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Altaïr rose from his sleep as the morning sun shone in his eyes. He hadn't even realized that sleep finally came to him. He bid the Rafiq a good day, and left for his return to Masyaf. He needed to be with his wife, and he couldn't be with her soon enough. He needed to get on his knees and beg for forgiveness for all the wrong he'd done to her in their years of marriage.

He continued his thoughts on his journey back home, not skipping a beat in his memories with Aaliyah. He remembered how difficult it was to speak to her. She captivated him, but he couldn't utter a word to the young girl; as if her beauty had silenced his tongue and he could only stare in awe. He began to think that perhaps it was silly, to like a girl at such a young age when he should be training to be the best Assassin he could be. And so, he began to push her to the back of his mind, concentrating solely on his training.


[Flashback...]

He was resting under a tree after training, basking in the cooling air that the sunset brought with it, though the heat still emanated from the ground from the sun's brutality during the day.

"You do not look at me anymore..." he suddenly heard. Startled, he looked up to see her. His heart felt like it had jumped into his throat. He'd finally had the chance to see her up close. She was even more beautiful than he'd thought, now that he could see every distinct feature on her face. She was so different from all the other girls. She had green eyes, and pink lips. Her complexion was lighter than everyone else as well, despite being tanned from the desert sun.

He sat, frozen and lost in her eyes. Did she speak to him? What had she said again?

"I..."

"Have I wronged you in some way?" she asked, eyebrows furrowed in worry.

"N-No."

"I am glad." she smiled, turning to leave.

"Wait!" he spoke up, lifting himself off of the ground to stand with her. She turned around, piercing him with those eyes once more.

"I am Altaïr."

"I know who you are." she smiled sweetly, "Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad. Son of Umar and Maud."

He was taken aback by her knowledge of him, "How do you know of this?"

"Your friend, Abbas. I asked him. Surely, you know of my inquiries. I do apologize for not speaking of these with you personally. I was wrong to do so."

Nobody ever spoke of his parents to him so openly before. His own father hadn't spoken of his mother, except once. She had died during his birth, and his father was murdered during the first siege of Masyaf just two years ago.

"It is alright."

"I must be on my way home, now. It is getting dark." she said, smiling that same, inviting smile and turning around.

"What is your name?" he asked her. He knew her name, but he wanted to hear her say it.

She turned to face him again, "My name is Aaliyah Shamoun."

"It is a beautiful name." Altaïr complimented her. He hid his smirk as best as he could upon making her blush.

"Safety and peace, Altaïr." she said softly, turning to return home.

"To you as well," he replied, then whispered to himself, "Aaliyah..."


"Altaïr! You return so soon?" one of the guardsmen greeted him.

"It is done. Where is the Master?"

"He is in the tower."

Altaïr bowed and continued on to the tower, reaching his Master and informing Al Mualim of the events in Jerusalem. Al Mualim inquired about Altaïr, that he could see his mind was elsewhere. He assured him that he was perfectly fine. He wanted the conversation to end so that he may return to his wife, but stayed as patient as possible. Soon enough, it was done and he was dismissed. He bowed to Al Mualim and made his way home in a hurry.

He opened the door, closing it behind him and looking around. "Aaliyah?" he called out. There was no answer. He moved to the upper portion of their home, thinking that perhaps she was in the bath. "Aaliyah!" he called again, but still nothing. No humming, and no Aaliyah.

Perhaps she is with her friends...

He tracked down Farrah and Dania, inquiring of his wife's whereabouts. They informed him that they hadn't seen her since he'd left for Jerusalem, thinking that she was perhaps ill. He began searching anywhere that he knew she could possibly be, even down near the pools of the waterfall. She was nowhere to be found. He became frantic, worried that something may have happened to her. Every area he knew she usually was, even the castle library or gardens.

"She is gone." he heard suddenly, turning to see Abbas.

Altaïr stiffened, not eager to speak to Abbas of any troubles, "Who is?"

"Your wife."

"Gone where?" Altaïr spat.

"She left Masyaf. No doubt tired of your bickering, yes?" Abbas chuckled.

"Where is she?!" Altaïr yelled, grabbing his jerkin.

"I only saw her leave with a packed horse."

"Who knows of this?"

"Master Al Mualim, of course."

Altaïr rushed to the Master immediately, asking of his wife's location. He didn't know either. Aaliyah left, and she was out there, alone. He had to go after her. He was dismissed from Al Mualim, and hurriedly got on a horse to track her down. Where would he even start in his search? He focused his senses, picking up a trail of horse hooves. How helpful could that even be? So many people passed through the kingdom. He had to take his chances. One of these would have to be her horse. He tenaciously followed her trail, hoping that he could come across her soon enough, but that was becoming less and less of a possibility. Was she cold in her journey? It seemed that she hadn't stopped to set up camp anywhere. He continued on her path, leading him straight to Acre.

Acre? What would she be doing in Acre? How had she known the way to the city in the first place? Unless she had taken a map from the castle library...

