Masked

Chapter 2

Oh God.....this is so not happening!  Was the only thought running through her mind.

How is he HERE?!  Their last meeting ended with her dumping a bucket of milk on his head...

Ah! Sweet memories....

"Hey, hey, hey! Are you alright?" Two warm hands cupped her face. She looked up into his eyes. Most girls would probably swoon and fall into his arms.

But Arya was not most girls.

"I'm FINE! I could've handled that myself!" She slapped his hands away.

"Uh, you were backed up against a tree, scared out of your wits with nothing to defend yourself with.......sure you would have" his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Jerk.

"A..a...arya? I wanna go home..." John whimpered.

Oh God! She felt guilty, how could she forget!

What must he be going through right now...that was not for a five year old to experience....

"Come on little fellow, let's get you home. Your mother is worried sick!"

William- that's His name by the way- lifted little John and placed him at the back of his horse.

"Hop on" he gestured to Arya.

"No thank you, I know how to ride" she turned around to climb onto her own horse.

Oh...he ran away.....

Heat crept up her face as she wordlessly turned back and climbed up behind John, while William's shoulders silently shook.

Urgh!

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"How many damn times do I tell you?! You are NOT to ride into the forest! Don't you ever learn! Oh good God! To think what would have happened if sweet William here hadn't come to your rescue!"

Blah blah blah... blah blah blah

"Are you even listening?!"

No mom, I tuned out when you used sweet and William in the same sentence..

"Yes mom, I promise never to do so again. Now can I be excused?"

"No you may not! This is one time too far...you are never riding again! "

Arya's jaw dropped. "What?! You can't do that! You know how much riding means to me! I'll do whatever you say, just not that please!" She pleaded.

"No, I'm not backing down on this decision. Now, make sure William is comfortable, he has travelled a long way." With that she whirled around and gracefully walked away.

"I don't know why you even bother to plead with her, it's not like you listen to her anyway." Someone muttered behind her.

She turned to glare at him. He smirked.

"What ARE you doing here anyway?" Arya asked.

"What ,you didn't know? Your father requested me to join his circles..... you know what  is getting out of hand." He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. ".....so many lives lost..."

Maybe he's not so bad after all....

"But you know, now that I'M  here, all that is going to change." He smirked his signature smirk.

I spoke too soon.

"Let's see about that. Anyway, the guest room is the first one on the right, third floor. If you want anything, don't ask me."

"What? No tour around the house? "

Arya narrowed her eyes.

"You and I both know that you know this place as well as the back of your hand. "

He had been almost like a part of her family for as long as she could remember. Until two years ago, when William's parents were murdered.

William was fifteen then. Even at that age, without letting himself go downhill and wallow in despair,  he took a firm decision.  He went off in search of a good arms master to learn what he could. He was set on avenging his parents.

She admired him for that....but ofcourse she'll never admit that to him!

They had held a small farewell for him. Arya had gotten a bit teary eyed. She still remembered that day.....

The clouds overhead were dark. They rumbled and expressed their disapproval of William leaving.

Many people had gathered to see him off and wish him luck. The look on his face was etched  in everyone's heart. He had a look of grim determination. A sort of fire in his eyes. He seemed to burn from within, ready to scorch anything that comes in his path.

Long story short, he managed to irk her like he normally did and Arya had gotten a bit teary eyed and  showed a token of affection by hurling the  nearest thing at him. Which unfortunately turned out to be a pail of milk.

A ghost of a smile haunted his lips at that. It had been months since he had laughed or even smiled...with that, he had left....

And now he was back.