Chapter 7

"Just rest, you need it." Elizabeth said quietly replacing the damp cloth on Arnette's forehead. The redhead opened her eyes slowly turning her head to see Elizabeth sitting beside her holding a bowl of water in her lap. A faint orange glow leaked through the openings of the tent indicating it was nearly night. The rest of the tent was empty aside from the two.

"Where's Varen?" Arnette asked.

"He was in worse shape than you. Roxanne has him in the medical tent until he's a bit stronger. She said you both lost a lot of blood." Elizabeth answered.

"Yeah." Arnette replied. Elizabeth looked down at her and reached out taking her hand. Arnette turned her head towards the blonde Pandora looking at her quizzically.

"Arnette, I'm sorry. Not just for our argument, but many things." Elizabeth said.

"Many things?" The redhead asked and Elizabeth nodded.

"Yes. You've become such an amazing Pandora. You did it in the midst of losing Chiffon, and struggling through your own challenges. All while I wasn't there when you may have needed me. I ran away, while you all stayed and fought." Elizabeth explained.

"Andre needed you more." Arnette said.

"Yes, but that doesn't mean sacrificing my friendships. When I heard what was happening from Roxanne I got here as fast as I could. I panicked and wanted to step in to protect you all. I thought I knew what was best." Arnette turned to lay on her side still looking at Elizabeth.

"That's why you disagreed with Varen?" Elizabeth shook her head.

"Not entirely. I still think his plan is suicide and foolish, but…he's not the type to do something like that without a purpose. I argued because I don't want to bury anymore of my friends. If I had known about that report Chevalier released on the Spireach incident I would have joined you all in saving Amelia. Maybe if I had been there, Attia would still…" Elizabeth trailed off.

"You blame yourself don't you?" Arnette asked realizing the amount of guilt Elizabeth now showed. It hadn't been obvious before, but now she could see that the blonde Pandora was more pained than she had realized.

"Attia was a good girl. She didn't deserve to die. If I had been there maybe she would still be alive. I'm sorry I showed up and acted like I was in charge and knew what was best. I just don't want to watch more of my friends die." Elizabeth said wiping her eyes.

"She died to save me you know? Pushed me out of the way." Arnette said sadly.

"Not surprising, she always felt like you were more than just her friend. Like a sister." Elizabeth answered forcing a smile.

"I don't want anyone else to die Elizabeth, but Claire and Charon…they have to pay for what they've done. I know Varen feels the same way and even if it means him and I face all of Chevalier alone we will. I owe that much to Attia." Arnette said resolutely.

"Yeah, I get that now. I was wrong." Elizabeth answered. Arnette squeezed Elizabeth's hand and nodded.

"I'm sorry too. For getting so angry and saying what I said." Elizabeth set the bowl of water aside and knelt on the ground next to the bed. She leaned down and hugged Arnette tightly. After a few moments she leaned back and returned to her seat in the chair next to the bed.

"So…I believe you owe me a story." The blonde Pandora said making Arnette scrunch up her face.

"A story?" Arnette asked not sure what Elizabeth was getting at.

"Yes. I would like to hear about you and Varen." She answered with a grin.

"Oh…that? It just sort of happened." Arnette answered shyly.

"That doesn't just sort of happen! Tell me!" Elizabeth laughed prodding Arnette with her finger.

"After we rescued Amelia he took us to his hometown. You know that he was from a hybrid town right? We thought we'd be safe there off the grid. The last months were spent living there. Elizabeth, it was beautiful. I mean the lack of electricity and modern technology didn't even matter. We all found a place there and felt like we belonged. I wish you could have seen it." The redhead began to explain.

"It sounds nice." Elizabeth agreed with a nod.

"It was. Anyway, they had a festival of sorts one of the first nights we were there. A party to welcome us and they played music and everyone was dancing. Even Attia got asked by one of the local boys. Varen asked me if I wanted to dance. Between being that close to him ad Attia trying to coax me into saying something all my emotions began to spill over. I couldn't control it anymore." Arnette explained. Elizabeth leaned forward listening intently.

"What then?"

"Ugh…I started crying like a baby. It wasn't pretty. He kept trying to comfort me and make me feel better. I think he believed that I was upset because of the whole attack on Chevalier and at the time having to be in hiding. He felt like he had torn me away from my life and was guilty." Arnette continued.

"Oh no…did you…" Elizabeth trailed off and Arnette nodded.

"Yep, right then and there I just blurted out that I loved him. I didn't even regret it. Threw all my cards on the table and left it to him." She laughed shaking her head.

"That's amazing! I can only imagine the look on his face! I'm sure he was flattered." Elizabeth said, but Arnette shook her head.

