Chapter 4:

Arya was in pain as she lay upon the cold stone ground of the home of the Riders. A pool of her warm blood began to form around her as her wound was bleeding profusely. She could not move and was fading in and out of darkness. She could not make out much more than silhouettes as she watched the man in the dark cloak from the wall leap down to face the remaining riders. It was hard for Arya to concentrate and most of what transpired eluded her. All she knew was that at the end of the confrontation, the man in black was standing over her and all of the riders were on the ground. The man reached down to Arya and she faded into darkness once more.

Arya was unaware of what happened while she was unconscious, but when her eyes finally opened she was back in the chamber with Firnen. She was lying on the bed and Firnen was to the side of her, sleeping as if nothing had happened. She began to question if all that had happened was just a dream, but that thought soon vanished as she felt the searing pain once more on her leg. She looked down and saw that it was wrapped in a white cloth, some parts of which had blood seeping through. Arya then reached out with her mind towards Firnen but her thoughts were clouded and she could not contact him, as it had happened during the night. She was about to stand to wake Firnen, but as soon as she put her weight onto her right leg, it buckled and she fell back onto the bed. The pain from her leg instantly became almost unbearable. She cried out into the night, but she could not find her voice. All that came out was a muffled squeal. She looked around panicked. Then a chill ran down her spine as she noticed a man step out of the darkness.

"I wouldn't move that much if I were you." He started in a familiar voice. "You lost a lot of blood from your wound. You're very lucky you are alive. I barely was able to stop the bleeding in time."

The voice came from the same man in black who had saved her life that night. He was stilled donned in the same black cloak and the hood shielded his face from Arya's sight. Arya began to say something, but once again, nothing came out. The man saw Arya's distress and continued talking.

"I'm not entirely certain as to why you cannot speak or why you can't communicate with Firnen. I would try to help you, but for some reason I am prevented from using magic in this place. Carrying you in this condition could be dangerous because I do not know how far we would have to go. So, we can either wait until Firnen awakes from his slumber, or I could wake him up now. It is up to you."

Arya thought about it for a moment and then she motioned for the man to wake Firnen. There was no point for her to be in pain for hours when she could get rid of it now. They only thing that cautioned her was that neither she nor the man could communicate with Firnen and he may attack the man when he sees Arya injured. However, she felt like the person who saved her life could protect himself, even against a dragon.

The man slowly approached Firnen and tapped him on the snout. Firnen's eyes slowly opened and his big green eyes stared at Arya. He stood with a growl and rushed to her side. She brushed her hand against his scales on his snout and then he turned and snapped his jaws at the man. The man did not flinch and he just stared at Firnen as he returned his gaze. They stood like that for a few moments until the man began to speak.

"Firnen, Arya is injured. I cannot heal her here and she is in a great deal of pain. You need to fly her far away from here and I will follow on horseback. As you know by now, you cannot communicate with her. I don't know why that is, but hopefully when we get far away from this place everything will return to normal. We must hurry before more enemies close upon us."

With the end of his sentence, the man walked over to Arya. He grabbed her in his arms and placed her aboard Firnen. Firnen walked down the long corridors. They were wide enough for at least two dragons to walk side by side and had enough height for some to take flight. The walls of the corridors were covered with beautiful paintings of all of the dragons that had been in the hall and under each painting was the dragon and riders home. Firnen continued on until he reached a hall with part of the ceiling missing. He took flight into the starry night and vanished from sight when he reached the air. He continued his flight until He began to feel Arya's presence once more.

Arya, Began Firnen, are you ok? I have not heard from you since the early last night. What happened back there? How were you injured?

All of these questions swirled around in Arya's mind. She was dazed from the wound and could not think straight. She feared that she would die before the man could heal her. She stayed silent and Firnen eventually gave up on questioning her and began a steady descent to the ground. They landed in a patch of grass that bordered the river. Firnen lay on the ground, his stare landing towards where they had just come from. Only a few moments later, the outline of a horse and a man became visible. They were riding faster than any horse Arya had ever seen and they reached her and Firnen within moments.

The man leapt off his horse with inhuman grace and slowly walked towards Arya. He knelt down beside her and then uttered a few words in the ancient language. As he did, Arya's pain began to subside until it was eventually gone. He finished his healing and then unwrapped Arya's bandage. As soon as the bandage was gone Arya felt along where the damage was and felt only smooth skin. She started to talk to thank the man, but still no words came out. She looked at the man and he stared off into the distance in deep thought. Arya then reached out with her mind.

Thank you Sundavar, but why is it that I still cannot talk?

I do not know Arya, perhaps you were injured more severe than I thought but whatever the case, it is a mystery to me. I know a few things that may work, but I can not guarantee anything.

Then Sundavar once again knelt down next to Arya and began to speak in the ancient language. He stayed there for hours with no success. He cursed in frustration and then tried one last phrase. As he spoke it Arya began to feel it working in her throat. When Sundavar finished speaking Arya coughed a few times and then uttered the words.

"Thank Then Sundavar once again knelt down next to Arya and began to speak in the ancient language. He stayed there for hours with no success. He cursed in frustration and then tried one last phrase. As he spoke it Arya began to feel it working in her throat. When Sundavar finished speaking Arya coughed a few times and then uttered the words.

"Thank you."

Sundavar nodded to her and then removed his cloak to reveal many deep cuts through his tunic. He must have been hurt during the battle with the riders. He quickly healed himself and then turned towards Arya.

"Sundavar, how did you find me? And how did you reach me so quickly? It is a long journey by boat or by horse. I should have reached here many days before you. Not just one."

"Arya, I did not find you. I have never left your side. My duty is to protect you; that does not end when you are no longer Queen. That ends when my life does."