Ch4-

One night, 5 days after Aiyanas arrival, Valek couldn't sleep. Aiyana was at the edges of his dreams and the more he pushed her away, the more sleep eluded him. Finally giving up he got dressed and headed outside to run laps. He figured he still had about an hour until dawn. Plenty of time to be finished before the soldiers were up and running.

As he ran he entered his zone. He became aware of everything around him and it was on his fourth time past the east part of the castle that he saw it. He had missed it the first three times around, so small was the movement, but when he stopped and concentrated he saw it again. Something was fluttering in the light morning breeze atop the wall enclosing the castle grounds. It was hard to make out because it was as black as the morning around it. He crept silently forward, his assassin training coming to the fore. When he got closer he saw that the shape was much bigger, almost figure-like. It was standing against a large tree that straddled the wall, hidden in the shadows cast by the leaves. He thought of the only possible answer. Enemy. He crept to the wall without making a sound, drawing his favourite knife out of its hiding place. He climbed the tree trunk to the top of the wall and rounded the tree. Readying his knife he drew close enough to touch the figure…and froze. An empty cloak hung on a low tree branch, fluttering in the breeze. Unconvinced, Valek checked it. Just a plain black cloak. Frowning, he thought back to what he had seen. Doubt started to creep into it mind when he heard it; a faint rustling from up in the tree. Smiling a smug smile he leapt up into the tree. I've got you now! It took him a matter of minutes to search the entirety of the tree; listening every step of the way for the intruder. He heard no more noises and found no-one. Annoyed and, admitted only to himself confused, he dropped from the tree...and stared. The cloak was gone. He glanced around frantically; there was no sign of anyone in the grounds. The sun was starting to rise and he could see further than before. As he glanced towards the castle walls he thought he saw a flutter of a cloak disappearing into the shadows; but after the previous events he wasn't so sure. For the first time Valek doubted himself.

The doubt in his mind followed him for the rest of the day. So much so that he awoke at the same time the following morning and ran again. This time however there was no sign of anything or anyone. He put the strange occurrence out of his mind and concentrated on his work.

He ran again the morning after as well to see if he saw anything suspicious, but still saw nothing. No cloaks, no figures. By that night he was convinced his mind must be playing tricks on him. Too much sneaking around in shadows he told himself.

He slept well the 3rd night until he found Aiyana creeping into his dreams. He tossed and turned for a while before he gave up and went running. His head cleared as he ran several laps of the castle but he came to a jarring halt on the east side. The figure was back. Determine to prove to himself that he wasn't imagining it he approached from further away than he had previously. He took extra care to be silent as he climbed the tree. Having a slight feeling of de ja vu he pulled out his knife. He rounded the tree as he had several mornings earlier.

"Are you going to do this every morning I come here?" Said the figure. Valek nearly lost his footing. He caught himself and froze. Seconds passed before the figure pushed off the tree, lowered its hood and, sighing, glanced in his direction. "I know it's you Valek." He finished rounding the tree and stopped beside the figure.

"Do you always spend your early mornings hiding in the shadows Aiyana?" Of all the people he could have found, she was the one he never expected. She leant back against the tree.

"I love to watch the sun rise." She said nodding towards the horizon. "It makes me feel at home."

"And it was you…"

"The other morning."

"You eluded me." She sensed both admiration and a little hurt in his tone. She suspected that didn't happen very often.

"I work for a royal family Valek. I'm very good at sneaking around."

Standing close to him she caught his smell in the breeze. She loved how he smelt. His musky scent sent shivers down her spine; not that she'd let him know it. They talked a little until the horizon started to brighten, asking questions about each other and their lives. Finally she leant her face closer to him and said, "Don't worry. I won't tell about the other morning if you don't." Even in the low light he could see her eyes glint mischievously as she smiled. He felt himself smiling back and he stood quietly beside her as the first rays broke the night. Sighing as though a great calm had come over her she pushed off the tree again and raised her hood.

"I should go." She started to climb down and Valek followed her.

"I'll walk you back." He said and then paused. "If that's alright with you?" Why are you asking permission? It's your territory, you're within your right to take visitors wherever you choose…but she's different, I feel it and you're not taking her anywhere, you're escorting her.

A strange look flitted across her eyes but was gone too fast for him to interpret. "That would be nice." Together they walked back to her room. Valek opened the door and out of habit went in to check for danger. When he came back out Aiyana was smiling at him, amused that he had done it. Valek suddenly felt embarrassed that he had been in her room without her permission. He stepped out of the doorway and she took his place in the room. After an awkward pause he said the only thing he could think of. "See you at breakfast."

Still smiling, she nodded. As he turned away she said. "Thank you for sharing the dawn with me." He glanced back over his shoulder. Aiyana beamed at him and closed the door.

The next morning Valek found Aiyana in the same place. "May I join you?" He called from the base of the tree. Aiyana looked down and nodded. "You may."

Today her hood was down as was her hair; her cloak was not as tight around her and he could see her clothes, while the same as her beige fighting set, were shades of grey.

As the sun came up Valek found himself watching Aiyanas face. Her smile as she watched the sun was radiant. Something stirred inside Valeks' chest, something he hadn't felt in a long time, and certainly not as strong. She glanced at him and the feeling intensified, the air between the becoming thick. Swallowing hard; Valek quashing the feeling. Looking at him; Aiyana saw his eyes come to life before he blanked her again. She sighed inside and looked away before he could see the sadness in her eyes. "We'll be late for breakfast." She said, starting down the tree. She didn't wait for Valek to follow.

Unfortunately for Valek, he actually did need to ask her some questions about the incoming delegation. He sent for Aiyana a couple of hours before lunch that day. The meeting was awkward at best. They both remember the intensity of the morning and they both quashed their feelings trying to act professional. Valeks' mask had returned while Aiyana avoided eye contact.

Valek avoided meeting her at dawn the next morning and avoided her for the rest of the day. He was starting to feel too much for her and he knew he had to control himself. But the next night he tossed and turned again as she came unbidden into his dreams. Despite it still being a while until dawn he rose and dressed to run. He guessed he would be done before Aiyana showed which suited him.

As he turned the first corner he heard a voice and he froze. He could hear a man speaking in a low voice but he couldn't make out what he was saying. Rounding the corner he tried to make out what he saw. As he edged closer and his eyes accustomed to the dark he saw a large man stood near the boundary wall with his back to Valek. He had his hand around something at shoulder height. As Valek watched, the man slammed it against the wall. Valek edged closer still and the voices cleared. "… dungeons," stepping closer he leered "and there'll be lots of guards who'll pay a pretty sum for time with you."

"I'm…not…a…spy." came the strangled response.

Valeks' blood chilled as he recognised the voice, and an influx of emotions hit him. His quashed feelings towards Aiyana went rushing through him and this time he didn't bother to fight them. With the realisation that he loved her came a rush of pure anger towards the person with his hand around her throat, leering at her. Silently but quickly he approached the pair; drawing his knife.