Chapter 4 Ariyanna

I wake up shivering. I look around my room in the darkness. I look beside my bed and find the candle. The light had went out. The only glow laminating the dark space was the moon. I go to relight the candle and get up to shut the shutters. I pull the blanket at the edge of the bed with me and stop when I get to the window. My eyes start to flutter and my heart starts to slow. The outside world begins to blur.

The same man is running but I don't know from what. He keeps looking back. Is someone trying to catch him, to hurt him? To kill him? He looks determined as he sprints ahead.

The man weaves in and out of the trees like he has lived in the forest forever. He suddenly stops and focuses his eyes. Quieting his breathing he hides behind a tree poking his head around the trunk of the tree. His eyes roamed searching, analyzing the situation.

I look to where he is staring. He sees men circling around someone, but he stays frozen in his place, not so much as breathing. What is he thinking? The men laugh and kick up dirt. They say insults to the thing or person they are circling. I can't quite see past the men.

He was trying to help save someone. But who? I peeked back at his eyes. He looked scared. Not for himself but for who he was trying to help, or at least I think he was trying to help. There were too many men. What did he expect to do? He would get hurt.

I look to the crowd of men laughing and spitting. I saw a man pull a knife out. I wanted to help, but a sudden fear washed over me. It felt as though I was truly there and it wasn't just a vision.

Suddenly, I see him stride towards the mass of men, generating fire in his hands. The balls of fire were out of control but somehow, perfectly stayed in his hands producing bright orb of orange light. The light cast his shadow behind him. He looked strong, fit really.

He throws the fire ball at the men, but before I see more, my eyes clear and I am in my room again. I look around the room I want to see more but I am disoriented and stumble to my bed.

I put my head in my hands. He bends fire? I have never seen anyone do that before. It is a strange gift to control something that cannot be tamed. I cannot help but wonder…

Why do I keep seeing this man? What importance does he hold? Should I tell my father that I have been seeing this man? No. he holds no relevance to the other kingdoms. Does he? My father would hurt the man if I gave him up.

I have to see what the other kingdoms are planning. That is the task I have been given. I have to focus. It would put my father at ease. At least for a little bit.

I remember that I still had my day dress on. I stand, trying to undo the ties of my silk gown. I try to wiggle out of the dress, pushing down the fabric. When I straighten I leave only my underdress. It was better; more comfortable to sit around in. I undid my hair taking out the pins loosening the love not. I hated putting it up. It wasn't free. I ran my fingers through it letting the long waves poor behind my shoulders.

I wrap the blanket around me once again trying to feel the warmth. Taking the lit candle from the side table in my hand I walk to a table and chair that stands across from my bed. I set down the candle and sit down wrapping the blanket closer to me. I try to focus. I close my eyes.

I do not know how long I was sitting there. I was only able to get flashes of people in groups when my head started to hurt. I try to draw the faces as quickly as I can, but I don't know what kingdom or who they are. Were they even from a kingdom? I scribbled on the papers and pushed them aside.

I close my eyes and try to see more. Why haven't I been able to see what I want anymore? I have been having a strange feeling that I can't let go of.

I put my head in my hands and shake my head. I am weak and I don't know how to fix it.

There is knocking at my door and I glance up, "Ariya?" Ronan peeks through my door. "Ariya, what are…?" Ronan looked at me confused and walks quickly over to the table. He picked up a handful of my drawings, shifting through them.

"Excuse me! What do you think you are doing! You have no right!"

"Is this what you've been doing all night?" Ronan picks up a few pictures, eyeing them more closely. He stared at them for a while and squinted occasionally. When I didn't respond he looked at me widening his eyes to hurry up my answer.

"No," I sigh, "Can you just wait a couple minutes. I want to work on this" I try to grab my papers back but he holds them out of my reach.

"This is nonsense, Ari," he shakes the papers, "What are you seeing?"

"It's none of your business!" I snapped jumping out of my seat.

Ronan steps back as if he was being attacked. He almost appears shocked and then he looks down. I watch his eyes confused. I look down at myself and see that I am not wearing anything but my thin underdress. I sit down and cover my breast with the blanket that fell onto the chair. I always seemed to embarrass myself.

"Ari," Ronan sighs. "You're blushing."

I fidget with my blanket and stutter, "N-no I'm not!"

"Ari you don't need to be embarrassed." Ronan laughed, "It's just a body. It's natural."

"You acted like you've seen-"

"I don't live under a rock, Ari. I've been with women. It's nothing I haven't seen before."

"That's nothing that you should be telling me! I don't want to know about your personal inquiries."

Ronan pauses, "You're right. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"You shouldn't have been looking," I let out a breath as I turned my face to him. He had his arms crossed and his blonde hair laid next to his eyes.

"Please I didn't-"

"You were gawking at me!"

Ronan frowns, "There wasn't anything to gawk at, Ari. You barley have any tits." His hand motions to my chest.

