Eleven

"Hey" Arya whispered as he entered the room.

Thornin walked close to her and presented her with flowers.

"Thank you" she told him, a genuine smile on her face.

"Dinner?" he gestured to the table.

"yes please."

They sat down and Thornin dished out the food, they started eating.

"How was your day?" Thornin asked.

"Eventful, but I got lady Amara to compliment me so I guess it went well."

Thornin arched an eyebrow.

"Lady Amara, complimented you? What did you do?"

"Simply made use of some of my tricks."

"What about Akkhi, did he disturb you?"

"No, he didn't even say anything to me." Arya told him.

"Please be careful."

"I will."

Thornin smiled at her in response.

"So, how was your day?" she asked.

"normal, except...." he trailed off.

Her eyes lit up in interest.

"except what?"

"Lord Adisorn personal servant is retiring to spend more time with his family."

"That's good, isn't it?"

"He asked me to be his new personal servant." Thornin revealed.

"Thornin, congratulations, that is good news." Arya told.

"Is it?"

"Yes, that is a good promotion for you."

"I am not sure I am a good fit for the role, I would have to accompany him to important events" Thornin said worriedly.

"and?"

"Arya, I know nothing about society etiquettes. What am I going to do?" he asked.

"Your wife was once a member of the society, I will teach you everything I know. Thornin, this is a great opportunity, you can't let go of it"

"Do you really believe I can do it?" he asked.

Arya held his hand, "I believe you can do it."

"I will accept it then, thanks Arya."

She smiled at him. "You are welcome."

"You know, I could get used to this." he told her.

"used to what?"

"This, having dinner with you, talking with you. This room used to be so quiet and lonely"

"Growing up, I had dinner with my nanny. My parents never had the time to have dinner with me. They were always busy. I really like having dinner with you."

Thornin patted her hand softly.

"Let's go for a walk after dinner." he proposed.

"Okay." she agreed.

They finished dinner and went on a walk outside.

After walking for some minutes, they sat on the grass and looked up at the sky.

"Arya, I heard you went into town today. Did anyone harass you?"

"And what would you do if anyone harassed me? Go into town and beat them up?" she asked teasingly.

He jokingly showed her his fist.

"of course."

Arya laughed as she held his fist gently.

"Everyone has told me you are peaceful, please don't change on my behalf."

"I am protecting you Arya, and if a little violence is needed, I will do it."

She smiled at him. "Thornin, you already saved me from the hangman noose. That's enough for me"

He moved closer to her. "What if I want to do more?"

His face was so close to her. She gulped, she only had to move a couple of inches forward and their lips would touch.

What would it be like to kiss Thornin, she wondered.

Would it be like kissing Saran, like a performative activity or would it be different.

He moved away, clearing his throat.

There was an awkward silence.

"I saw Wanna today at the dressmaker."

"You did?"

"Yes, she called me, asked how I was doing"

"And what did you say?" Thornin asked.

"I curtesied and thanked her for asking about a lowly servant like me."

Thornin burst into laughter.

"She was with Lady Warawut, she was so angry she pulled her out of the store."

Thornin looked at her in amazement.

"You really are something. Didn't you feel nervous?"

"I was nervous at first but then I realized that I had already stood at the door of death before. A shop of snooty nobles shouldn't phase me at all."

"if she apologized, would you ever forgive her?"

Arya stopped smiling, "no, I would never forgive her. She is dead to me."

Thornin had a pensive look on his face as he looked at her.

"What is it?" she asked.

He shook his head.

"Nothing."

She shrugged and lay down. He lay beside her.

"Tell me about your life before you came here."

"I grew up in an orphanage. I didn't know my father and my mom died when I was young. Life was normal as it could be for an orphan. When I was fifteen, Lady Amara and her friends did a charity event at our orphanage, the older kids were brought out to be fostered. Lady Amara picked me and that's how I came here."

"That's quite a story. With how Lady Amara treats you, I would never have guessed she was the one who brought you home."

"Her friends were all picking kids and she didn't want to be left behind." Thornin said with a wry smile.

"Do you miss the orphanage?"

"A little"

She turned to face him. He also turned.

"Have you ever been in love?" she asked him.

"Once, she was my friend at the orphanage. I liked her but it wasn't the right time."

"Do you still love her?" Arya's voice was barely audible.

"No."

Arya ignored the relief that she felt at his answer.

"We should go inside." he said softly.

"Okay."

Thornin stood up and held out an hand to her.

She took it and he pulled her up.

Arya was in his arms looking up at him.

"You are so beautiful." he whispered.

Arya found herself dumbstruck, when had he become this handsome? She wondered.

Someone cleared their throat and they jumped apart. It was Pim.

"The Lady is back and wants to see you." she told Arya.

"Okay, thank you Pim." Arya replied and hurriedly left.

Thornin looked at Pim who gave him a knowing look.

"Don't say anything." he warned her.

"But I didn't even say a thing." Pim said laughing.