Proditio {Betrayal} 

The war was not going well. The number of dead kept increasing for the Kalvarian Army and it seemed as though Lady Zelie, Prince Zander, and Sir Samuel were running out of ideas on what to do. The Kalvarian Army was being pushed back and the knights were quickly loosing hope.

It was barely day three of the battle but Arya was exhausted. She narrowly dogged another arrow that was thrown her way before stabbing her sword in the nearest enemy. Arya despised to admit it, but killing had become much easier in the last few days. It seemed as though her mind and become accustomed to it and when she killed, the bodies no longer haunted her. Instead, her brain seemed to shut down while she let her hands do the work. A part of Arya was terrified that the guilt was no longer as high as it had once been.

An onslaught of arrows rained towards the knights and Arya swore loudly. Lord Jagmior was accustomed to long distance battle and he had been keeping the Kalvarian Army from getting closer to the Haxovolian Army by throwing arrows. As much as Arya hated to admit it, Lord Jagmior was exceptional with the bow and arrow and he knew exactly where to hit the Kalvarian Army to do the most damage. He was a tactician that currently held the upper hand.

"Shield's up!" Arya shouted at the knights near her and they took cover under their shields hoping that the arrows would not pierce their bodies.

Once the barrage of arrows stopped the knights stood up once again and ran towards the opposition. Arya took Anaz and sliced down as many enemies as she could. Her body wasn't as small, but she had trained to be quick which is why she was able to maneuver through the crowd and find the enemies.

Arya had taken down an entire line of soldiers and she was about to collapse from exhaustion. She had planted Anaz into the ground and that was what was helping her stay up. Arya bend down to her knees to retrieve the knives she hidden there. While she was catching her breath, she was still able to throw items like knives.

She took aim and released them at the Haxovolian soldiers. Many of them missed but Arya was satisfied that she had been able to get at least three solid hits. Throwing knives was not her speciality but she'd done better than expected.

She glanced around the battlefield hoping the get a glimpse of one her friends but she couldn't see anyone. They had all been separated. Arya watched as Lord Jagmior released an arrow from on top his horse. It landed with a solid thud and Arya knew it had hit a knight. She watched as the ones near the injured knight carried him back to the healers.

Arya watched Lord Jagmior's movements once again but there was something different about it now. She watched him dip the arrow in a substance before lighting it. Dread filled Arya's body as she realized what was about to happen.

She raced back trying to figure out the arrow's trajectory and began shouting at the knights near the area, "Step back! It's going to exp-" the words barely left her lips before the arrows fell into a nearby barrel containing oil. 

The ground exploded and a wall of fire erupted. There was shouts of pain as Arya tried yelling over the noise, "Bring pales of water from the camp or a nearby stream," she shouted.

Other knights had gathered to help if they could and Arya spotted Aaron. She walked over to him checking for injuries but she saw none.

"What happened?" he asked her.

"They lit the arrow with fire before throwing it," she explained.

Aaron shook his head. "It's insane."

He tried moving towards the fire hoping to help the people in the area but Arya held him back. "It's too dangerous."

Aaron gave her a weary smile before he stepped out of her grasp and dove into the flames no doubt trying to find survivors. A scream tore through Arya's body and before she could dive into the fire behind him, knights returned with buckets of water.

Arya commanded them where to place them and ordered that they gather as much dirt as they could as well. Arya wanted to rush into the fire to see if Aaron was alright but she knew if she left, there would be no one to command the knights. She couldn't spot Lady Zelie, Prince Zander, or any other generals which meant that it was time for her to step up.

As the fire began slowly douse out, she instructed the knights to begin gathering the survivors and taking them back to camp. They did as she told them without question. Arya anxiously waited for Aaron to return and nearly sighed in relief when he returned holding a knight in his hands.

Arya's heart plummeted when she realized it was Yasmin he was holding in his arms. Her black hair was frizzier then usually and there were soot marks all over her body.

Arya was about to rush forward when another barrage of arrows rained down upon them. Arya immediately held up her shield to defend herself but Aaron was not able to do anything to guard himself as he was holding Yasmin in his arms.