It was early in the morning, the sun still making it's way into the skies. He followed to a high point, and did as she must have done. He scanned the area to see what she may have seen.

The Bureau...

It would seem that he greatly underestimated the skills his wife carried. He made his way to the Bureau, dropping down into the main chambers.


"Did you hear something?" the Rafiq asked.

Aaliyah perked her head up, looking around the corner to see who it may be.

No...

She turned to the Rafiq, "Do not inform that man of my presence, please..."

"Altaïr? Why not, child?"

"Please, just do as I ask." she pleaded as she hid out of his view, only hoping that he wasn't using that skill of his.

"Altaïr," the Rafiq greeted him, "What brings you to Acre? I did not receive word that you may arrive."

"I search for a woman by the name of Aaliyah. It is of utmost importance that I locate her. She comes from Masyaf. She is about this tall," he said, lifting his hand up to his lips, "She is absolutely beautiful. She has green eyes, and light brown hair, almost golden in the sun's light."

"I know not of her. What about this woman is of such urgency?"

Altaïr sighed, "She is my wife."

"I was not aware that you were married." the Rafiq spoke, gaining a nod from Altaïr in confirmation. "Why can you not find her, child?"

"That is none of your concern." he said in a defensive tone. He calmed himself as much as possible, "If you see her, inform me at once."

"Yes, Altaïr."

"Thank you." he said, giving a bow and leaving.

The Rafiq turned to her when she rose from hiding, "Would you like to explain yourself, child?"

"Altaïr is my husband." was all she said, and gathered her belongings.

"Why do you run?"

"I must go."

"If you so wish. Be safe, my child."

"I will be fine, Rafiq. Be well, and thank you for your hospitality." she bowed in respect and left.


Altaïr spent hours searching for Aaliyah in Acre. He couldn't keep his senses focused long enough to make a track after spending so many hours doing so. The trail led to Acre, and she had to be somewhere. Perhaps he would return to the Bureau for a quick nap and then return to his search for her.

He arose from his nap and began his search in the Rich District, unable to find anything. She hadn't even stepped into that area. It was apparent she had never stepped foot into the Middle District either. The only trail he could now see was in the Poor District, and it was leading away from the Bureau and out of the city. Had the Rafiq known? He would speak with him another time. For now, he followed her. He kept her trail, remembering what made him fall in love with her in the first place.


[Flashback...]

"No! You are not defending yourself properly."

"Altaïr, you are being so hard on me." Aaliyah whined, wiping the beads of sweat from her forehead.

"Aaliyah...do you not wish to train as I do?"

"Of course I do! But can we just stop and rest for a moment? I beg of you." she pleaded, wrapping her arm around him.

He stiffened at her touch, but wrapped an arm around her nonetheless, "You are doing so well, perhaps better than even I...what has changed this evening?"

"I do not know."

"Aaliyah..." he almost whispered, piercing through her with his beautiful amber eyes.

"Altaïr..." she said softly, her eyes moving to his lips for a second before returning them to his eyes, sucking in her breath when his hand tightened around her.

"Is it your father's death?" he asked cautiously.

She stayed silent, looking away from him. She let go of him and walked away, her hand letting go of his last; to which he was unaware of even tangling his fingers with hers. He knew it. He turned around, watching her as she walked away. He followed, staying back and observing her. She walked all the way to the tree that she and her father used to relax under in the evenings as he gave her reading lessons. She dropped to her knees and held her face in her hands. Altaïr knelt down behind her, cradling her in his arms.

"It has been a whole year as of today..."

"I know."

"I miss him so much, Altaïr."

"I know." he said, wrapping his arms more securely around her.

"What am I to do...my home...it is so lonely, so empty."

"I do not know what you can do...I wish I could do more to ease your grief." he whispered, eyebrows furrowed. He had hoped that spending nights holding her in his arms could ease the pain, but she was not trained to narrow her emotions. He couldn't do that to her. He wanted her to feel freely, to live. He couldn't subject her to a life of emotional solitude as he had been training to. Apart from her, he had no emotions. He'd hardened himself to his father's death, even witnessing Ahmad, Abbas' father, kill himself in his quarters. She was his reminder that he was alive.

"My mother, gone from such an early age that I do not recall even her face in my memories...it is always a blur, should I remember. My father, taken from me because of a foolish decision." she drifted off and he continued to hold her in her silence. Suddenly, she turned to him, her hands on either side of his face, "Altaïr..."

"Yes, Aaliyah?" he replied, looking deep into her eyes.

"Promise me...that you will never do anything foolish in any mission you are given! Promise me that you will never break any of the tenets!"

"Why do you ask me of such a thing?"

"I cannot bear to lose someone that I love again!"

Altaïr's breath hitched in his throat. Did she just say that...she loves him?

"Aaliyah..."

"Please, Altaïr. I cannot lose you...I need you by my side..."

He held her hands in his, bringing them down and giving them a light squeeze. He lifted one hand to her face, looking deeply into her eyes, "I promise, Aaliyah..." he vowed before pressing his lips to hers.


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