Altair let out a sharp whistle which hurt my ear a little, but his horse slowed to a trot as we passed by some of the guards on the outskirts of Jerusalem.

"Stop!" One man called out.

"Act sick." Altair whispered in my ear.

I instantly slumped back into his arms and moaned slightly.

"What are you doing here?" The man asked, giving us the up and the down.

"My fiancée is ill, we seek the doctors here." Altair lied.

"There are no doctors here, fool." The man said, his fingers drumming on his sword.

Altair leapt off the horse and yelled to me, "Go into the city, I will find you when I'm done!"

With that, the horse galloped away at tremendous speed. I didn't want to leave Altair there alone, but I knew he could handle himself, so I grabbed the reins and tugged hard when I got to the gates, yelling "Whoa!" above the noise. The horse obediently stopped and I hopped off, leading him to a bail of hay.

"Now you stay here, okay?"

The horse whinnied in agreement. I smiled and scratched his withers.

"Good."

I easily brushed past the guards, since I was a woman. I looked around for a place to lay low, but not low enough to look like a prostitute. The city was beyond beautiful, the tales woven did not do it any justice. I walked through the city, trying not to be suspicious or draw any unwanted male attention. I could try to go find the Assassin's Bureau, but that could result in me getting arrested from jumping rooftop to rooftop, or killed because I'm not an assassin. I figured I'd take my chances and look for the bureau. I climbed up a nearby ladder and used what little acrobatic skill I had to jump from roof to roof.

"Stay still." A voice whispered in my ear.

Before I knew it, I was out cold.

---

I awoke many hours later in what looked like the Assassin's Bureau, but I wasn't too sure. My body ached all over and I found that I couldn't move.

"Who are you?" A man asked in the darkness.

"My name is Jasmine." I croaked. "I am a friend of Altair's."

That was not the answer they were looking for.

"How do you know Altair?" Another voice whispered.

"He helped my mother, my sister and I escape from Acre. He killed Garnier de Napleuse. I was there, you have to believe me."

I tried to sit up, but immediately slumped back down when I heard swords being carefully drawn from their sheaths.

"You will stay here until he comes and testifies to your innocence. If he does not, then I'm afraid you must die."

I gulped slightly and stared straight up into the night sky, praying for Altair to come soon.

---

I guess I had fallen asleep because dawn was creeping onto the horizon, casting a lazy pink light across the bureau. I heard silent footsteps on the rooftop and soon enough, someone in white robes dropped down next to me.

"Jasmine?"

Thank God, it was Altair!

"What are you doing here?" He whispered.

"Can't talk, they'll kill me." I whispered.

A man walked out of the adjacent room and glanced at Altair.

"You know her?" He asked, gesturing to me.

"Yes, this woman helped me kill Garnier. She's safe, she won't say anything."

I sighed with relief as Altair helped me up and I stiffened in his arms.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I don't know." I growled. "Ask them, they drugged me."

Altair glared at the man in the doorway.

"You drugged her?!" He demanded.

"We had no choice Altair, she was wandering dangerously close to the Bureau."

"So you don't drug her." He scolded as he lay me down.

I smiled at how gentle he was with me. He motioned for me to wait there until the sedatives wore off and he disappeared into the other room, whispering quietly. He came back out and sat down next to me.

"I hope you don't mind if I lay here." He said quietly.

"Not at all." I replied and move over as much as my body would let me.

"Thank you." He said with a smile and laid down.

Before I knew it, he was soundlessly asleep. I took this moment to carefully pull his hood down. He was more gorgeous than I thought he was. I smiled and played with his hair as he stirred in his sleep. I rested on my elbow and watched him sleep as a lover or close friend would do. My moment of epiphany abruptly ended when he opened one eye.

"What are you doing?" He asked, dangerously low.

"Nothing." I murmured and rolled over to hide my blush.

I could feel him staring into my back and I groaned as I felt my cheeks get hotter.

"Are you sure it was nothing?" He growled.

"Yes." I replied, my voice small and far away.

"Didn't feel like 'nothing' Jasmine. I wasn't totally asleep, I know you pulled my hood down and played with my hair."

"Ugh!" I grunted and covered my face with my hands as I rolled over.

He tried to move my hands, but I wouldn't dare to let him see me blush. Altair caught me off guard however when he tugged my hair, which I instinctively reached to slap his hand away, being used to Abby tugging at my hair. He snatched my hands so I couldn't cover my face.

"Why are you blushing?" He asked as he kept my hands in a firm, yet gentle, grip.

"Because you caught me." I sighed and closed my eyes tightly.

I could SWEAR I just heard him chuckle!

I opened my eyes and, sure enough, he had a fleeting smile on his lips.

"Women..." He mumbled and rolled over, letting go of my hands.

"Men..." I chuckled and lay on his back, drifting back to sleep.