Zayn's POV
Losing hurt my pride a little, but she deserves every bit of name and fame for her skills. She truly is a phenomenal fighter, level headed, thinks before she attacks, well trained. Ok I'm rambling, it's just that I'm truly impressed.
"Your highness?" her soft voice breaks my train of thought.
When had she approached me?
I look up to meet her eyes as if to tell her to continue causing her to lower her gaze.
"I just wanted to say that you fought well, I haven't had such a good opponent in a while," she smiles looking back at me.
"Thank you. You're the one of the best opponents I've had the well fortune of fighting," I reply with a smile.
"I wouldn't call having an opportunity to fight as well fortune," she sighs with a weak smile.
"No, no. Th-that's not not what I m-meant," I start stuttering causing her to attempt to stifle a laugh.
"I understand what you meant your highness," she reassures still laughing at my expense.
Her laughing causes a blush on my cheeks out of embarrassment. If the price of seeing a pure laugh her laugh like that is this embarrassment then I'd make a fool of myself a thousand times over.
"Any other plans for the day Prince Zayn?" she inquires.
The only plan I have today is to see that smile again.
"I was thinking of taking a trip to town, all of us," I reply.
She should appreciate a trip to town, Zailaan is gorgeous this time of year. I can also receive intel on the war from in town. The border isn't close to this town so traveling there shouldn't be risky either.
"To town?" Harry steps in to the conversation.
Why did he have to jump in?
"Yes, if Niall and Princess Roxanne are leaving tonight, a trip to town would be nice," I reply dryly.
"Wonderful, let's hurry so we can come back before sundown," Amira says clapping cheerfully.
"Are we all going to disguise ourselves or was that idea previously for your humor?" Louis asks as everyone comes closer.
"Don't be silly, of course we're not dressing up in disguises," Princess Akhira scoffs.
"Well then, I believe we should all go and get ready," I announce ushering everyone to hurry and disperse. "Well then, I believe we should all go and get ready," I announce ushering everyone to hurry and disperse.
Amira grabs Soraya- I mean Afsa and drags her with her
initiating the scattering of our group. Soon I am the only one left,
wallowing in my thoughts. Will father truly try and take over Ajra? Will it be
a wise idea? With Princess Aria dead, and a dictator in control, we are a
better option but still will the people of Ajra accept us? In their eyes are we
any better than Duke Anwar? To them a foreign power might not be a good idea. Do
their people truly not know what their ruler looked like? Was the Princess that
aloof even with her own people? Can Soray-Afsa really pull it off? Is it wrong
of me to ask such things of her?
"Zayn!" Amira yells clapping in front of me.
I shake my head and look around, lost in my thoughts, I hadn't realized when they all came back.
"Goodness, are you okay?" Prince Liam asks concerned.
"Sorry, I'm fine just lost in thoughts. Anyways, shall we then?" I carry on.
"If it's no trouble to you and you are truly ok," Louis says.
"Yes, I'm truly fine," I reiterate as I lead them to the gate where two royal carriages are waiting for us.
"If I may ask a question," Afsa starts in a soft voice.
"Yes?" I ask turning around to face her.
She was wearing a simple maroon dress with a perfectly pinned black hijab. I wonder what she could possibly want, I hope she doesn't ask to stay. I really want her to come with us.
"If we are to pretend that we are not royalty, shouldn't we be traveling in something less conspicuous?" she inquires.
That's true. Why hadn't I thought of that?
"Hmmm, that's true. What would you suggest?" I counter.
"Well I'm not saying that we shouldn't use carriages, I merely saying that there are less expensive and ornate carriages such as perhaps the kind kept for visitors," she replies without hesitation.
A/N: Kind of a short and somewhat filler chapter, I've been having terrible writers block and school is taking over my life so I humbly apologize for the lack of writing. Hopefully I'll have more soon. Comment and tell me what you think.
This update is dedicated to all my readers who have bared with me through my long period of not writing.
Also I am rewriting this book and it will be published as a new story. It will still be called Masked. I will be changing characters and it will not be a Zayn fic. I will hopefully continue this as well. Please check that out as well. Also I posted a book of short stories check that out too please. Also I write poetry, do you think I should post those in a book? Thank you!
Ramadan Kareem to all my Muslim readers, may this blessed month be beneficial to us all. :)
-Aria
YOU ARE READING
Masked A Zayn Malik AU
Fanfiction"I had no other choice," - Princess Arya Afsar Ajram. Is it wrong to lie if it saves one's life? With her life in danger, Arya lies to Prince Zayn. She hides her true identity, afraid of death at his hands, she assumes a name of a close confidante...
