Sorry for the wait and forgive me if this chapter starts to seem scattered it's just that i've been so overwhelmed with homework that I haven't had much time to work on this...well...I hope you like it ^_^.
Their trip to Masyaf was something that Altair would never forget. Al Mualim somehow heard of their plans to visit the fortress together and had them captured. Henry was dressed the way he was on the same day that Altair had met him. A few of his brothers had caught the two together in the village. Henry was dressed the same way he was when he and Altair first met in the market. He introduced himself using his mother's name.
"Henrietta," he told them. "That's my name."
"Altair, where did you ever manage to find her?" one of the assassin's, an informant, asked, frantic for an answer.
Henry put his hand to the side of his mouth in a whispering gesture and said "Rescuing a civilian comes with its rewards." Then he winked at them.
A young and very shy trainee approached him. "Altair, have you...you know," he whispered.
Altair smiled debating wheather he would answer or not. He shot a quick look over to Henry and the other two. He was flirting with them. And they were flirting back. He pulled his hand back, clenching his fist and releasing his hidden blade. The young trainee saw the tension that built up in his eyes and backed away.
"I think it's best if we go on our way," he suggested to his friends. "Come on brothers, let's go."
Altair pulled Henry's arm roughly causing him to giggle. To him, it was cute to see his lover so jealous.
"It's not funny," Altair growled letting him go. "I just have a strange feeling about today."
Henry snuggled against him and Altair sighed feeling even worse. He couldn't help feeling scared for Henry. If something happened to him, he didn't know what he would do.
He made his way up to the entrance of the fortress and sighed, letting go of Henry's hand slowly.
"I love you," Altair whispered.
"I love you more," Henry replied.
It was when he stepped across the floor of the fortress did his heart stop momentarily. He heard a loud scream and turned to see Henry fall to the floor in a flash of gold. Standing behind his lover was his master with the Piece of Eden in one hand and his sword in the other. Henry cried out, barely clinging to to a string of conciousness.
"Master! Why?"
Al Mualim walked over to him smiling darkly. "I needed a test subject," he explained. "Was reading through what the scribes have given me over the weeks and I found many interesting works: a way to steal a woman's fertility and even a way to turn a man's insides to flame."
Altair clenched his teeth ready to lunge at his master when he found that his body was immobile.
"Henry!" he called out trying to reach out his hand.
"Altair," Henry cried, clenching his stomach in pain.
"Please, Master, stop this!"
"No, this is your punishment," Al Mualim said. "I expected you to be here several days ago. Yet, now I find you strutting about with this archer from Damascus! Yes, I know all about him. I have seen into his mind and the things he intends. Did you really expect him to stay with you? Have you even worndered why he captivated you so much?"
Henry screamed calling out for his lover. "Please!" he cried. "It hurts so bad!"
"Master! Let him go, I beg of you!"
Al Mualim smiled hearing his favorite student beg. He had broken him. Now he knew that Altair was under his full control. Released the two and left from their sight quickly.
"Henry," the assassin whispered running over to the archer. "I'm sorry. I should have never agreed to bring you here. Please, I'll take you home now just...please forgive me."
He picked Henry up and carried him from the fortress to the village. Henry did not speak for a while, but when he did his voice was hoarse and raspy.
"I forgive you, Altair," he whispered. "You are not the one who should feel upset. I put you into this position. Had I not stayed at home, this would have never happened."
"Don't say that," Altair said. "I'll get you to a doctor, then we'll see when you are fit to return home."
Henry smiled, closing his eyes slightly. "Okay."
I'm sorry for any spelling errors! I'll fix them later but now i need to rest!
Thanks so much for reading! Your reviews are what keep me writting! I love you all!
~Miyuki
