A/N: I have noticed in my past chapters quite a few typos. Sorry, I'll try to look them over better. And I also noticed I had multiple spellings of Aaralyn. It's Aaralyn not Aaralynn. silly me…
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"Please sir, I know the little guy has been a bit weak, but please, don't send him home. I'm not even sure he's got one," Liko pleaded. Raoul gazed at him, contemplating the issue. Finally, he said gravely, "I will consider your request." He motioned the boy out of his tent.
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The weary trainees gathered around the courtyard. They had been in training for four weeks and were about to hear their placements—either serve as a trainee in a regiment or the prestigious King's Own, or be sent home. Aaralyn waited nervously. Although she had tried her hardest, she knew that she was smaller than the rest and her injury had prevented her from awesome performance. Liko stood next to her, calm on the outside, but his eyes were a turmoil of anxiety.
Raoul of Goldenlake stepped to the front of the crowd. He unrolled a large piece of parchment. "We have 3 regiments available for Trainees plus the Own," his voice boomed. "Starting with Regiment 12, William of Turnpike, Lawrence Grehando…"
Aaralyn doubted she would be called for any of them. She had no idea what she would do next, but now that she'd been trained she could probably survive on her own. She tuned back into the list of names being read off. The final name for the last regular regiment was read off and a polite applause filled the courtyard. Aaralyn clapped half-heartedly. She and Liko were among those not called, but Aaralyn was sure Liko would be entered at a King's Own Trainee. She slumped. Well, it was worth a try, but she had failed at becoming part of the army.
"Lazarus of Blue Harbor…" He was the first one called out for the King's Own. Aaralyn tried to smile and give a wave. She had actually come to enjoy Liko's company despite her distrustfulness for people. 'It's too bad I won't get to see him again…" she thought wistfully as then names were read off. There were only 7 trainees left. "And finally," Raoul announced. "Aaron Jenson." Aaralyn stared with her mouth open. She wasn't expecting this and neither were the other trainees. A few of the remaining started protesting because they were bigger and stronger than her. Raoul's steely glare silenced them and he motioned Aaralyn to step up with the rest of the chosen. They were told to pack up their stuff and prepare to travel with the Own tomorrow afternoon. In a trance, Aaralyn began to do as she was told. She didn't notice Liko lagging behind.
"Lazarus of Blue Harbor," Raoul beckoned. "Just so you know, Aaron Jenson was selected not because of your plea, but because I chose him myself." Liko nodded and smiled, running to catch up with his small friend.
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Aaralyn and Liko trotted on their horses near the back of the King's Own. Before the departure they had been briefed on their duties. It included serving at meetings, weapons training every morning, and strategy classes in the evening with Lord Raoul. It was expected to be a brutal and lengthy training course, but it gave Aaralyn an assurance of somewhere to live for awhile.
Aaralyn and Liko chatted animatedly. Through the first training, Aaralyn had become comfortable with talking to him as long as it wasn't about her past. Aaralyn missed her family and music. She had learned to accept the fact her family was gone, but the music was harder to give up because she always new she still could play her flute and sing. But not around anyone else. Now that the nagging fear of having no place to go was gone, her mind kept going back to music. She couldn't let anyone hear her. But what if she went somewhere alone? No..that wouldn't work. Yes it would…Aaralyn couldn't make up her mind, but her heart ached for music. Every night she had frightful dreams of that horrible night. Whenever she had them, Liko would wake her, concerned, then she had to worry about what she had said in her sleep. She thought if she sang or played her flute, the dreams might go away. Aaralyn's secret must not be known.
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The full moon illuminated the pathway that Aaralyn snuck along. It was three weeks since she was selected to travel with the Own. Judging by the position of the moon it was about two in the morning. The nightmares had gotten too bad. When she was woken up by Liko, she lay there until she was sure he was asleep before she fished to the bottom of her bag and grabbed the flute case. She had slipped quietly out of the camp area with a spear at her side and planned to travel far enough away so that no one would hear her.
Finally she reached a secluded opening in the trees. She sat down and opened the flute case with trembling fingers. Her heart raced as she put together the flute. It had been so long...Aaralyn almost wondered if she would've forgotten. She raised the flute to her mouth. She drew in a shaky breath and blew a clear note. She had not forgotten. Instead of playing an existing song, she let her fingers make up a melody on their own. It was a skill she had—to create a collection of notes that could portray her feelings. Not a song exactly, but understandable emotion. This mixture of notes was sorrow for her family, hope for her life, trust and distrust, but also joy of finally playing again.