Three arrows pierced into Aaron's right side. Crimson blood dripped to the ground slowly. Based on the angle they had come from, the arrows would have hit Yasmin but Aaron had shielded her body with his own.

Her mind was buzzing as she approached Aaron who was wincing from the pain. She took Yasmin from him and handed her to one of the knights nearby with orders of rushing towards a healer's tent. Arya would have carried Yasmin herself however it would have taken much longer since Arya was not as strong as the other knights around her.

Instead, Arya focused on Aaron's injures. The arrows had pierced his body deeply but it looked as though they had not hit any major organs. Arya silently thanked God for that. She threw Aaron's arm over her shoulder and began leading him towards the healer's tent.

It was a slow process as Arya made sure to keep up at a pace that was comfortable for him. "That was stupid," she scolded him.

Aaron grimaced and clutched his wound. "She wouldn't have survived if I hadn't gone in there. I wasn't going to let another academy student get killed."

Last night, one of the border patrols, a boy named Eric had been killed. The other guards had been able to stop the intruder but the boy's life had been the price. Arya had not known the boy well but he had attended the Narvanian Academy and Aaron had told her that they had shared a few laughs in their classes. It was clear that Eric's death was haunting Aaron so she didn't say anything except a soft thank you.

Aaron gazed deeply into her eyes before accepting the thanks. Arya was truly grateful for saving her friend because if Yasmin had died, the burden would have crushed her beyond anything she was accustomed to coping.

"When is this war going to end?" Aaron said with a tired breath.

His eyes had become hazy and Arya knew he was about to lose conscious. She gently shook his head hoping to keep him awake. "You are not going to go to sleep on my watch," she muttered.

"But I'm so tired," he whined.

It was very uncharacteristic of him but Arya knew it must be the pain that was acting up. How delightful would it be to only have darkness and peace surrounding one?

Arya quicken the pace towards the healer and almost sighed in relief when she saw Madame Guinevere standing outside a tent flap. She ushered the two of them inn and Arya looked relived to see Yasmin on a cot, breathing.

"She's going to be fine?" Arya gestured towards Yasmin's body.

Madame Guinevere sighed. "Only time will tell." Her gaze turned to Aaron before asking Arya, "What happened to him?"

"Three arrows pierced his right side, he seems to be losing conscious but I don't know."

"Were the arrows poisoned?" Madame Guinevere asked.

Arya's heart sank. She had been so busy with everything that she had not bothered to check if the arrows had been coated with poison. How foolish of her. But it did explain why Aaron was acting differently.

"They might have been..."

Madame Guinevere got up abruptly before she began scourging for supplies. Arya looked anxiously between Yasmin and Aaron and a feeling of helplessness surged through her. Her close friends were lying on near death beds and she had not been able to do anything to help them. Arya merely watched Madame Guinevere work. Aaron's lips had gone a shade of blue and sweat lined his face.

He was muttering phrases as well as tossing and turning. Arya gave beside him and gripped his hand.

"Hold him down," Madame Guinevere commanded her.

Arya did as she was told. Madame Guinevere began removing the arrows from Aaron's body and his screams filled the tent.

Arya winced. She usually had a high tolerance for pain and blood but she had never had to see someone she loved in so much pain. And then it hit her, the words she had used. A feeling of truthfulness settled through her body.

She loved him.

It was simple as that. Arya had never admitted it out loud but she knew that she had loved him for quite some time. By now Madame Guinevere had removed all the arrows from Aaron's body and she began applying ointment. Arya watched in fascination as the wounds stopped bleeding and they began to clot.

She switched her gaze to Yasmin who was resting but based on the grimace on her face, Arya knew that she was in pain. She was about to get up and see her when another person entered the room. He was short boy, not looking older than thirteen and for a moment Arya wondered what he could have seen on the battle field at such an early age.

Panting heavily, he turned towards Arya. "Sir Samuel and the Princess are requesting your presence at their tent at once."

Arya knew that they could only be calling her if something horrific had occurred. She didn't want to leave her friends but she had been given an order.

"They shall be fine." Madame Guinevere spoke. "I will not let them die."

Arya nodded and she kissed Aaron's brow before whispering to him softly, "I love you, don't die on me now."

