Arya-Chapter Five

Chapter Five
Arya’s Twentieth

Arya rolled out of bed, pulling her tunic over her head.
She curled up on the window-seat choosing a book from the bookshelf.

“And o’re the gloaming sea,
a band of pirates came,
to slaughter all misfortunates,
who in their bloody path lay.”

Arya yawned, slamming the book closed,
selecting a different book from the shelf.

“The maid with bosom heaving,
and eyes with starlight twinkling,
to her lover came…….”

Arya threw the book across the room,
then boredly motioned with one hand,
pulling the book back and setting it on the shelf-
all without touching it or uttering a word.

“I might as well go back to sleep.”
she grumbled.
“There’s nothing to do.”
Scarcely had the words left her mouth when in through the window flew
a strange looking package. With five or six crooked sides, and a lid that wasn’t quite straight, no elf who made such a thing would ever let it be known it was
their creation.
The container landed in front of her, the lid flying open, allowing a small bird to escape.
It landed in front of her, beady eyes twinkling, a scrap of parchment in it’s beak.
The bird dropped it into her lap, then flew out the window, screeching happily.
Arya unfolded the parchment, it read……..

That you are bored I’ve heard,
so I’ve sent a message with a bird,
treat him nicely please,
he belongs to meese.
(A lousy rhyme I know,
twas all I could think of on the go)
I wish to formally ask,
a favor which will not be the last,
Meet me where once we swam,
where magic you did learn,
when my head against a rock went WHAM.”
(by the way the bird was a tern.)

Arya leaned back laughing hysterically,
it was some minutes until she could compose herself
long enough to read the next segment of the poem.

“Meet me there at half past ten,
I will have a surprise for you then,
all you need bring is you,
see you there, toodle-doo!”

Arya slid onto the floor, still giggling,
eventually getting up, and running toward
the lake.

In less than twenty minutes Arya arrived at the cliff overlooking the small lake.
What could the surprise be?
she wondered.
Peering over the edge she saw Faolin on the island, doing something with a table.
Is it ten thirty yet?
Arya quickly scryed her clock, and seeing it was indeed ten thirty, dove over the edge.
She hit the water not quite straight, causing a small tidal wave cascading across the lake,
Arya pushed it harder with magic, causing it to rise ten feet high, hitting Faolin full across the back.
Faolin yelped with surprise, whirling around, sword drawn, to meet some imaginary foe.
Arya dove underwater just fast enough to prohibit Faolin from seeing her.
She snickered underwater, watching the bubbles drifting up to the surface.
Arya recoiled in shock, frantically backpedaling as a familiar form hit the water above and to her right.
She took off swimming just too late, and Faolin caught her dragging her up to the surface.
They broke the surface simultaneously, Arya still laughing.
“Wha..wha…what was that for?”
Faolin sputtered, too happy to be to be truly angry.
Arya pulled away from him smiling.
“What are you talking about?”
she asked innocently
“I just dove into the lake.”
“Yeah”
he snorted
“And just happened to send a tidal wave toward me which
half drowned yours truly!”
Arya stroked closer to him
“Well, what’s my surprise?”
“Aren’t you going to apologize, Princess?”
Arya splashed him
“Don’t call me princess.”
“Apologize,” said he “and I won’t. At least not for a while.”
Arya laughed.
“All right. I apologize for half-drowning you.”
Faolin kissed her cheek lightly.
“Come on, Arya, your surprise is this way.”
They pulled themselves ashore, Faolin whirling around to cover her eyes.
“No peeking.”
he chided playfully
He led her closer to the oak tree they had fought under, seemingly so long ago,
unveiling her eyes.
“Tada!”
Faolin bowed as Arya laughed in glee
“Faolin! I had completely forgotten today is my birthday!”
“Tis my pleasure” he said half mockingly
“to remind the Princess Arya of her Day of Birth.”
Arya laughed again, looking at the elaborate spread.
“A cake! And all my favorite foods! Thank you, Faolin.”
He smiled, and with an elaborate gesture pulled out her chair.
She sat down gently, fluffing out her imaginary full skirts.
Faolin sat down himself on the other side, and both ravenously tore into the
delicious food.