Aaralyn played and played, letting out the tension that had been building up since the attack. A little thought was still nagging at her mind--Mum always said my voice was like brushing a feather across your face. A rare gift she said…Her voice was long unused, and gravelly from purposefully lowering it. She laid the flute in her lap. Timidly she tried to sound a note. At first it sounded too rough, but she continued until her voice had reached normality. At first she sang random sounds, but then, almost against her will she began singing a certain song. The Ballad of the Three Sorrows. The last song she performed with her family. Aaralyn could almost hear her Mum, Da and sister singing and playing. Tears ran down her face, but her voice stayed level. How she missed them! She wanted to stop singing that song to stop remembering, but she also wanted to sing it forever because it made her feel like she could hear her family.
Finally, when the moon was almost behind the hills Aaralyn packed up her flute. With a tear stained face, she headed back to the camp. She didn't notice the figure watching her.
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Aaralyn began going out more often to play and sing. She knew there was a risk, but she couldn't resist. The music made her happy and a little more at rest with the loss of her family, though she often cried when she sang or played a song that had crisp memories.
One evening, the trainees were excused from strategy classes so Aaralyn and Liko escaped from the bustle and walked along a creek bank. After awhile they sat down on a log looking into the setting sun. It began as a comfortable silence, but something grew in the air. Liko seemed to be trying say something.
"Why don't you tell someone? They would take care of you, you know," he blurted, not looking at her.
"Who?" Aaralyn, asked bewildered.
"The King and Queen." Aaralyn's heart raced.
"What in the name of Mithros are you talking about?" Aaralyn questioned sharply, trying to hide her fear.
"Aaralyn of Kennan," he stated hardly, trying to make eye contact now.
"Oh, that girl," Aaralyn stuttered. "She was a noble who died in a bandit attack, right? That was about 3 months ago." Liko gave a look of sorrow.
"Don't talk like that…Aaralyn." Finally Aaralyn met his gaze. The fear he had seen steadily decreasing since he had met her had now returned full force. 'How could he know?' Aaralyn thought, panicked. "Why are you afraid of giving your true identity?" Aaralyn answered with her own question.
"How did you find out?" Not waiting for an answer, she stood up and began speaking rapidly. "You've been a friend to me, so could you just help me out one last time before you tell Lord Raoul? Just pack up my belongings—all of them, and deliver them to a place in the forest. That simple. Just give me a short chance to get away before you tell." She was already up and securing her weapons to her body. Liko stood up and grabbed her gently on the shoulders. He turned her to face him.
"Who says I'm going to tell anyone? You don't want me to tell, I won't tell." Aaralyn looked confused.
"You won't? But why? I'm not supposed to be here! I'm a girl, I'm underage…"
"That's what friends are for," he said as he gave her a comforting hug, much like he would his little sister. "What I don't get is why are you are hiding your identity. I figured it out because you were so small that I got suspicious. You never had your shirt off and you seemed like you didn't have full range of motion—from an injury perhaps. And those terrible dreams, most of the information came from them. You refused to talk about your family, but I heard about them in your dreams. And about the…attack. Then that one night you had a bad dream and a little afterwards got up and left. I followed you into the forest. You really are an accomplished musician. I had suspected you were a girl before that, but your music confirmed that you were Aaralyn of Kennan. Why are you hiding?"
"I don't want to be known as an orphan. I decided to join the Own until I couldn't disguise as a boy anymore, then by that time I would look old enough to join the Riders as a girl. And by that time everyone will have forgotten who Aaralyn of Kennan was."
"How old are you anyway? 13?" Liko inquired. Aaralyn stared at the ground.
"Eleven," she said in a tiny voice. Liko stared in shock. He was amazed at her ability to continue on with her life after a tragedy.
"Are you sure you won't tell?" Aaralyn asked quietly, the fear still in her eyes. Shaking his head Liko scooped her up and rocked her like a child. Although slightly embarrassed, Aaralyn welcomed comfort that she had not had in so long. The tender moment passed when they heard Raoul's whistle calling them to supper.
"I still get to listen to your music though, right?" Liko asked with a twinkle in his eye. Unsure of what to say Aaralyn just gave a small nod. Having her secret out would take some getting used to.