Okay, so you do get the extra chapter, as promised. It's still a little short, but it's longer than the previous chapter, so be grateful.

And all the people hitting this story from Canada, Germany, Puerto Rico, Sweden, Honduras (where IS that, anyway?), Finland, Austria, Australia, Singapore, Mexico, Denmark and Chile, as well as my loyal US/UK fans - thank you! You've made my stats page ever so colourful with all your countries. ^^ I'm really happy that my story's so widespread. So if you have friends you think might like this fic, pass it on. Send them a link, or print it out. LET'S GO GLOBAL! -maniacal laughter-

A/N: This chapter reminds me heavily of my very first FE fic (never published). I really had to restrain myself from turning this into full-blown slash. Oh, and I started yelling at the screen at one point to try and wake up (an opportune moment, and he sleeps through it. Sigh).

But I hope you'll enjoy it, and as I have a half-day at school tomorrow, I might try for yet another chapter.

Soren's immediate thought when he woke was that he couldn't breathe properly. Something heavy was pressing down on his chest. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the room, he could make out the distinct mop of blue hair that brushed against him as he attempted to slowly sit up. He wasn't quite cruel enough to deliberately wake the commander.

Soren slowly sidled to the edge of the mattress, letting Ike slip from him to the mattress with a soft flump. He watched the commander sleeping for a moment. Soren was sure he never looked this peaceful when he was awake. Resisting the urge to touch Ike's hair, Soren turned away and inspected his wound. There were no longer any visible splinters, and it seemed as though it might heal in a matter of days.

It was still dark outside, and Soren knew it was earlier than even he usually woke. Still, he could hardly get back to sleep…particularly considering his bed was now taken by someone else. He stood up and walked over to the other side of the room. It was only as he moved that he felt a damp patch on his tunic. Not the expected one at his side, for the blood was mostly dry by this point, but running along the upper part of his back, between his shoulder blades. He supposed he must have had a nightmare and sweated during the night. Either way, he decided it was for the better to change clothes.

He had reached the cupboard and found a clean tunic before he remembered Ike was still in the room. Soren hesitated for a moment, watching the commander carefully for any signs that he might wake up, but he remained in as deep a sleep as ever. Still cautious, Soren pulled the dirty tunic off, his skinny body shivering in the early morning breeze. His wrist caught in the fabric as he put the clean one on, and he had to fight somewhat to untangle himself. The crisp linen felt cool against his skin, though, and he sat down against the wall, just letting the moments pass by.

Some time afterwards - and Soren was not sure exactly when - dawn broke, sending rays of light cascading down the wall. He glanced over at Ike as the commander murmured in his sleep. Soren smiled as the commander's hand swept across the sheets, searching for the figure that had previously been nearby. "Are you awake?"

Ike murmured a groan in reply.

"Were you here all night?" Soren asked. He couldn't help his smile growing as Ike heaved himself up and turned around in a vague effort to face Soren. His hair was tousled and his eyes only half open, looking far more of a mess than Soren had even with a bloodied arrow in his side.

"Mmh…yeah…" Ike rubbed his forehead with his palms. "I was going to leave once you'd fallen asleep, but I stayed for a moment…and then I suppose I fell asleep, too." He ran a hand through his hair. "What time is it?"

"Just gone daybreak." Soren hid his smile as the commander attempted to stand up on legs that buckled beneath him. "Legs not awake yet?"

"No, neither am I. Should you be up this early?"

Soren shrugged. "I usually am." He realised the commander was referring to his wound, and quickly amended himself. "It's healing well enough. I should be back in a matter of days."

Ike nodded, looking a little more awake by this point. "Glad to hear it. Don't overexert yourself though, Soren." He broke off into a yawn.

Soren smirked. "You either, Ike. All this sleep must be very wearing for you."

"Was that sarcasm I detected? You must be feeling better." Ike grinned. "Anyway. I have to go and talk to Titania before the morning meeting. A few more days and we'll be in Gallia, but that might not stop the Daein army." He stifled another yawn. "You need to get some rest while you can, Soren. I'll talk to you later, OK?"

Soren nodded and rested his head against the wall. As Ike left the room, he could have sworn he saw the commander dusting a splinter from his hand.