Masked

Chapter 7

Arya slowly rode forward. She was feeling jittery.

Oh God...i'm a teeny bit scared...

The horse neighed but continued forward. She felt eyes boring into the back of her head and quickly turned back. Nothing but trees.

She took a deep breath. I can do this.

She rode for some more time till she thought she heard some voices. "Father?....William?"

The voices slowly stopped.

Hooves thudded the forest floor. Some one emerged from the dense cluster of trees.

"Arya? What are you doing here?" It was Derik.

She let out her breath. "Thank God! It's you!....well, um, I came looking for my father....do you by any chance know where he is?  And what are you doing here?"

Derik grinned. "I was just with your father and that annoying friend of yours... we split ways a few moments ago. "

"Oh...I thought I heard voices..."

"Ah, that was the others of the circle...come with me."

Derik turned his horse around and plodded on and soon disappeared into the foliage.

Arya followed him.

They emerged into a clearing. Men sat around the fire, laughing jovially, singing and passing a flask-probably mead- around.

They all stared at her. "Who's the pretty lady?" A toothless man grinned and asked Derik.

"Sir Dalhousie's daughter. You'll keep to yourself if you know what's good for you!" He barked out harshly.

The grin slowly slipped from his face. He averted his eyes.

Derik beckoned for the flask. One of the men threw it to him.

He took a gulp and sighed. "We've been looking, searching, every where! But we haven't gotten even the slightest of clues...." he confided to Arya.

Didn't father tell him?

"Don't worry, something will come up!"

"Arya? What are you doing here?" She looked around and spotted her father behind.

"Father! Why didn't you wake me! I-"

He shook his head discreetly. Not here. He seemed to convey.

She closed her mouth. William followed from behind him.

They all settled around the fire and ate. Arya cuddled up to her father. "Are we staying the night?"

"Yes but I didn't anticipate you...it's too late to turn back now. " He let out a breath. "I wish I taught you to fight sooner. You need to defend yourself...."

"Well, you can make up for it by getting a better tutor!"

"Why, is something wrong?"

"Is something wrong? Is something wrong?! Everything is wrong! He's not teaching me anything,  just making me do sit ups. And he's annoying as hell! He makes me want to tear my hair and scream!" She rambled on like that for sometime.

Her father just looked at her, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"What are you smiling for?! I'm pouring my problems! "

"Oh, nothing...don't worry, you'll get used to him. And no, I'm not replacing him. Now, it's late. Go on, it's time for bed. He got up and gently steered her towards the tent. "See you in the morning!"

Arya sighed. Why me?

----------------------

Arya jolted awake. What was that sound?

Screech! Keeee! Eeeep.

Arya stood up and peeped out of the tent.

Everyone was inside their tents, fast asleep.

Screech! Keeeee!

There it was again. She followed the sound.

Should I wake someone up? What if it's nothing? Just an animal?

She hesitated. It was plain stupidity to go wandering around the forest at night. Alone. Even she knew that.

Arya stopped in her tracks. I'm going back to sleep.

She turned around and almost bumped into William.

"Can't sleep?" He asked her.

"I thought I heard something...." she looked behind her into the darkness.

"Me too....but it's probably just an animal." He shrugged.

"Did it wake you?"

"No....I was already awake...couldn't sleep. "

He sat down and placed his chin on his knees. He looked into the dying fire, deep in thought.

She sat down, crossed leg, next to him. "What's the matter?"

He didn't speak for a long time. He just sat there, a far look in his eyes.

"My mom....she used call me her "pumpkin". I used to get annoyed then...but now, I'll do anything to hear that one more time." A single tear slid down his cheek.

Arya's heart clenched. She felt so much sympathy for him but she knew he wouldn't want to hear that.

She let him be and just sat next to him in silence. Just comforting him with her presence.

They sat like that till the first rays of the sun shone through the clouds, bringing a new day, a new hope, a day full of opportunities....