Arya

The guards below pull out their swords. The glint of sunlight againt polished metal nearly blinds me.

"Who goes there?" The guard with the raised visor calls out.

I remain by the wall.

The impact of the fall keeps my legs stunned for a while.

They start drawing closer to where I am perched.

Deciding to try my luck, I pick up a rock and toss it a good distance away from me. The guards stop, then they start moving in the direction where the stone had landed.

I heave a loud sigh of relief - I hadn't really expected them to fall for it so easily.

Taking the opportunity, I dash east. The only sound betraying my movement is that of my slippers crushing against the gravel littered along the pavement.

My shadow lingers along the walls as I move.

Pressed silk and satin flurry about me, dancing with the wind.

Such extravagant clothing would only succeed in getting me killed.

At the end of the path is a huge fence. I have no idea what lies beyond the fence, but there is no other alternative.

I grab the protruding stones and begin the climb. My feet digs into the crevices left by the wind and rain.

Just when I think I'm moving forward, my foot slips.

"You there! Get down from the wall now!" A guard yells.

I glance over my shoulder, using every curse word I dare to use loudly.

The guard below looks quite young. His eyes are shielded by his glinting helmet, but I can feel his wide and fearful eyes beneath.

He is girded in chainmail almost twice his size - it must be quite heavy.

A long, double-edged sword is gripped between two shaky hands.

He's just a boy, I realize.

I scramble upward despite his threat. My hands clutch the stones above, slip and try again.

"Halt in the name of the King. If you leave me no choice, by the gods, I will strike you down."

My hands scratch the slippery stone and I slip from the wall.

I land on the ground in a heap of tangled silks and satins.

A muffled groan tears from my lips.

The boys inches closer in a jiggle of metal.

Something presses into my shoulder through the thin fabric of the dress.

I twist my body to pick it up. It's a stone.

The boy holds the sword down in front of me, his hands trembling furiously.

I toss the stone away.

As soon as his eyes follow the stone, I reach for his sword with my bare hands.

Startled eyes meet mine through the visor as we graple for the sharp blade. The sword cuts into the flesh of my calloused palms, drawing blood instantly.

The glinting steel threatens to blind me as the sun's magnificent rays keep reflecting into my eyes.

I hiss loudly, but tighten my grip on the blade until I seize it from his shaky hands.

I fall back from the impact of pulling. So does he.

Instead of rising to his feet and running for his dear life, he crawls to his knees. His head remains lowered to the ground.

Lost honour - death. The fate of every failed warrior in the King's guard.

I climb to my feet. The sword feels foreign in my hands.

Chainmail and metal gear rattle in the distance - the others are near.

He glances up at me when I make no move to kill him.

"I won't kill you, boy." I don't give him enough time to register my words. "But, I'd do this." I butt his head with the hilt of the sword.

He falls to the ground with a loud thud.

I resume my climb up the wall, my pace slowed by the sword in my hands.

Once my hands touch the very top of the fence, I haul myself up.

The sword slips from my hand and falls in the other side.

"Intruder!" Someone calls.

I don't bother glancing back.

I drag both legs over the edge and slip down without a second thought.

Shouts erupt from the guards, feet rustle behind the wall, curses fill the air.

I land on the ground, a few feet from where the sword had fallen. I scramble to where it is and pick it up.

Climbing to my feet, I survey my environment while dusting myself off.

I'm in a farm. A grain farm.

Surprisingly, I had only sustained a few scrapes and bruises from the fall - no cuts and broken bones for once.

I grasp the sword tighter, confidence flooding through my veins once more.

My jaw hardens as I cut a path through the tall sheaves of wheat.

Some of the grain flies into the air, sticking to my hair in the process.

I pluck one out of my hair and taste it. It doesn't taste good.

Corn fills the further part of the field. The corn here is dark brown, growing on long cobs.

A memory blooms. I rub the side of my head. I remember eating roasted corn. I had been outside, under the beautiful glare of the sun. The same man that keeps plaguing my memories was with me.

Why can't I remember this man? Who was he to me?

Is my mind playing tricks on me?

I cut a corn cob with my sword and bite on it. It's sweet, but dry.

Now, I need water. The last time I tasted water was when salty sea water shoved itself down my throat, trying to drown me.

I snag a few and keep walking forward. It brings back fond memories. As an orphan, I used to take a few things from open farms. The key was to never get caught. And, I never did.

At the end of the field is an open grassy plain.

The air here is full and sweet. It toys with my hair and flimsy clothing.

This place, wherever it is, is beautiful.

I can see the mountain's peak from where I'm standing. That's where the Direwolves live.

I cross the barely travelled path, my shadow following deftly behind me.

A heavy wind starts blowing heavily from above. It picks up dust and debris in its wake. I shield my eyes immediately from the threat. A very large shadow is cast above me.

I dare to look up. A massive beast with huge wings flies above me.

With each flap of its wings, a wave of wind pushes me backward.

It wants to land.

I stagger backward, moving away as much as I deign to.

As it draws nearer to the ground, its eyes become visible.

They're bright red - just like Fang's.

Then, with one last flap, it's claws sink into the ground and its wings flatten on the grass.

It's only when it lowers its neck that I get a glimpse of the people riding the beast.

The dragon's eyes flicker, resting on me with a laziness that inspires curiousity.

I know those eyes. There's a black slit where the pupils should be.

It has a robe about its long and scaled neck. The head is adorned with protruding teeth-like scales.

The first person to dismount is Chen. I'd recognise him anywhere - he literally vapourized my head.

Two women, which I don't know, succeed him. Then a boy. The last person is venus - the space traveller.

The dragon raises its neck and roars into the sky.

Then, it backs away slowly before taking off again.

With each powerful flap of its wings, the earth below breaks up.

I stare down at the large prints it left in its wake.

Chen recognizes me instantly.

"You're still alive?" He calls out, not daring to come any closer.

His hands are clenched at his side, but I can feel the surprise in his voice.

The women just stare at me.

I glance down at my elegant dress streaked with mud at the hem. I resemble a swamp princess.

"Indeed." I call across the distance.

Venus vanishes and appears before me.

"Why don't you ever die?" He asks.

His eyes are fierce, his mouth a thin, hard line.

I meet his gaze, unflinching.

His gaze skims over me before turning to the field behind me.

I notice his eyes brighten at the sight of the corn.

Realizing he must be hungry, I pull out the cobs I had harvested earlier and hand one to him.

He looks down at the object in my hands, his eyes glittering for a split second.

I watch him expectantly. His gaze meets mine briefly, then returns to the food I'm offering.

I decide to withdraw my offer when he takes too long. He reaches out and grabs the cob.

Without wasting a second, he sinks his teeth into it, closing his eyes at the sheer pleasure of it.

I avert my gaze to give him privacy.

When he swallows the first mouthful, he rests soft eyes on mine.

"Thank you."

I nod, not trusting myself to speak.

The others start approaching hesitantly.

Chen reaches me first.

"Do you happen to have any more of that... um..."

"Yes." I don't let him finish.

He refuses to meet my gaze, even as he takes the cob from my outstretched hands.

I hand the last one to the boy and start running across the field to get more.

As the wind carresses my face and dances with my hair and robes, I feel free again.

The feeling is weird and uncertain, but there nonetheless.

How had they been able to break out of the confines of the Blink?

Then, I remember Fang. My smile fades.

No one is safe if she's around.

Especially when I'm the reason she's here.

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