. I won't know where my feet are supposed to go. I won't know where I'm supposed to go."

"You'll know because you'll be going where I'm going. You can feel it, Florina."

Another sigh, this one a little more forlorn than the last. "I still don't understand."

He pondered this for a moment, then grinned devilishly. Slowly, gently, he applied pressure to her back and drew her close, close enough so that the space between them whispered away. For a moment he was startled by the warmth that sprung up between them, the way her body fit perfectly against his. She gasped.

"Are you we supposed to be this close?" she whispered.

"Of course."

"I don't believe you."

He laughed quietly and smiled into wide blue-gray eyes. "Just to take your mind off your feet. It's easier for you to know where I'm going this way. Trust me, Florina."

She looked at him for a long time. "All right, Sain."

"Then here we go," he said as he took her hand again. He counted the beats as he stepped forward. She moved with him, never taking her eyes from his. He grinned the first time she stepped on his feet; so did she. But as the music played on he could feel the difference in her, the way she stopped counting and simply moved with him, responding to his every touch. Dancing with him smoothly, surely, as if she'd danced with him a hundred times before. He spun her about and she laughed as she twirled back into his arms. He caught her against him, smiling into her upturned face.

"You're doing beautifully."

"I am, aren't I?" she said with wonder. "It must be because of you."

Sain shook his head. "No, this is all you. You're beautiful, Florina."

His breath caught at the smile that suddenly lit up her face, gray eyes shining silver in the moonlight. They said nothing more as they danced to the lilting strains of music flowing through them, around them, till they moved as one. How was it that they had never danced before? Because at that moment he could swear he had danced with no other. It was as if he'd always known the feel of her in his arms, as if she were the other half he'd lost long ago, only to find her again in this dance. He wasn't sure if he believed in destiny, but if he did, he would say this moment was meant to be, that he was born to hold his woman in his arms.

Ridiculous. He shook his head and tried to shrug off the feeling. This was Florina, for Elimine's sake. His friend. But his heart was racing and he couldn't seem to catch his breath. Why, when he had seen her a thousand times before, did it feel like was seeing her for the first time? He searched her face, seeing her thick hair curl around her shoulders, the blush that tinted her cheeks. And her eyes, now the color of the sky before a storm, endless pools of blue and gray that he could lose himself in forever.

The moonlight and music were playing tricks on him, he decided. They must be. He knew she was beautiful; he'd always known that, but tonight…something was different. There was something about her, something he couldn't name, that drew him like a moth to the flame. He didn't understand. She was his friend, one of his best friends, and he cared about her, maybe more than he'd cared about than anyone else, and if he wasn't careful he just might --

No. His mind screeched to a halt. No. He couldn't be in love with her. He couldn't be. It never felt like this. Besides, he'd never even wanted to kiss her, so how could he possibly be in love with her?

He turned his gaze back to her only to find his eyes wandering to her lips. They were parted in a smile, soft and tempting -- and the shock of desire punching through his gut made him stagger. He wanted to kiss her. Florina.

Bloody hell.

"Sain?" she asked with concern. "Are you all right?"

"Right as rain," he said weakly.

"Something is wrong," she insisted. "You look pale."

"No," he croaked. He cleared his throat and said, "No, nothing is wrong." Everything is wrong. "Everything is fine, really." She wasn't convinced, but kept dancing.

Sain tried to smile and pretend nothing was wrong, while putting as much distance between them as the dance allowed. He couldn't believe it. Surely he didn't…surely he hadn't…damn it! If it was anyone else, maybe, but this was Florina. She'd made it perfectly clear that she only wanted him as a friend. Just that night, in fact! And he had to go and botch that. If she knew what he was thinking, she'd probably go running in the opposite direction. Their friendship meant more to him than this – what surely had to be – a passing fancy.

But even as he told himself that, he knew there was another reason it could never be. He already cared too much about her. If he let himself care any more, if he let himself love her…he would lose her. Or himself. He couldn't do it. He wouldn't do it.

Sain made up his mind. He would forget this ever happened and keep his distance until it passed. And it would, he told himself. It didn't mean anything.

She was only a friend, and this was only a dance.