The Assassins Arrow

The Beginning

In a Kingdom, far from the realm of the mundane. There lived a girl aged seven, that goes by the name of Arya, she lived with her family. Her father Markus, mother Gisele, and sister Genevieve. The family is known as the Grange family, lived in a community of assassins. In this community they trained from an early age, both boys and girls. They protected each other. Helped one another in anyway possible. Until one day there was an ambush from the northern side of the land, men and women rushed to hide their children before leaving to battle the unknown attackers. Arya and her sister ran to their uncle Harold’s house next door.

You may be wondering how they got there without being seen, well the community decided that in case of such an attack, they built tunnels connecting each of the houses through each basement. Here is where they hid in a bunker until someone was to come find them once it is safe.

As mother’s and fathers, brothers and sisters fought this unforeseen war, blood was shed. Arrows flying, swords being drawn, throats being slit, hearts ripped out of ones chest. This war went on for three days before the screaming and bloodshed finally ceased, the girls were getting restless, they could no longer hear the battle from where they sat.

Genevieve, being the more curious sister being only the age of five, wanted to get up to find her mother. Arya being a couple years older knew better and convinced her sister to wait. About an hour passed when they heard a door open and footsteps above them on the old floorboards, Arya held her sister in her arms covering her mouth as to not give away their location. Finally after a few minutes of tension and anxiety over what will come next, the basement door opens, the girls move to a corner and hide in the safety of the dark. The door to the bunker finally opens and there stands the girls uncle.

They got up off the cold floor and ran to him, as Harold embraced his nieces, he shed a tear with worry on his mind. Worry not only for the safety of his nieces but also for the news he must tell them of. You see although the battle has finished, it may not be in the happiest of ways. As everyone fought hard and long for their community, unfortunately they were unfairly matched, only a few surviving members, Harold being one of them. The girls followed their uncle upstairs and sat in the kitchen as he made some food, “Are you sure we’re safe uncle?” Arya asked, “ Yes dear girl, we are now safe, your fathers arrow struck the attacking leader off his horse,” Harold replied. “ Uncle where’s mama and daddy?” Asked Genevieve. A somber look fell upon Harolds face, “ Girls, after we have done good I will answer all of your questions.” The girls sat in such silence you could hear a pin drop, you could cut the tension in the air with a knife.

After the three of them ate, they sat for a few moments in silence until Arya broke the silence, “ Uncle you were going to tell us what happened. Where’s mother and father?” Harold looked at his nieces with tears in his eyes, he then spoke up telling the tale of the past three days, “ it was a battle we were not prepared for but I couldn’t be more proud of our people. We were out matched and doomed from the start. We lost our majority, unfortunately there are very few household left intact, if at all. Once you father killed their leader we rejoiced. Unbeknownst to us during our celebrations, before retreating, an enemy soldier threw a dagger at your father as a form of revenge for their fallen leader. Just as the dagger was thrown, another shot an arrow.” Harold stopped to collect himself before continuing, “ Your mother saw the man throw the dagger and ran to shield your father from the attack, but before the dagger reached her chest your father pushed her out of harms way. Unknowingly pushed her in line of the other soldiers arrow, both dagger and arrow pierced through your mother and fathers chest at the same time killing them.” Harold recalled with tears now streaming down his face thinking of his late brother and sister in-law.

He looked at his nieces with a look of terror on their faces, tears streaming down from their eyes, “ Do not worry my girls, I promised your parents that I would care for you as though you are my own. I will train you to be the absolute best of the best. We will need it with our numbers dwindled”.

Arya and Genevieve left the company of their uncle and went up to their bedroom that they had in his house. Genevieve didn’t completely understand want happened all she knew was her mother and father weren’t there. Arya on the other hand knew all too well what had happened, from this day on she made a promise to herself and avenge her parents memory and never let any harm befall upon her sister.

The months passed and Arya’s days were the same, wake up with the sun, eat breakfast, train in hand to hand combat with her uncle everyday before lunch, after lunch was archery until dinner. Arya favoured archery, mostly for the fact the she could sit in the shadows in wait. She was the best archer around, she could never miss a shot at only the age of seven. Genevieve on the other hand only participated in hand to hand combat, surprisingly at her young age she was very good, mostly to do with her small frame and being able to out maneuver her opponent. She seemed to enjoy it.

As time goes on the years passed and the pain of their parents death seemed to ease, it helped that their days were kept busy.

Soon it was Arya’s thirteenth birthday, with very few kids her age, she had her uncle, Genevieve and her only friend Dominic. That morning Arya woke up as normal, with the sun, went downstairs after cleaning herself, she was prepared to get her day started, she didn’t particularly like to celebrate most events since her parents death, she especially disliked celebrating her birthday.

Her mother used to braid her favourite flowers, daisies, into her hair. Her father used to let her skip training with him and they would play at the lake, just behind the tree line, her mother would pack them a picnic and their swim attire. Today used to be Arya’s favourite day. But now she’s just reminded of her loss and what can never be again.

But this year was different, she felt a strange sense of familiarity and a happiness she hadn’t felt in years. Puzzled as she made her way downstairs, she could smell her special birthday breakfast her mom would make, blueberry pancakes, she heard laughing, it seemed to be a cheerful day. Just then she heard a woman’s voice, she recognized the voice but couldn’t quite place it. As Arya entered the kitchen she saw the woman standing at the stove flipping pancakes and laughing with her uncle and sister. As the woman turned to place a stack in front of Arya’s chair at the table, she saw Arya standing there in the entryway. A smile blossomed across her face, she was a beautiful woman, dark brown hair, with grey streaks peppering through, striking grey eyes, crows feet extend from the corners. She was a spitting image of Arya’s mother, just older.

