CHAPTER #19

As the celebration got more lively, Arya melted into the shadows. Wearing a skirt reminded her of the past, when her father, mother and brother were all alive. If she had her choice, it would come off immediately and the leather pants would go on. But Sarra had worked hard to make her less of a boy and she didn't want to disappoint.

Benn found her, before dwelling on her past, made Arya unhappy. "Come on, dance with me Ari!"

Not waiting for an answer, he dragged Arya out of the shadows. The dance was not familiar to her, so she just copied Benn. He twirled her around and then passed her to another. Both the guys and girls of the group, danced with her. Everyone that is except for Taron, which of course disappointed her.

Taron did shove her back into the crowd, when someone dropped her off in front of him. His actions annoyed her, because he still treated her like a kid. Later, when getting a drink, she confessed to Sarra that she didn't know how to read him.

"Don't let it bother you. None of us know how to. He's mysterious, just go with it."

This time drinking cider, she made sure not to get fall down drunk. When she felt her head get a little woozy, she stopped drinking. Loosing control, wasn't something Arya found to be fun.

"How come you're not partying like the others?" Taron asked, coming up to stand beside her.

"I don't like loosing control," Arya replied honestly.

"What about giving up control to someone else?" He asked.

She shrugged, "depends on the circumstance I guess."

Taron said, "you're going to dance a waltz with me Ari. Traditionally the man leads."

Arya rolled her eyes. But allowed him to guide her through the dance steps. She'd been formally trained, yet hadn't required to dance like that in a long time. The party went on all around her, but her attention was all on Taron. She realized he too had been trained properly.

"When you smile, everyone feels it." He said into her ear.

She glanced up and saw in his eyes that he was laughing at her. "What they feel is the cider or ale."

"Don't be so quick to dodge a compliment," Taron pointed out.

Arya stopped dancing and he let go. "Was it a compliment? I've learned that words often hold lies and only actions speak truth."

He winked and let Sarra take his attention. When Arya slipped away, she thought he didn't notice. After changing into the leather pants, she felt much more comfortable. The skirt she folded carefully and put it under her sleeping mat. Needing air, a few leaps took her to the roof. Ears heard the party below and the city's night sounds. There was a breeze coming off the ocean, carrying salty scents. But her eyes just gazed up at the sky. Hands behind her head, she lay on the roof, finally relaxing.

"The others may not have noticed you leaving your own party first, but I did." Taron stood looking down at her. When he got no reply he asked, "everything okay Ari?"

"Sure, why wouldn't it be?"

"Sarra pointed out that I treat you like a little kid. Does that anger you?"

Tonight she didn't want to play games. "What do you want?"

He sat down beside her and returned her question.

"That's easy," Arya sighed, "I want to return to my country and kill everyone who's name I chant before I go to bed. I want to find my… a friend that was taken away from me. I want to learn everything I can from your guild, before I have to leave. I want to be old enough to be taken seriously."

"Why not just forget your past?"

"I can't."

Taron's face was suddenly over hers, "age doesn't matter, life does…I take you seriously."

Something in the way he said it, or maybe it was how close his face was to hers, made Arya's heart beat faster. Suddenly she was nervous and her focus was on his eyes. Was he going to kiss her? Why was he so close? What should she do?

"You're holding your breath," Taron observed softly.

She shook her head and pushed him back. Arya stood up, moved away and turned her back on him. The things he made her feel, was unknown territory for her. It made her uneasy. Even though Sarra had explained a lot of things to her, experience on how to handle it, Arya was lacking.

He wouldn't let her hide from him. He used her arm to turn her around to face him. "You're a mystery to me Ari," Taron confessed. "I find you very intriguing."

"I'm nothing special," Arya said.

Taron's eyes narrowed and he pulled her into an embrace. "One day will you let me show you, just how special you really are?"

Her body was saying yes, but her mind screamed no. "Maybe."

He laughed and it was contagious. Both laughed until tears ran down their faces and their sides hurt. Eventually he stopped and then smiled at her. "Should we go back to the party?"

"You can, I'm going to stay a little longer. I like it up here."

Taron left and Arya wondered if he'd been testing her again or if he really had wanted to kiss her. Eventually her breathing returned to normal and her mind stopped replaying their interaction. The sounds below, weren't as loud and boisterous. It was time to go back and clean up.

Byt was the one cleaning up and Arya joined her. "How come you're not partying like the rest Ari?"

"Probably the same reason as you," she replied.

"I have some work to finish for tomorrow. The poison takes a while to mature and change form." Byt explained as she worked.

"Oh, well for me I've been drunk before and I didn't feel like throwing up the rest of the night."

Byt laughed, "if such a day comes, see me if you remember to. I can help with the after affects of the cider."

"Thanks, but I'm fine just watching everyone have fun."

"You like Taron, but why do you reject his advances?" Byt asked pointedly.

"Even though Sarra explained how to be a woman, I still have no experience and I'm not sure if I'm ready yet."

Smiling Byt said, "no matter how experienced you are, when you meet the man who makes your heart flutter, it's like you forget everything you've learned. We're all shy with that kind of man. When emotions are involved, you loose control whether you want to or not. That's the difference between a target and a lover."

"So it blind sides you?" Arya asked.

Byt chuckled, "sometimes. Don't over analyze it. I know that's hard, especially now that you're one of us. Feel it, don't think it."

"I feel almost stupid saying this… but, I don't want to be a bad at kissing."

