A/N: I know I've been on hiatus for longer than usual, but I've been quite busy and well... totally unmotivated by the lack of reviews. Anyways here's a new chapter, and thanks once again for my dear beta LadyGisborne15 for sparing her time to edit.
"Here is your horse, Master!" Malak exclaimed gaily as she handed Guy the reins.
Guy simply nodded at the lass and was about to mount his horse when a cough intercepted him.
"Master Guy." Gytha addressed her master, "Would you kindly take Malak along with you to Nottingham?"
"And what business does she have there?" Guy asked with the quirk of an eyebrow.
Malak looked at Gytha with a questioning pair of eyes. She had no idea what was behind Gytha's request, however, she welcomed it; she would never miss a chance to go and visit with her mother.
"To run some errands. Did you not request for the lass to be taught well?" Gytha explained impassively.
Guy cleared his throat in annoyance and asked, "And why don't you accompany her? Or one of the other servants?"
"Trudy will be heading back home soon. Her poor child has fallen quite ill. Hence, I will be needed to fill her absence, and I'm afraid I, or anyone else for that matter, won't have the time to go shopping."
"Fine." Guy growled as he gave in to Gytha's request. He then shifted his eyes to Malak and added, "Go fetch a horse. I will hold you responsible if I get my head chewed on by the Sheriff for being late."
"Yes, Master!" Malak replied immediately and ran in response to her Master's demand. However, the lass stopped abruptly, and as she turned on her heels, she said, "Erm...Sorry, Master, but I don't know how to ride a horse."
"By God! The irony!" Guy snickered, "The very creature that has started all of this."
"I'm sorry for not having anyone to teach me, and being no more than an ignorant admirer." Malak pouted angrily, "I don't need a horse! I can walk fine!"
Gytha seemed a bit confused and shocked. She had never seen this side of Malak before, and she just realized that she had never heard the whole story of how Malak had ended up serving the Master of Locksley. But Guy, on the other hand, seemed surprisingly used to the rash burst of anger.
"And when will we be reaching Nottingham, if I may ask?" Guy scorned at Malak, "By the time the Sheriff asks for my head, I presume?"
Gytha chuckled at her Master. Seeing him bicker with the young girl felt so natural and refreshing. She was wholly enjoying this side of him that had been resurfacing the past few days.
"Oh, no. He will surely be withered and dead by the time we arrive." Malak replied sarcastically.
"Now, now. Calm down, there is always a solution." Gytha said as she placed her hands over Malak's shoulders. "You do know a horse can carry two people."
Guy stared at the older of the two with utter shock. He growled as he mounted his horse and galloped away, totally ignoring the females he had left behind.
"Master Guy!" Gytha exclaimed. She felt overwhelmed by his reaction, not knowing whether to be angry with him or laugh.
"Don't worry, Gytha. I can keep up with him, I promise." Malak assured Gytha with burning determination, and then left hectically to catch up with the black knight.
"People really do get more curious with age." Gytha chuckled at herself.
Finally catching up to Guy, Malak slowed down her pace. She was sure that Guy had sensed her since she was breathing heavily to catch her breath. Yet he showed no sign to prove her right.
They were almost halfway to Nottingham when Guy turned just enough to catch a peek of the lass striding behind him. He noticed that she was losing her original pace, but she was trying her best to keep up her stamina. Thus, he gently tugged on the reins to reduce his speed and give Malak a short rest. All the while hoping that she would not notice the change.
However, within few seconds Malak had felt the change in their pace, and couldn't help but smile at his gesture. She had planned to thank him at first, but from what she had learnt about her Master so far, he preferred her silence to anything else, and so she decided against it.
Still, as the two got closer to Nottingham, Malak got tired of the silence.
"Who taught you to ride, Master Guy?" Malak asked to break the silence.
Two weeks ago, Guy would have never bothered answering that question. Yet, a lot of unforeseen events had ensued during those two weeks, and he wasn't blind on how they were affecting him. To be more precise, how this lass was changing him.
"My father." Guy answered as he dismounted his horse, "What about you?"
"Never had the chance to learn." Malak replied with a weary smile, "You see, my father died when I was four. But my mum told me what a great rider he was, and how much he loved horses. I think that that is what triggered my love for horses. So, I can feel somehow connected to my late father. "
The black knight honestly had no idea how to react. Though he had lost his parents too, he was never good when it came to emotions. Hence, the awkward silence had fallen upon them once again.
However, Malak had proven that silence wasn't one of her virtues, "My mum said that my father believed that Arabian horses were the most beautiful. I don't know if that is true, I've never seen one before."
"It's true." Guy replied without looking back.
"Really? Have you seen one? Where?" Malak exclaimed in excitement.
"Yes. During the time I spent in the Holy Land." Guy said bleakly.
"You are so lucky!" Malak cried, "I'm half Saracen and I've never seen one. Such a shame."
At that remark, Guy looked over his shoulders to see the lass. It was like he had seen her for the first time. All this time and never once had he noticed her obvious Arabian features.
"You seem quite shocked." Malak giggled, "My skin? My name? Isn't it as clear as day?"
Guy frowned for she was right, and he felt pretty stupid for not noticing until now.
"You know, Malak means 'an angel' in Arabic." The lass stated proudly.
"Really?" Guy scoffed, "I wager the angels are weeping."
"Very funny." Malak pouted, "By the way, why did you dismount your horse?"
"You talk a lot." Guy simply replied, ignoring her question. He would never admit that he felt guilty for making her walk all the way.
"Yah, sure. Dodge my question." Malak sighed.
"We are here." Guy remarked, pointing at the gates.
"Well, that was fast!" Malak exclaimed, "Guess it's true that time flies when you are having fun."
Guy snorted at the lass's sentiment, "Seems that we have quite a different understanding of fun. Anyways, I assume you know where to get the groceries. Once you are done, wait by the gates for me. If I don't show up, I'll be sending someone else to escort you home. His name is Allan."
"What if I ran away?" Malak asked teasingly.
"I will hunt you down." Guy replied with a reassuring, fake smile.
"Guess I shouldn't do that then!" The lass giggled on how insincere Guy's reply was.
"You guessed right…" Guy muttered under his breath, and as soon as he looked away, a smile drew across his face. As much as he hated to admit it, the lass's cheerful giggles had started to grow on him. And dare he say that deep down he wished to be done with whatever the Sheriff had in store for him as soon as possible, so that he could be the one escorting Malak back.
Sadly, it was unbeknownst to them that that moment would be their last encounter for a quite awhile.