Amelia sighed and rolled over in the sleeping bag. She wasn’t asleep, but she didn’t want anyone to worry about her. She was worried enough about Zelgadis. He’d headed off on his own again just a few hours ago. Something about a new lead for a cure.

             The blue eyes of the Princess of Sailune stared up at the stars and the girl again went over the conversation in her mind. He’d acted so… strangely.

            The feeling she’d had when she’d seen Zelgadis nearly broken by Garv came rushing back, and she turned to bury her face in the pillow. She’d almost lost him then… and still hadn’t gotten herself together enough to tell him how she felt. And now… now he was gone and it was too late.

            The pillow was quickly becoming soaked, but she was doing her best to be quiet about it. Surely she wouldn’t wake Lina… and Mister Gourry was on watch. With any luck, neither of them would ever know.

            “No, Amelia.” And he was gone into the woods. Just like that.

            A hand touched her hair, and without looking, Amelia knew that she’d woken Lina. The tears came new with Lina’s touch, and Amelia could only cry harder and pray that Lina wouldn’t offer hollow words of comfort.

            Eventually, sleep would win out over the Princess’ pain. Lina knew this. And she also knew the reason why Zelgadis had left. But she couldn’t tell Amelia. She’d sworn she’d never tell.

             The sobs quieted, and Lina looked up to the stars and wished desperately that she hadn’t come across Zelgadis packing. Wished that he hadn’t told her in quiet words.

            But he had. And while he’d have given his life and soul for the girl, he said, he couldn’t love Amelia while his heart was covered in stone.