[On Hold] The Assassin's New Beginning

10

A white stag jumped through the woods, gracefully weaving around the trees that were covered with a fresh layer of snow. As he sprinted, he left a silver shimmer in its wake.

Suddenly, he stopped at the edge of the ravine and stared at her. She gazed at the slender body of his, his great antlers towering over his mighty head. He looked strong, yet gentle at the same time. She almost felt the strength he gave off; she wanted to reach him, but the gap prevented her from going forward.

She wanted to gaze at him forever, but forever wasn't long enough. The stag began to turn around and headed back into the never-ending forest. She tried to call for him, but the wind started to howl until nothing could be seen.

The bright morning light greeted her as she pulled down the cover. She shook her head. She had been getting the same dream over and over again since she came here. It's been a week since she got accepted here, as an assassin.

She reminisced that fight with Sam again, since it was the only one she had. After that, Arobynn left her alone to do some heavy training with Ben. She shivered at the thought of the battle, that with one flick of a wrist, she could've slit his throat.

But I didn't, she reminded herself.

Still, she felt the remaining adrenaline passing through her veins. She never felt so alive before. But that was wrong, killing was wrong. But that was what she was supposed to do now, wasn't it? She was supposed to kill whenever it was needed, whenever it was requested. That was what she agreed to when she chose Arobynn's proposal instead of Clarisse's.

She threw herself back into her bed and buried her face into the pillows. It smelt like home. But home was so far away, and she'll never be able to go back. Tears welled up in her eyes. This didn't have to happen, if it weren't for the war.

A surge of hatred passed through her. She ran away from home to seek refuge in a place filled with the kind of people that killed her parents. Why was she here?

She was brought out of her thoughts by the knocking on the door and Ben poking his head inside.

"Did I wait you up, Sleeping Beauty?" Ben joked as he fit himself through the entrance. She laughed with him

"No, I've already woken up when you called," she replied. Ben dug through her closet and threw her combat clothing onto the foot of her bed.

He's why I'm still here and sane, she thought. Thank god she had him. He treated her like he was her father, which was nice.

"Ben," she asked. "Why are you here? I mean, why do you help me so much?"

Ben looked at her before having a long thought. "I had a daughter like you, Celaena."

"Oh," was all she could say. There was a long silence before Ben began talking again.

"Well, meet me at the dining hall." Ben clasped his hand together. "Don't be late, Celaena."

Celaena. The name still seemed so foreign to her. But she knew it was the name she'd use if she were to start fresh again.

She pulled herself out of her bed and stared at her clothes, which were already beginning to get worn out.