My mouth drops. I know I am not that much to look at. I did have some curve but they were not as big as Mary's and I suppose that is what men liked. "Ronan, I don't know if you're trying to insult me but if you are, you need to leave."

"Gods no, Ari! I am just… Listen you have a beautiful body-"

"Ronan!"

"Shit… I mean… I didn't mean to insult you. I just wanted to check on you."

"You need to leave."

"Ari, I am sorry." He walks back to me and sets my drawings before me. He pauses again. "Ari? What are you seeing?"

Frustrated I raise my voice, "Nothing! I'm seeing nothing! No one is deciding to do anything I am just seeing people in small groups." I pull at my hair, "I feel like I can see more, I just need a little more time. I'm almost there."

"You're forcing it. If you're not meant to see it, you won't find the answers you're looking for. Just let it go."

"I can't, Ronan. You don't understand."

"Only because you won't tell me."

"It's none of your business. Why are you pestering me?"

"Ok Ari," He walks behind me ignoring my question.

"What are you doing?" I turn my gaze following him as he strides away from me.

Ronan faced me and fell on the bed. "I'm waiting."

"For…?"

"Just until you're done," his looks at me, "I won't bother you. You won't even know I'm here."

"You are not supposed to be here."

"No one will know. It is in the middle of the night."

"All the worse if someone sees you going out of my room. Why did you come in the middle of the night?"

"To check on you."

I frown, "thanks for your concern," I turn back to my papers. "But I want you to leave."

"Fine." he frowns and I hear him get up and leave. He is a very confusing man. Choosing when to be a friend and when not to be. I watch him fly to the door, but stop.

"Ari, there is something I need to tell you."

"Ronan. Right now, I just want to be by myself. It was the reason why came here instead of the library."

Ronan pauses and opens his mouth to speak, but quickly closes it. I glimpse up at him. He stands in front of the door. I wait for him and watch him fidget with his sleeves.

"Ronan this is really weird and awkward. You need to leave. You're starting to be a bother to me."

He breathes in and he lets out a small breath of air saying, "Just get some sleep. Oh! Just food for thought… I wouldn't trust your friend. She is keeping secrets from you that could hurt you."

"What secrets?" He quietly exited the room without another word. "Ronan!"

What just happened? Telling me that and not expect me to ask questions. What a pointless… What did he want? Did he want me? I felt a warmth in my belly. Strange. I felt excitement. No!

I shake my head and I close my eyes trying to clear my mind. I see nothing but I force myself to look at the kingdoms. There is something there. Someone trying to hide something. They are carful. A rush of scenes flash through my head but there are too many to organize all at once. My head feels likes it going to explode, but I almost have what is being hidden. I see too much. I groan. There's too much, but I felt a sudden rush of clarity.

I saw my father. He was in a room surrounded by his council. The voices started faintly like a soft murmur, but became clear. I watched my father's back as he stood before a large table. The man beside him began talking to him. He looked familiar. What was his name? Sir…Richard. Yes! It was him. I watched him point to the table and I looked around my father to see a map spread out on the dark wood.

"Lord Corhin, The other kingdoms have withdrawn their forces. If we push our troops here and here," he points to both sides of the map, "we should be able to take them, especially with their prisoners being held captive in the dungeons. Your daughter is no longer needed. We can easily get the information we want."

I look towards my father waiting for his answer. Surely he didn't think I was so insignificant to be just thrown away.

"I suppose I will sell her to the highest bidder. It should keep the taxes down at least for a while."

That is the other matter I wished to talk to you about, my king." He looks to my father, "The rebels need to be dealt with. As each day passes they are starting to get more confident. They are starting an uprising."

"Then we show them how we deal with uprisings."

"Of course." They both look back towards the map.

"I will start sending out executioners to the town and take citizens at random. Make them a warning, if you will."

"Wonderful. You will be more powerful than any ruler."

My vision started to blur and I started to feel dizzy. My eyes started to flutter as I realized I was back in my room sitting at my desk with a cluster of paper underneath my hands.

It wasn't the other kingdoms I had to watch for. It was the kingdom that I called my home. My father willingly killed his people and his going to sell me for money or for a stronger army.

Suddenly I felt something warm drip from my nose and drop on my palm. I gazed down and saw a red spot. I raised my hand to my nose and felt more of the warm fluid. I gasped.

Why is my nose bleeding? I rise from my desk and stumble out of my chair knocking it over. I try to maneuver around the chair but trip over the leg. I fall hitting the ground. I let out a small whimper.

"Ow!" I try to push myself up but wince. I pull my knees up and moan as I force myself to stand up. I grab my skirts and amble to my vanity. I open a drawer and rummage through the fabrics looking for an old cloth.

I pull an old cloth out and rapidly rest it underneath my nose. I don't understand what is going on, but I am starting to, slowly. I can see that my life is going to change and not the way I want it to.

I go to sit on my bed.