"He rejected me. I even argued with him, but he told me no. It was too soon after Chiffon and he didn't want me to get hurt. He said that those who get close to him die and he didn't want me to share the same fate as his sister or Chiffon. No matter what I said, he told me no." Arnette continued and Elizabeth's face took on a look of confusion.

"Wait, what?"

"After that we just sort of ignored it ever happened. I resolved myself to wait until he changed his mind. Four months went by and we just pretended like that night never happened.

There's also something you should know. Varen can communicate with Pandora through his stigmata. Doesn't matter the distance he can do it. It's hard to explain, but he can create connections with Pandora through his stigmata and communicate through that connection. Anyone connected can physically see and hear each other." Arnette explained.

"Normally I would look stupefied or argue with you, but I'm well aware who we are talking about here and I've long given up on trying to explain Varen, so continue." Elizabeth said shaking her head.

"Tell me about it. I'm telling you about it because we agreed to let Ingrid know once we were safe using that ability. Varen and I had shared these connections before naturally, but wanted to try and do it purposefully. I told him we should perform a baptism and see if it was possible to use a real Ereinbar Set to control the connections." Arnette explained. She left out the parts about seeing glimpses of the future deciding it best not to get into that right now.

"A baptism? I thought he could form Ereinbar Sets without the need for one?" Elizabeth asked.

"Correct, but I thought synchronizing together would enhance things. We always had some strange connection so it was logical to try and see what would happen."

"And?" Elizabeth asked.

"It succeeded. Anytime he uses that ability to connect to others I can sense it and activate the Ereinbar Set to jump in. It's what happened today. I don't know who he was looking for or talking to, bur Charon must be able to sense him like I can. She invaded his connection and attacked him. She would have killed him if I hadn't gotten there in time. Even so, she almost killed both of us. It seems the injuries we sustain while connected through stigmata still translates to our physical bodies." Arnette explained.

"I see. So, you successfully synchronized? You aren't just a normal pair though…you're together right? What happened?" Elizabeth asked and Arnette blushed heavily.

"Well, when we synchronized I was able to see the truth of how he felt. You know how nothing can be hidden? I heard him say he loved me." Arnette answered.

"That's great! So then what? Did he sweep you off your feet? He seems like the romantic type." Elizabeth asked with a laugh. Arnette just turned a deeper shade of red.

"Not exactly. We sort of…um…you know?" Arnette tried to explain tapping her fingers together. Elizabeth widened her eyes noticeably.

"Seriously? You did it?" Elizabeth asked her mouth hanging open.

"Yeah…" The redhead answered pulling the blanket up over her head.

"Wow. Was it your first time?"

"Of course!" Arnette shouted from under the blanket.

"I was just asking!" Elizabeth snapped back.

"Attia caught us in bed the next morning. It was horrible." Arnette continued and Elizabeth couldn't hold back her laughter.

"She did? Hah! So? How was it?" Elizabeth asked and Arnette peeled the blanket down enough to reveal her eyes.

"How was what?" She asked and Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"You know what. How was it?"

"You don't know?" Arnette asked incredulously revealing the rest of her face. Elizabeth looked away nervously before shaking her head.

"No…well, I mean not yet anyway." She answered.

"But, you and Andre are together now right? You been a pair for a long time I figured you two would have done it by now." Arnette said.

"Yeah, he said he wants to make sure the time is right and everything. Make it special." Elizabeth said and Arnette's eyes widened.

"Wait! He's the one holding it back not you?"

"That's right. We came close once, but he said he didn't want it to be just an act of lust. He didn't want to disappoint me." Elizabeth answered wistfully.

"I see…" Arnette trailed off.

"Did Varen do the same for you?" Elizabeth asked curiously. Arnette was already lost in her own thoughts and simply answered before her brain could fully react.

"Nah, we tore each other's clothes off and did it in the hot springs." Elizabeth's mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

"Really? You did?" Elizabeth finally managed to ask. Arnette looked away unable to go back on what she had said and simply nodded once.

"Yeah, and then again in the kitchen in his house." She said.

"Twice!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Once more in bed after the kitchen…" Arnette said softly and Elizabeth nearly fell from her chair.

"You're like rabbits! So…it was good then?" Elizabeth asked slightly embarrassed.

"It was good." Arnette answered showing a slight smile.

"Well, maybe I need to be more aggressive too then. Now, I'm the one who needs to look to you for advice." Elizabeth said smiling back at Arnette.

"Thanks Elizabeth." Arnette said pulling the blonde Pandora down to hug her once more. Both their eyes flashed open as they heard a sound nearby. A shuffling sound like someone moving on their bed. They clung to each other fearfully.

"This is so sweet. Two friends making up. Talking about all sorts of indecent acts. I never knew you two were such perverts." Ingrid said smiling broadly from her bed where she had been laying under her blanket resting.

"Oh my god!" Arnette and Elizabeth both cried in unison unable to hide their shame.