Arya Poisonhold stepped off the dock and laid her hand on the hilt of her sword. Unlike most girls Arthur knew- she wore pants and welded a sword. She seemed calm amongst all the busy people and rushing sailors. She looked around until she came to look at Arthur. Arya's face softened into her thinking look and turned to walk down the dock to her father's boat. Arthur followed her planning to talk to her about the war.
The war. The King and the Prince of Light. In the west the Prince of Light gathered his army and here in the east the King gathered lowly village men to fight in the front lines. Arthur had to be careful about what he said if Arya's father, stepmother, and/ or her stepsisters were around. They were long time supporters of the king. Arya and Arthur had their own opinions.
Arthur ran down the dock and stopped beside Arya, who was impatiently waiting for him.
"Hi" Arthur said.
"Hello." Arya mumbled. "Any news on the war?"
"The King won another battle and the Prince won the smaller one- out numbered again." Arya groaned.
"They need more men! They only keep fighting because they are strong and proud" Arya groaned.
"They need you." Arthur implied. "The King's men are coming soon and I don't want to go. I'm old enough that they can take me. Father will understand that I need to go to the west. We can go together. We can fight for what we believe is right." Arya looked down. "What's wrong?"
"We're going out to sea again tonight. It's going to be a few months." Ayra looked at Arthur.
"I won't be here when you get back." Arya nodded.
"I know." She whispered.
"I'll be on the butcher's roof if you change your mind." Arthur knew that she probably wouldn't. Arthur hugged her. Then stepped back to take one last look at her. Her brown hair, blue eyes, soft face, perfect lips, her smile, her leather tunic over leather pants, her well worn boots.
"Bye."
"Bye. I'll miss you." She said.
"Me to."
"Arya! Arya!" Arya's stepmother appeared outside of the cabin. "Arya are you talking to that mutty friend of yours again? You have chores to do! I can barely see the shine on the deck. Do them! Now!" She screamed. Arthur watched her pointy, pink clothed body slowly walk back in to the cabin. Arya sighed and left with a pleading look. She ran down the dock and Arthur watched her disappear into the cabin. Arthur turned and slowly trudged up the dock.
Arthur sat on top of the butcher's roof as the sun set. He didn't expect Arya to come. Still, he would wait until midnight for her. Slowly the stars appeared one by one. The moon slowly rose to it's position in the middle of the sky. Arthur sat and watched it. He didn't feel like leaving. Finally he rose and started to walk across to another roof.
"Leaving without me?" A voice said behind him. Arthur turn. Arya stood in the moonlight.
"Arya!" Arthur breathed. He ran for her and her took her in his arms. Arya stepped back.
" I've got a boat moored just out side of the gate. We need to go."
"Why?" Arthur asked.
"Because, the king's gathering soldiers are here."
Arthur and Arya raced through the dark streets. Arya drew him into the shadows as two guards rounded the corner. They passed without noticing and Arya and Arthur kept running.
Arthur followed Arya along the wall and to the edge of the gate. Above them soldiers walked past carrying out their night duties. Arya slowed down as they reached the jagged end of the wall. They stood on the edge of a towering cliff. Arya lowered herself over the edge.
"There should be a path..." Arya stretched a bit farther and let herself drop. Arthur followed her. Arya looked at him.
"This is it. We're leaving Renasin." Arya turned and kept walking. The path slowly headed down to the sea. The path stopped at a small dock. At the end of the dock a boat rocked in the small waves.
Arya pushed off of the old rickety dock and the small rowboat glided through the water.
"We're going all the way to the west in this?"
"No, we are going to Alderen in this. There we can find a ranger to lead us there."
Arthur nodded. He wanted to say something; he wanted to tell her how he really felt about her. Arthur dropped down on to the path.
"Let's go." He whispered.
