I've wanted to do this one for a while. I will stay as close to cannon as possible for both stories but I will be changing things (obviously). I do not own any of the characters, settings, or plot lines related to Assassin's Creed or BBC's Robin Hood.
Battle of Arsuf
Arsuf Plains, Ayyubid Dynasty
September 1191
"It's done then. Your schemes, like you, are put to rest."
"You know nothing of schemes. You are but a puppet. He betrayed you boy. Just as he betrayed me."
"Speak sense Templar or not at all."
"Nine men he sent you to kill, yes? The nine who guarded the treasure's secret."
"What of it?"
"It wasn't nine that found the treasure, assassin. Not nine, but ten."
"A tenth? None may live who carry the secret. Give me his name."
"Oh, but you know it well and I doubt very much you'd take his life a willingly as you've taken mine."
"Who?!"
"It is your master, Al Mualim."
"But he is not a Templar!"
"Did you never wonder how it is he knew so much? Where to find us? How many we numbered? What we aspired to obtain?"
"He is the master of the Assassins!"
"Oui, master of lies. You and I are just two more pawns in his game. And now, with my death, only you remain. Do you think he will let you live, knowing what you do?"
"I have no interest in the treasure."
"Ah, but he does. The only difference between your master and I is that he did not want to share."
"No."
"Ironic, isn't it? That I, your greatest enemy, kept you safe from harm. But now you've taken my life and in the process, ended your own."
Altair stood before the king of the crusaders, waiting for him to pass judgement. Robert de Sable's lifeless body lying at his feet. He was shocked by the Templar's last word, but also saddened. To hear that the man, who was very much a father figure, had allied himself with the people they fought so hard against, tore at his heart.
The king stepped forward and gazed down at the man who had been his lieutenant. He returned his gaze to the man in white. "Well fought assassin. It seems God favors your cause this day."
"God had nothing to do with it." Altair replied. "I was the better fighter."
"Ah, you may not believe in him, but it seems he believes in you." Richard said with a smile. "Before you go, I have a question."
"Ask it then."
"Why? Why travel all this way, risk your life a thousand times, all to kill a single man?"
Altair paused a moment before speaking. "He threated my brothers and all that we stand for."
"Ah, vengeance then."
"No, not vengeance. Justice, that there might be peace."
"This is what you fight for, peace?" Richard sneered. "Do you see the contradiction?"
"Some men cannot be reasoned with." Altair explained.
"Like that mad man, Saladin."
"I think he'd like to see an end to this war as much as you."
"So, I've heard," Richard say waving the suggestion away, "but never seen."
"Even if he doesn't say it, it's what the people want. Saracen and Crusader alike."
"The people know not what they want. It's why they turn to men like us."
"Then it falls to men like you to do what is right."
"Ha, nonsense. We come into the world kicking and screaming, violent and unstable. It is what we are. We cannot help ourselves."
"No, we are what we chose to be."
Richard let out a humorless chuckle. "Your kind, always playing with words."
"I speak the truth. There's no trick to be found here."
"We'll know soon enough, but I fear you cannot have what you desire this day. Even now, that heathen, Saladin, cuts through my men and I must attend to them. But, perhaps, having seen how vulnerable he is, he will reconsider his actions." Richard contemplated. "Yes, in time, what you seek may be possible."
"You are no more secure than him. Do not forget that." Altair warned. "The men you left behind to rule in your stead did not intend to serve you for longer than they had to."
"Yes, yes. I am well aware."
"Then I will take my leave. My master and I have much to discuss. It seems that not even he is without fault."
"He is only human, as are we all. You as well."
"Safety and peace be upon you." Altair said inclining his head to the foreign king. The two men turned away from each other when another stood before the assassin.
Altair tensed at his sudden appearance but saw no deception in him. "What is it that you want?" he asked.
"Only information," he said. "I want to know the truth behind Robert's treachery."
"Why, he is dead?"
"Yes, but death does not reveal the truth. I have been suspicious of him for some time and I wish to lay those suspicions to rest."
Altair looked at the man. He had no reason to give this man anything, yet something in him told him to trust him. "What is your name?"
"Robin of Locksley. I am the captain to the king's personal guard."
Altair nodded once. "Very well, Robin Locksley. Go to Jerusalem and seek out a man by the name of Malik Al-Sayf. Tell him that Altair Ibn-La'Ahad sent you. He'll tell you what you wish to know."
"Thank you."
"Do not thank me crusader. For the truth is never easy to bear."
Robin Locksley nodded and turned away. Altair watched him for a moment before heading back the way he came. It was time he returned to Masyaf.
Masyaf, Syria
September 1191
Altair cried out as he was once again bound by the Apple's power. He was getting tired of this charade. Pain coursed through his body, but it didn't matter. All that mattered was stopping Al Mualim. "Face me!" He commanded. "Or are you afraid?"
"I have stood before a thousand men, all of them superior to you and all of them dead by my hand! I am not afraid." Al Mualim declared.
"Prove it."
