Chapter 10

Evangeline remained in her room for the next two days. Her father visited her and offered to escort her into the market, but she refused, feigning a headache.

She bathed that morning, and dressed herself in a long, dark crimson dress before stepping out of her chambers and beginning to walk along the corridor.

"Where are you going?"

The blonde span around on her heel to face Altair, "Just…" She began as he stopped in front of her. She tore her clear blue eyes from his face, and directed them towards the ground instead, "Nowhere." As she turned to enter her chambers again, she stopped suddenly when the assassin took hold of her arm.

"Where did you want to go?"

She shook his hand off of her, "I wasn't trying to escape if that's what you're asking." She snapped, taking an angered step towards him.

Altair stared her down, and glared darkly at her. How was he going to deal with the insufferable girl? He would have to keep her locked away, wives were only good for one thing and that was in the bedroom.

"Why are you lingering in the corridor?" The blonde challenged.

"I owe you no answers." Altair replied coolly.

Evangeline raised an eyebrow, "So you were just waiting outside my chambers. Like a dog."

The assassin raised his hand and Evangeline flinched away from him, expecting to be backhanded. "Stay your tongue." Altair ordered, "And show me some respect."

She lowered her arm slightly, "I owe you nothing."

"Yet." The eagle growled. "I hate to repeat myself-"

"-As you've said before-"

"-But where are you going?" He demanded, ignoring her interruption.

"To my chambers." She spat, pushing past him and storming back down the corridor.

Altair smirked, "I was just about to go into the market." He stated, "If you want to go, I won't walk with you. I don't want to walk with you as much as you don't want to walk with me." Evangeline stopped walking to listen to his proposition. "But that doesn't mean I won't keep my eyes on you."

It did feel nice to get some fresh air. Even if she was still cooped up in Masyaf. But Evangeline knew that she had protection here, unlike in the streets of Jerusalem where she had to rely on an assassin to be in the right place at the right time to come to her rescue.

A small smile graced her fair features as she stepped into the sunlight.

She had no wish to make any purchases, she simply longed to stretch her legs around the town.

So that is what she did.

Evangeline caught glimpses of Altair's shadow running across the tops of the buildings, but she ignored them. She was enjoying her walk, and she appreciated the fact that Altair didn't stick to her side, like Runam did.

As she reached the lower level of the town, and the main gate came into view, Evangeline wanted nothing more than to sprint into the stables, mount a horse and ride off into Kingdom.

But Altair noticed her hesitation, and performed a Leap of Faith to intercept her thoughts. As soon as he had climbed out of the hay cart, he took the blonde by her arm and steered her away from sighting the gate, and disappeared again once she was a safe distance from it.

As soon as Evangeline was safely inside the citadel, she made her way towards her chambers, but stopped.

She closed her eyes in defeat when the need to thank the assassin got the better of her. But did he really deserve her thanks? After all, he had almost backhanded her in the corridor that morning. She shook the thought away before continuing on to her room.

She ignored her fathers' request to see her that evening, simply telling the Novice to inform her father that she was unwell, and would visit him when she felt better.

Altair visited her that evening.

And his time, he had no letter to bring with him.

Evangeline was quite surprised to find him standing there. She frowned, confused as to why he wanted her, had the fortress been breached and he was there to take her away?

"I came to speak with you." He stated, when the silence surrounding them became intolerable.

"Why?" She asked, "I doubt you want to speak with me, just as much as I don't want to speak to you."

His jaw visibly tensed, "Do not hate me simply because of my task, Evangeline."

"I do not hate you for that, Altair." She replied, "I hate you for your arrogance, the way you treated me in Jerusalem and your insufferable….you're just insufferable."

"Why not speak your mind?" Altair asked rhetorically, rolling his eyes.

"I was merely explaining my reasons for disliking you."

His amber eyes connected with her own with a fierce intensity, causing Evangeline to look away from the assassin and towards her hand on the door. "I have never known a woman to be so outspoken." He stated.

"I'm guessing that's the reason why you dislike me?"

"One of them."

Evangeline raised an eyebrow questioningly, "And what might the others be?" She wasn't sure whether or not she wanted him to answer her or not, but it was too late now.

"You think I'm insufferable? You're insufferable. You do not listen, you're frustrating, troublesome and you're disobedient."

"Oh?" She pondered, "That's not so bad, I suppose."

"It's terrible."

"You're terrible." She retorted, glaring at the assassin intensively.

Altair closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself, "You're frustrating."

Evangeline shook her head, a small smirk crossed her features, "I thought you didn't like to repeat yourself."

The assassin's eyes darkened again, "So you do listen."

Evangeline said nothing in response, merely changed the subject, "Is there anything else you wanted?" She asked.

"I have been informed," He began. "That we will be married on Friday."

Evangeline swallowed, "Is that all?" She asked.

"That is all." He replied, turning on his heel and storming down the corridor away from the blonde's chambers.

She watched him for a moment, and only called after him once he was halfway down the corridor, "Altair!" The white robed assassin stopped in his stride, and turned to glance at her from over his shoulder. Evangeline sighed and shook her head, in disbelief over what she was about to say, "Thank you."

He fully turned to face her, "What for?" He asked, obviously confused.

"For taking me into the market today." She replied, "And keeping your distance." She added afterwards, her voice quiet.

Altair smirked, but continued along the corridor towards his own chambers. As he reached the end of the corridor, he cast Evangeline's room one last glance before taking the passage to the left, and disappearing around the corner.

A/N: Another quick update :) I leave in three days! Hopefully I will have another update for you by Friday, but if not, then the story will possibly be on a two month hold as I received an e-mail from my University saying that they're sorting out new Wi-Fi and it's all gone tits up...so yeah, please make the most of this possibly final chapter for a short while!

Please make me smile with your reviews :) xx

P.S. From this chapter onwards, is where the fluff will really get going! Also, when we get to Chapter 21, the Rating will be changing to 'M'.