"If the one you love makes you feel that way, he's not the right man. The right one, will be patient, go at your speed and can teach you. The right guy, he appreciates your inexperience and treasures it. He'll be honoured that you chose him, over everyone else. There are plenty of guys and girls that aren't like this. Those are the ones you have fun with and either toss or keep as friends. They're the ones that don't get to see you out of control and simply raw."

"Did you find the right man yet Byt?" Arya inquired.

"It was a long time ago Ari, but yes I found him. He was murdered by a rival, but I had my revenge. Since then, I have chosen very few. That kind of trust, is totally different than trust in a friend or work mate."

They had finished the clean up and Byt left to finish her batch of poisons. Even though it was late, Arya was restless. She heard Sarra's giggles and decided not to go find her. Instead Arya decided to explore. In the past few months, she hadn't strayed too far from the street gang's territory. Tonight she'd go farther, but she knew not what she searched for. Instinct told her she was being followed, even if a scan behind her showed no one.

"You look tasty, don't mind if I do," a drunk grabbed her arm.

Arya yanked her arm backwards and at the same time punched him in the throat. A quick kick to the knee and he let go, crumpling to the ground and moaning. Before he said anything further, she was already up the street and out of range. A smile graced her lips, because of the successful defense. The person stalking her, was still there though. Into a dark alley she darted and then up onto the roof. Lying flat on her stomach, in the darkness, Arya waited. Nothing happened, no movement occurred. Had she been wrong? No, the feeling was still there. Quietly she came off the roof into another side street. She'd circle back, to try an catch who was tailing her. Whom she saw, surprised her. It was Taron and that's when Arya realized that he was allowing her to catch him.

"Taron, if you had wanted to come, you should've just asked."

"Where's the fun in that Ari?" He replied turning to face her.

She couldn't read his eyes, because he was standing in the shadows. His voice was the same as always. "Then what are your intentions?"

He chuckled, "could ask you the same thing."

That answer told her he was still playing games or testing her reaction. Instead of saying anything, she let it drop and moved out of the shadows to continue up the street. Whether he followed or not, didn't bother her. Finding out who was tracking her, had been Arya's only desire… for now.

Taron didn't know why he was drawn to her, or why he felt the need to tease her. She was different from the others and maybe that was the attraction. He knew that when he pressed her to express her emotions, she ran away. It wasn't just because of her inexperience, but the deaths of her family members haunted her. He wanted to break her control. It also intrigued him that even with Sarra's teachings, her preference was not to be womanly. It seemed like she was two different people rolled into one. A few steps and he was walking beside her in comfortable silence.

"Do you know where the guild for the Faceless Men is?" Arya asked suddenly.

"Yes, why?" Taron responded.

"I have a friend who is in that guild," she answered simply.

"Were you going to join their guild when you first got here?"

"I thought about it, but your street guild is better. I just want to let him know I'm okay."

Taron smiled, "he probably already knows." He lead her to the entrance of the Faceless Men's guild. "That's it," he pointed at a building.

"Thank you… for everything."

"Ari, are you saying good-bye?" Taron asked, cocking his head to the side.

"No, not any time soon." Arya struggled with herself. She wanted to act on her feelings, but she was scared at the same time.

Taron could see everything on her face. The light from a lantern on the street, bathed them both with a gentle glow. He lifted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "I'm glad you're not. But this dance we do, will get more serious."

Her breath caught and she looked at his lips. Unable to wait any longer, she went for it, not caring if she ruined everything. Not even knowing how she'd made contact, her lips brushed his. Every nerve in her body was jumping. Her skin was on fire from head to toe. When his lips pushed against hers, Arya's heart jumped. He hadn't rejected her! But he did pull away.

"Be careful of impatience," Taron cautioned.

"What you don't feel it too? Haven't you wanted to kiss me?" Arya's hurt feelings, made her angry.

"Calm down. I'm not saying that…. Yes I've wanted to kiss you."

The pain eased and doubt returned. "Sarra told me that you won't get involved with a member of the gang. Are you kicking me out?"

"Not for just a kiss."

"A kiss?"

He smiled down at her and with hands on either side of her face, pulled her to him. This time he initiated the kiss. He tilted his head, eyes closed and brought his lips to hers. Arya's eyes snapped closed, not needing to see, but feeling everything. As he opened his mouth, it encouraged hers to do the same. The scent of his skin was intoxicating. She felt his thumbs caress her jaw line on each side. Then his tongue slowly moved into her mouth, making the moment so intimate. It lasted longer than she expected and finally she relaxed. Feeling the rigidness leave her body, Taron knew she'd decided to give up control. That is what he cherished, above anything. His hands moved down to her waist and he turned her to lean against the wall. Their bodies pressed into each other and he felt her shiver. That's when he knew she'd pull away first.

"Not for a few kisses," Taron corrected himself. He then kissed her nose and took her hand in his. "Come on, let's go back."

Boldly Arya said, "I'm glad you didn't push for more."

"What happens is always up to you. Whether it's with me or anyone else. Remember that."

Suddenly she wanted to have him trust her completely. "My name is Arya Stark," she blurted.

"Thought so. Glad to know I was right. Does that mean you're ready to tell me your story? Will you trust me with that?"

Arya stopped walking and let go of his hand, "by telling you my real name, I just trusted you blindly with my life."

"Not blindly. That you can't say. But thank you for trusting me. As for your life, you have the skills now to protect it on your own."

"Will you tell everyone else?"

Taron shook his head, "around here, you'll remain Ari until you choose to say otherwise."

Arya continued to walk, "I'll tell you my story another time."

"As always, whenever you're ready." Taron replied.

Even as she said, "I'm glad you followed me," Arya knew he was no longer behind her. When no reply came, she glanced to confirm. Oddly enough, that was okay.