Once Arya caught glimpse of whom now she can see is her aunt Merida. Her knees buckled as she fell to the floor in tears, although her uncle does have a resemblance of her father it’s not as close as her mother and aunt. It was as though her mother was here with them after all these years since the tragic time in their lives.

Merida put the pancakes down and ran to her niece and embraced her in a tight hug, it had been years since they had seen each other. You see Merida once lived in the village along with her sister and parents, but she found village life tedious and monotonous, she decided to travel and explore, see what the realm had to offer.

As Merida held her niece in her arms with tears streaming down their faces. She was stroking Arya’s hair and held her face close to her heart. As Arya’s tears slowed she lifted her head and met her aunts gaze and they both smiled through their tear stained eyes. That’s when Merida had the most brilliant idea, “ Arya! My sweet girl, how I have missed you! I have the most wonderful idea. After breakfast, you and I shall go upstairs and I will do your hair just as your mother did and I will then pack a picnic for the 4 of us to have down at the water. How does that sound?” “ Oh Auntie that sounds wonderful! It will be just like when mother was here.” Fresh tears well up in both of their eyes as Arya stands up and makes her way to the table to dig into the tantalizing stack of pancakes with fresh made berry syrup.

With their stomachs now full Harold and Genevieve cleaned up after breakfast as Arya made her way upstairs with Merida. Sitting herself in front of the mirror in hers and Genevieve’s room, Merida began brushing Arya’s long dark hair which was the same as hers and her mother’s. With a pile of daisies on the vanity table, her aunt began braiding her hair each time she would grab a new section she would place a flower, until she reached the end of the pile and the end of her nieces hair. She looked at the girl that was on her way to adulthood, she saw a young version of her sister, a beautiful girl with long dark hair, such as her own, but her eyes were perfect mirrors of her fathers, a striking ocean blue that could stop anyone in their tracks. They smiled at each other with a twinkle in their eyes. Today was going to be a good day.

They made their way downstairs, giggling at jokes made between themselves. They entered the kitchen to sees picnic basket packed with sandwiches, fruits and drink. In the left side of the basket was a beautiful chocolate cake, it was Arya’s favourite. Beyond excited she didn’t even pay attention to the knock on the door. Genevieve made her way to the door and opened it to see Dominic standing there, “ Hey Gen! Ari here?” Dominic asked, “ Yep! She’s in the kitchen with y uncle and aunt. Come!” They made their way into through the house stopping at the kitchen. Before Arya could asked who it was she was taken aback with an embrace that almost knocked her over. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARI!!!” Dominic said, “ Thanks Nic! What are you doing here?” “ you really think I’m going to miss seeing my best friend on her birthday? You are sadly mistaken.” Dominic paused, “ going on a picnic?” “ Yep! Want to come? There’s cake!” Arya said in almost a sign song voice. “ oh I am not passing up cake! Let’s go.” Dominic exclaimed. “ you guys go I’ll stay back and clean up.” Harold said shooing them off. “Are you sure uncle? I don’t mind waiting for you.” Arya said. “ Go, go I’ll catch up” they left the house making their way to the lake. Genevieve and Arya skipping ahead with Dominic and Merida following behind.

They reach the lake and set out a blanket to sit on and lay the food out to see the selections they have to choose from. Cucumber, turkey, and roast beef sandwiches along with strawberries, three different melons, blueberries, blackberries, and grapes. There was juice to drink along with cups, obviously. But the real show stopper here was the triple layer chocolate cake.

They played in the water and ran about the beautiful field around the lake. Finally the kids sit down and begin to eat. They make their way through the sandwiches and fruit next up is the cake. Merida starts cutting the cake when they hear screams coming from the village. The three kids stand up ready to go see what happening to their home. When suddenly Merida sees it first, flames, encircling the forest eating up the homes in its blaze. She stops the children and hides them behind some nearby rocks, the only ones who know about the lake are the villagers, so she knows they will be safe so long as the fire stays at bay.

Realization hits Arya as she’s running with her sister and friend. Her uncle is still at the house. She stops dead in her tracks, turning to see her aunt running towards them, “ Go! Keep going!” She yells. Arya can see the flames starting to burn the forest coming closer to where they once were sitting and laughing. Merida grabs Arya by the arm and try’s to pull her towards the rocks where they will be safe. “ Auntie what about Uncle! We have to go back! We have to save them!” Arya cried, “ No we mustn’t my sweet girl I need to keep you three safe we cannot go back there, nor can we ever.”

Once they found a safe place to stay until the coast was confirmed clear, Merida spoke to the children disclosing information they never even thought of, “ children as you know we are hiding because there was an ambush on the village. You may not know why this keeps happening but it’s time for you to know. Someone feels threatened by our existence and is killing us off. They took some time from their last attack as to not raise suspicion, but now everyone else is gone it is the four of us left. We must keep each other safe. Never reveal where you came from or whom you are.”

That was the last day Arya and Genevieve saw their uncle. Dominic would never see his parents again. It was up to Merida to care for the children and train them until they are able to take cares of themselves. This was the last day of their old lives and the first day of their new ones. Going forward everything needed to be calculated and well thought out, nothing or no one, other than themselves was to know of their identities.