[On Hold] The Assassin's New Beginning

15

Her sword scattered to the ground.
Again.

Her head was a ball of fury. Her arm loosened grip every time Arobynn striked her arm.

"I'm sorry." She muttered.

"Sorry's not enough." Arobynn said roughly. "You need to be able to fight with your left as well. Do you think I will let you go off with a vulnerable side? I will not allow people to think I couldn't train you well."

Only a week ago, Arobynn began training Celaena with her weaker arm.

"There's nothing I can do." Celaena cried, throwing her hands up in defeat. "I want to fix it as well." At that she grabbed a dagger with her right hand and threw it across the room towards the target. It fit the bulls eye flawlessly. Arobynn watched quietly, so quiet the Celaena was worried what he was going to say next.

Arobynn walked around quietly, before swinging a leg at Celaena. She held up her right arm and blocked it just before it hit her face.

"If you're that desperate then show it." Arobynn said.

Celaena whipped her head around to look at him. "What do you mean?" She breathed out slowly.

Arobynn suddenly picked up a dagger and threw it at her. Her right hand immediately went up to catch it.

He nodded at the hand. "Break that one way or the other, or I'll do it."
Celaena looked at him, dumbstruck.

He stopped at the entrance. "And believe me; you don't want it to be me."

Dinner was normal, but Celaena was tense. She did her best to avoid Arobynn as much as possible. His grey eyes were the scariest yet. Archer talked naturally and Geoffrey piped in. Celaena nodded as they went. It was only when she looked at Sam did she see the concentration in his eyes as he looked at her. He tilted his head as if questioning, but Celaena waved it off, in the slightest movement only they could see.

After dinner, Celaena hurried back to her chamber, sweat piling above her eyebrows. She reran Arobynn's words through her head over and over again.

Why would he want her to break it? She was midway teaching Archer how to fight and Geoffrey was planning to train with her later. She needed both hands, didn't she? But his message was clear. The next time she sees him, she won't have use for her right hand anymore. What was she going to do?

Doing so, she didn't notice Sam behind her. He grabbed her wrist to stop her. Quickly, she wiped her brows before looking at him casually.

"What?" She asked, crossing her hand across her chest.

"Are you alright? You seemed kinda off today?"

"Why would you think that?"

"Well first of all, you were awfully quiet. And also, you didn't make the usual insults at me." This time, he crossed his arms.

Celaena pressed her palms on her arm to steady it. "Nothing you need to worry about."

"Oh no, I'm not." He turned around and began walking away. Just before turning past the corner, he paused and look back. "I would still that right hand if I were you."

Celaena looked at it. It was shaking tremendously.

It was now night.

Celaena was soaked in her nightgown, thinking of all the possible solutions. Furious and scared, she ran across the room. And with her left hand, she grabbed her dagger, the one with the wooden hilt that she had with her when she came to the Keep. She wanted to prove to herself she could use her left arm just as well. Exhaling slowly, she turned around and raised the dagger next to her ear. She flicked, aiming for the carved circle that decorated the center of her wardrobe.

As if time slowed, she watched the dagger turn and turn and turn and land-inches from the center.

Celaena hunched over. Arobynn had been right. Her left arm was useless.

And it was now or never.

Without any hesitance, she walked to the entrance of the bathroom, grabbed the door frame with one hand and slammed it shut against it.

A million things happened all at once. The thousand needles prickling her nerves, the sound of bones cracking, the muffled scream silenced by the fist in her mouth, and the blood that came afterwards.

She felt the tearing of muscles, and whimpered. She did her best to be quiet. She looked down.

The blood.

Celaena's knees gave up, and she kneeled on the carpet. Streams of tears came down her face, filling the floor under her with tears, sweat and blood. She held her shaking right hand that was bent askew in unusual directions. Tremors shook though her body as she registered the shock.

Slowly, she crawled her way into bed and tore off a piece of her gown to wrap her fingers together.

Still shaking, she rocked herself in her curled up position. She whispered to herself

You mustn't cry.

They mustn't know.

Arobynn mustn't see.

She would be alone till the morning for Ben to find her and the chamber in a mess. He would have no questions, and would just silently mend her broken hand. Everything will be fine tomorrow. Celaena tried to focus on everything but the pain.

Slowly, the pain became faint throbs that numbed her to sleep.

~~~~~~
Hey guys.

This was my favourite one to write so far. I'm sorry for my very unsteady writing habits and schedules. And for those who are wondering what's happening with all this, I'm actually not sure. Trying to sew the setting together for the plot. Anyways, Thanks for sticking with me. :P

Jennifer