A/N: Whoots! I'm loving this story alright! Am I wack or what? Okay, okay. Start from the beginning. This story only got, what? 100 hits? But I have to say, even if you're not reading, I'd still love this story. So now… evil laugh These few chapters will be shorter, because I want to take things one step at a time. I can promise you chapters 5 and 6 will be longer.

Disclaimer: I don't own The Seventh Tower. Are you actually even reading this to begin with?

Chapter 4-Changing Dreams

"No, you can't."

"Yes, I can. Wanna bet?"

"Why not?"

"Okay then. Loser has to… sing a song! And not just any song. A child's song!" Miria's eyes held a mischievous glint in them, and her lips curved upwards in a smile. "In the Cadets' Feasting Hall."

Milla wasn't sure about it. Her friend sounded very confident, but no way was she going to show her nervousness. She was, after all, War-Chief, and she didn't win the war by showing weakness. Besides, it was a long shot. There was no way Miria would ever make it. "Deal," she said, meeting Miria's playful eyes with a stare of her own.

"You said it," replied Miria. Before Milla could reconsider the wisdom of her decision, Miria had already drawn her bow and released not one, but five arrows. Milla watched as they soared through the air and out of sight. She raised her hand and increased the power from her Sunstone, letting its light illuminate the arrows and their mark. They flew true and struck a rock… 200 stretches away.

Milla couldn't believe it. That was a long shot, and she'd never believe anyone could make it. But, as she mentally corrected herself, the impossible has been proven possible ever since Miria showed up.

She'd never had believed an Icecarl could be that cheerful, especially a Shield Maiden. She remembered Tal describing them as "very scary women with no sense of humour". Then again, Tal had never met Miria, who was practically jumping for joy. She supposed that her very existence proved that miracles were possible; she never thought she could be a genetic fluke, or that she'd meet someone with one.

Miria was looking at her expectantly. Milla was puzzled, then she remembered: she had to sing in the Cadets' Feasting Hall! A child's song, no less. She groaned and Miria laughed out loud. "I don't believe this," she grumbled.

"Well, we bet and you lost. So you have to keep your end of the bargain," Miria called to her, already skating over to retrieve her arrows.

"You didn't rig the arrows, did you?" asked Milla suspiciously as Miria returned with them. She made a grab for them, only to have Miria pull them away. "I knew it! You did something to them!"

Miria laughed. "Nope," she said, handing them to her. "They're normal arrows. You better start preparing for it, Milla. There's no way you can ever slip out of this."

Milla gave her a mock glare and headed back to the Ruin Ship. She couldn't believe she would have to… sing. Of all things, why did Miria have to choose her most hated activity? She should have expected it. After all, in the 60 sleeps since she had met her, Milla had spent a lot of time with Miria and knew all of her secrets. Miria also knew all there was to know about the War-Chief.

As they entered the Ruin Ship, Milla casually brought up the subject of the Crones. "So, any luck?"

Miria shook her head. "No, and if I didn't know better, I'd say that they're avoiding me."

"Do you need help? I could ask them if you want."

Miria shook her head again. "No, this is my personal problem. I'd want to ask them by myself."

A Crone popped out of the doorway. Miria stopped speaking and clapped her fists, trying not to act guilty. The Crone ignored her and gestured for Milla to follow her. After a look at Miria to tell her to go on first, Milla left.

Miria didn't want to go back yet, she was still overjoyed over the fact that she made the 200 stretches shot. She headed out again and watched as the younger Shield Maiden cadets made their way back, exhausted. She hadn't seen Elza for a long time. For some reason, her training schedule doubled. She ran out to greet her.

"Anything interesting happened?" she asked lightly.

Elza made a show of being too tired to answer. Miria took the pack from her and shouldered it instead. "Come on, I can tell you're dying to say something."

"We're going to know our Hands later!" Elza burst out. "I can't believe you actually forgot! You have been waiting for this time for, what? Two years?"

Elza's remark had been lost on Miria as she remembered her most hated time of the circling. She didn't expect this circling to be any different. Then again, she didn't care so much about being assigned to a Hand after meeting the War-Chief. She smiled again and said, "Oh, just wanted to make sure you were still alive. I'll drop this off in your room first and then I'll see you in the Feasting Hall, okay?"

Before Elza could respond Miria had disappeared into the twisting halls of the Ruin Ship. "What's with her?" grumbled Elza.

Miria dashed along the hallways, forgetting that the last time she did so she wound up hurting her head. She didn't know what to feel. Her dream had always been to be assigned to a Hand, but now, with Milla around, she didn't know if she'd ever be the same again.

Stop it, she told herself firmly. Chances are, I'm not going to break the old tradition. So might as well go and hear what they have to say.

She tossed Elza's pack in a corner and turned around, intending to run back. Then she saw a Crone walking along the hallway and groaned. She walked slowly behind her, to show her respect for the Crone.

It took her longer than usual to get to the Cadets' Feasting Hall, and by then, everyone had already assembled there. Elza gave Miria a strange look, which she ignored. Being late, she knew that everyone else would have already given her that look anyway.

A silver-eyed Crone ascended the small platform at the other end of the Hall that was constructed for the purpose of giving out announcements. She took a deep breath and began.

"Today, we shall split you cadets into your respective Hands. As some of you already know, we have an odd number again this year, which means that one of you shall have to stay behind."

Miria's mind went blank. She knew who would have to stay behind. She old herslef she didn't care, that it was nothing, but somehow, she couldn't help feeling disappointed.

"But this circling, the one who has been chosen to stay behind will have the honour of escorting out War-Chief up the Mountain of Light on her… mission."

Miria looked up. For the first time, she noticed Milla standing behind the Crone, looking distinctly uncomfortable. She wondered why she was there, but her attention was drawn back to the Crone.

"For this, we have chosen Shield Maiden Cadet…"

Miria knew who would be called already. Perhaps this year staying back wouldn't be so unbearable after all.

But the Crone surprised her. She took a breath to go on, and uttered a single word: "Elza."

A/N: Heh, I'm awfully evil, am I? Yeah, I know this isn't up to standard, but I'm in a rush. I'm sorry that I took an awfully long time as well, but my homework load tripled during the exams. Now that it's over, I hope I can update more often as well. Please review!