Arya released her hand from his grip and went to see Yasmin before kissing her warm forehead. She pushed some of her black curls away from her face before wishing her a speedy recovery. With a lingering glance, she left the tent, and two of her closest friends behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sir Samuel slammed his hand on the table but Arya barely flinched. She had become accustomed to sudden movements and they didn't faze her at all.

"What does the letter say?" Lady Zelie asked from beside her.

"Lady Vivian and Sir Francis have said they cannot send any reinforcements. They are both trying to keep the battle at sea and prevent the Maverian's and Gurvoldian's from taking both the ports. They are also reporting that battle is not going exceptionally well and they have had to retreat a few times."

"We need those reinforcements." Prince Zander spoke.

"There is nothing we can do." Sir Samuel said quietly. "We have become outnumbered."

"Don't lose hope," Lady Zelie reprimanded the two of them. "There is always a way to win a war. We just have to be smarter than Lord Jagmior."

Arya looked at the map sprawled in front of them. In addition to having the Kalvarian Army marked, the enemy had been marked as well. So far, the Kalvarian Army was being pushed back.

"We need for a way to deal with the archers."

Sir Samuel and the twins nodded.

"Our army is being pushed back because the archers are getting in the way of hand to hand combat." Arya continued. "If we eliminate their archers, it will be easier for the troops at hand to fight without being in constant fear of a barrage."

Lady Zelie picked up her train of thought. "We could push through the ranks with ease and the Haxovolian Army would be forced to fall back."

"The best time of attack would be night." Prince Zander said quietly. "They would not be suspecting it and the guards would be the only issue."

Sir Samuel smiled slightly. "It's a solid plan, contact Lady Isabella and Sir Gideon to have some of their best spies ready for infiltration."

One of the guards who had been standing outside went to do as he commanded. Sir Samuel and Prince Zander started talking amongst themselves while Lady Zelie turned her attention towards Arya.

"I heard about what you did earlier. Commanding the knights to use their shields as well as putting the fire and gathering the wounded, you were made for a leadership role." Lady Zelie praised her.

Arya shook her head slightly before saying bitterly, "I failed to protect two of my closest friends."

Lady Zelie sighed. When she spoke, there was a faraway look in her eyes. "You will not always be able to save everyone. You were lucky, Aaron and Yasmin will live. Not many have been able to return to their friends after a war."

Arya remained quite not sure how to respond. It was clear that Lady Zelie had lost her love ones in prior battles.

"Regardless of everything Arya you were excellent today. I'm proud of you." Lady Zelie said with a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Arya curtsied once before asking. "May I take my leave so I can check on Aaron and Yasmin?"

Lady Zelie nodded and Arya left the tent. She was surprised to see Silvia outside as if she had been waiting for her.

"Have you visited Yasmin?" Arya asked.

Silvia nodded. "I just came in to check with you. How are things?" She pointed towards the tent where Sir Gideon was currently entering.

"Not good. There aren't any reinforcements arriving from the Eastern and Western Ports so we are stuck. The only thing we can do right now is deal with the problem of archers." Arya explained.

"That seems like a solid plan."

"So where are you headed?" Arya asked her.

Silvia pointed to the battlefield. "I'm returning to the war but I wanted to make sure that Yasmin and Aaron were both okay."

"They will be fine. You should head back to the battlefield. I'll stay with the two of them." Arya said.

"Thank you," Silvia replied.

Arya cracked half a smile. "Just promise to take down a dozen enemies."

Silvia's eyes were filled with steel determination. "I will. I'll see you in the camp after sunset." She promised.

Arya nodded and that was the end of the conversation before the two of them went their separate ways; Silvia to the battlefield and Arya to her two injured friends.

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I updated early! Well the reason is tonight I'm going to the US and I wanted you guys to read this part. Chapter 39 has been split into two parts because it just wasn't flowing too well and also it became much larger then intended. So what did you guys think of this chapter? About Yasmin and Aaron's injury? A lot of you guys think that someone is going to die... I can't spoil that! Anyways, its been a struggle writing because I started work and school starts in 4 days. I will finish this story though! Thank you so much for the 1K votes and if this story ranks higher then #259 on the What's Hot List let me know! Please continue to vote and comment!