Leicester:
The next day, Umar woke Altaïr very early. Even if today was the day of his wedding, Umar resolved he wouldn't give him a break... they were now on the clearing where they always trained.
"Why are we here, dad?" Altaïr asked, looking back to Umar.
"Because it's time to finish our training..." Umar said. "You were a very good student, Altaïr... you're an applied and intelligent man..."
"Thank you!" He said to his father.
"I'll teach you some new and more elaborated attacks and after, we'll going to fight..." Umar said. "For real!"
Altaïr looked at his father but didn't say anything... he knew Umar didn't really fight with them while on training, but this time he looked like he would. And this was the time for him to do the same...
Taking a deep breath, he nodded...
"Great!" Umar said. "Now, the first lesson... eagle vision…"
X ~ X ~ X
Unlike to her future husband, when Maria woke up, it was almost noon. She stretched herself on the bed and opened her eyes, sighing...
It's time for me to get up and arrange my things... she thought. But first…
Turning on her side, Maria hugged the other pillow on her bed... she closed back her eyes for a few seconds and opening them again, she smiled... soon, it would be Altaïr n her side...
After the wedding... she thought, smiling wider.
X ~ X ~ X
Scraptoft, Leicester surrounds:
The small French Troop was resting between a few trees, near Leicester. Meanwhile, the Commander Robert De Sable, Maddoc and the leaders of the future rebellion, Erick and Tomas, were tightening the knots for tonight...
"We are going to attack after the wedding..." Maddoc said.
"Why not during the wedding?" Robert asked.
"To take them unprepared..." Maddoc said, looking to him. "During the party, everyone will be more at ease…"
"My superior said that they have an assassin among them..." Robert said, changing the subject
"Yes, his name is Umar Ibn-La'Ahad..." Erick said. "I heard that he belongs a creed... the Assassins creed... His has a wife and three children..."
Robert had already heard about this creed and now he wanted to face the assassin...
"He is mine! Robert said.
"Are we going to kill them all?" Tomas asked.
"No, to capture is best way." Robert said. "This would put Sir Arthur in our hands and we can even finish this merdique war..."
The three men nodded, even if they didn't understand the word he said.
"Very well, be ready for this evening!" Maddoc said.
X ~ X ~ X
Leicester:
Altaïr and Umar were tired and trying to catch their breath. The fight had just finished and after two hours, Altaïr had finally won...
Umar was astonished... he didn't expect Altaïr would be able to use a technique he hasn't learned yet while thinking quickly about his options, but his son had grown: after diverting an attack, Altaïr fell on the ground... getting up quickly, he then run, propped his feet on a tree and jumped, swirling above Umar... with this, he recovered his balance and when Uma made an attack, Altaïr diverted the blow and hit his father, making him fall... in the end, his son took his sword forcing him to yield, with it at his throat…
"Congratulations, son..." Umar said, looking at him, while still trying to breathe. "It was... a good fight..."
Altaïr sat on the grass then laid on his back. He still didn't believe what was going on... he had managed a win against his father, in a fight nonetheless... he had never done such a thing... neither Fa'iz could beat his father, and even so, today he had done it...
"Keep going... like that and you'll be... a great Master Assassin..." Umar said.
"Thanks..." Altaïr said.
Umar straightened himself and walked towards his son.
"Come..." Umar said, getting him on his feet. "You need to rest and wash yourself before Tonight..."
Altaïr only nodded...
X ~ X ~ X
Maria had already finished her lunch, but her parents and brothers were still eating ... she excused herself and got up from her chair... she had to continue prepare her things…
But as soon she stood, June got up also...
"Maria..." the little girl said.
Maria looked at her sister.
"What, June?" she asked.
June lowered her head.
"I don't want you to go..." June said.
"You should have thought about this before saying anything to dad..." Timothy said.
"Be quiet, Timothy..." Arthur said while Maria glared at him.
Timothy was quiet and lowered his head...
Maria looked back at June.
"I know you don't want it, Junes..." she said. "But I have to go…"
"I'm sorry..." June said, starting to cry.
"It's ok, honey..." Maria said, kneeling in front of her and hugging her.
Harriet got up and walked towards them...
"June, do you want to help Maria with the rest of her things?" Harriet asked to her youngest daughter.
"Do you want to help me?" Maria asked and June nodded.
Maria smiled...
"Come with me..." she said to her sister
X ~ X ~ X
Maria entered her room, followed by her sister.
"You know, June..." Maria said, leading her by the hand to the bed. "I'm not really leaving…"
"I know, you're just marrying Altaïr..." June said.
Maria nodded.
"Do you like him, right?" Maria asked her sister.
"Maybe... I don't know..." June said looking at Maria. "He did put you in this mess..."
Maria raised an eyebrow.
"Actually, this is not only his fault... it's mine too..." she explained. "Let's say we both did something stupid and now we both are forced to marry…"
"You mean, because you had sex?" June asked.
Maria nodded.
"But, I don't regret doing it with him…" she said.
June looked at Maria.
"You do love him, don't you?" the little girl asked.
"Very..." Maria said.
"And he loves you, right?" June asked again.
Maria nodded...
"Then, I like him too…" June said.
Maria hugged her sister and kissed her head.
"Great, now help me with that..." she said getting up the bed.
X ~ X ~ X
The afternoon passed quickly for Altaïr and Maria... soon it was almost time for the wedding…
At home, Maria finished drying herself
"Come, Maria... we have to put this dress..." her mother said.
Maria glared at her mother.
"Mom... I don't want Altaïr to see me messed up…" Maria said.
"That boy will love you even if you are wearing a potato sack, Maria..." Harriet said to her daughter.
Maria rolled her eyes at her mother. But in her heart, he knew her mother was right.
"Now come on... I don't want to keep anyone waiting…" Harriet said.
X ~ X ~ X
As soon as Altaïr finished washing up, he entered the bedroom and saw on his bed some folded clothes. Walking towards the bed, he was excited to see a white mantle, just like his father...
Without wasting time, he put the clothes that were left for him with the mantle. He then arranged the clothes with his hands and exited the bedroom. His parents and brothers were waiting for him on the other room.
"It served…" Vivien said.
"Thanks, mom... it's perfect..." He said. Vivien hugged her youngest son.
"I was plaining to keep it till next year, but today is a special day..." she said.
Altaïr nodded...
"Ok, let's go..." Umar said.
X ~ X ~ X
Hill above, the French soldiers and Robert, Maddoc, Erick, Tomas and few citizens were reunited, observing the movement bellow. The wedding was starting... Altaïr and Maria met on the small aisle between their parents and held hands, as the priest started.
"Where is the Assassin?" Robert asked.
"It's him over there..." Maddoc pointed to where Umar was.
Robert nodded. He couldn't wait…
It was decided that Bernice would make a sign with a white cloth so they could begin the attack.
"You remember right, first we have to get the most part of the Thorpe's family…" said Maddoc.
"I know…" said Robert. "Then, the Assassin is mine…"
Maddoc nodded…
X ~ X ~ X
PS:Translation
merdique - damn