Al Mualim strode down the steps of the garden, his sword in one hand and the Apple in the other. "What could I possibly fear. Look at the power I command." He gloated.
Altair watched in horror as his master began to glow and duplicates of his form stepped out from his body. They surrounded Altair. The Apple finally released him and the duplicates attacked. There were many of them, all with his master's looks and skill. He didn't know which of them was the real Al Mualim. As he reduced their numbers, they soon disappeared and he was once again bound. Al Mualim paced before him.
"Have you any final words?" Al Mualim asked.
"You lied to me!" Altair spat. "Called Robert's goal foul when all along it was yours as well."
"I've never been much good at sharing." His master taunted.
"You won't succeed. Others will find the strength to stand against you."
Al Mualim sighed. "And this is why so long as men maintain free will, there can be no peace."
"I killed the last man who spoke as such." Altair threatened.
"Bold words, boy!" The traitor sneered. "But just words."
"Then let me go. I'll put words into action."
Al Mualim laughed.
"Tell me, master," mocked Altair. "Why did you not make me like the other assassins? Why allow me to retain my mind?"
"Who you are and what you do are twined to tight together. To rob you of one would have deprived me of the other and those Templars had to die." Al Mualim sighed. "But the truth is, I did try. In my study, when I showed you the treasure, but you are not like the others. You saw through the illusion." He explained.
"Illusion?" Altair asked puzzled.
"That's all it's ever done, this Templar treasure. This Piece of Eden. This Word of God. Do you understand now? The Red Sea was never parted. Water never turned to wine. It was not the machination of Eris that spawned the Trojan War, but this! Illusions! All of them!"
"What you plan is no less an illusion. To force men to follow you against their will."
"Is it any less real than the phantoms the Saracens and the Crusaders follow now? Those craven gods who retreat from this world that men might slaughter one another in their names?! They live amongst an illusion already. I'm simply giving them another. One that demands less blood."
"At least they choose these phantoms."
"Oh, do they?" Al Mualim questioned. "Aside from the occasional convert or heretic?"
"It Isn't right." Altair growled.
"Ah, and now logic has left you. In its place, you embrace emotion. I am disappointed."
"What's to be done then?"
"You will not follow me and I cannot compel you."
"And you refuse to give up this evil scheme!"
"It seems that we are at an impasse."
"No, we are at an end."
"I will miss you Altair." Al Mualim said almost seeming sincere. "You were my very best student." He got into a fighting stance as the Apple released its hold and Altair drew his sword. They traded blows for a moment before Al Mualim disappeared. Altair blinked in surprise.
"Blind, Altair." Al Mualim spoke. His voice seemed to be coming from everywhere. "Blind is all you have ever been. All you will ever be."
Altair searched the gardens for his master. His own eagle vision didn't seem to be much help to him. He soon found Al Mualim at the edge of the garden, glowing with the Apple's power. They engaged again and once again Al Mualim disappeared, laughing.
Their swords crossed. "My blade sees for me, Al Mualim. It cuts through the darkness." Altair stated.
Al Mualim disappeared again but Altair noticed something. His master was tiring. Never mind that his age slowed him but it seemed using the Apple drained him. Altair smirked. He could finally end this. He moved quickly, disarming Al Mualim and knocking him to the ground. Altair lunged and sank his hidden blade into his master's flesh.
He pulled the blade from his body and cradled his head. The Apple slipped from Al Mualim's fingers and rolled away. He weakly reached for it.
"Impossible, the student does not defeat the teacher." He said breathless.
Altair spoke the Creed's maxim in the ancient language.
"So, it seems. You have won then." Al Mualim said resigning to his fate. "Go and claim your prize."
"You held fire in your hand old man. It should have been destroyed."
"Destroy the only thing capable of ending the crusades and creating true peace? Never."
"Then I will." Altair promised but Al Mualim just smiled.
"We'll see about that." And with those words, Rashid ad-Din Sinan, Al Mualim, died.
Altair knelt there for a moment as he held his master's body. Sorrow filled his heart. Oh, how he wished this hadn't happened! But it did and nothing could change that now. He gently closed Rashid's eyes and stood, every wound and muscle protesting. He moved slowly to where the Apple lay, innocently glowing. To think that something so small could cause so much pain and suffering. The voice of Rashid spoke in his mind, a memory long since passed.
"I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a casing of the wind. For in much wisdom, is much grief. And he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow."
As he approached the Apple, it began to glow and Altair tensed, weary of what it might do next. It projected a picture of a sphere containing strange marking on its surface, into the air above him. Altair gazed at it in awe. Rashid's voice returned to him, taunting him. "Destroy it. Destroy it as you said you would."
"I-I can't." Altair whispered.
"Yes, you can Altair, but you won't"
Footsteps sounded behind him but Altair didn't need to see to know who it was. Malik and two of his men stood next to him and stared at the globe. "What is it?" Malik asked softly.
Altair was silent for a moment as the light from the Apple sparkled in his eyes. "The world." He whispered before his vision grew dark and he knew no more.