"To hear that person is you!" He exclaimed, cutting her off.
Maria stood there, quiet. Altaïr turned and passed his hand on his face.
Did he really say that?
"Did..." She tried. "Did you really mean... it?"
"Yes..." He said, turning to look at her.
Maria didn't know what to say.
"I..." tried Altaïr, but stopped. Instead, he said. "Just, let's get out of here..."
Maria nodded...
X ~ X ~ X
During the return to the camp, Altaïr was walking and Maria, riding. She knew he was hurt, but hoped he didn't do much damage. They had already traveled quite a bit, when she noticed he was bad because the blood loss...
"Altaïr…" She said, stopping the horse and getting down. Altaïr stopped also.
"What?" He asked.
She looked at him and her hope faded. He was weak…
"Stay alert..." She said, approaching him, raising his shirt and taking off the bloodied dressing. Normally, he didn't protest when a woman did this, but this time... it hurt...
"I'm going to kill you..." She said. "Look at this..."
Altaïr looked at the wound. It was ugly, really: inflamed, totally open, with some stitches torn and bleeding…
"We have to go quickly to the camp..." She said.
"I know..." He said.
"Come..." She said. "Get up..."
"I'm fine..." He insisted.
"Who you're trying to fool? You're not okay..." She said. "This is the best way to arrive at the camp quickly… besides, if you pass out, I'll take the control..."
Altaïr was going to say something, but one look at her, he decided it was better for him to stay quiet. Slowly and with her help, he sat on the horse, then gave his left hand for her. Maria took it and sat behind him.
"Hang on..." He said.
He hit the horse with the stirrups and the animal started to gallop...
X ~ X ~ X
Almost an hour and half later after Altaïr went to look for Maria, he was back at the camp.
Ali and Waqar were relieved when they saw her together with their master.
"We need help..." she said. "Altaïr is wounded..."
Waqar approached the horse and helped her get down and after, Altaïr.
"Again?" asked Ali.
Altaïr glared at him and the Assassin excused.
"He opened the stitches..." Said Maria. "I need a clean rag, water, needle and thread..."
Ali and Waqar nodded as Maria helped Altaïr to lie on the ground in her tent...
"Now the shirt..." She commanded.
Altaïr looked at her, but Maria was impassive. Sighing exasperated, he took off the shirt he was wearing with her help.
Maria then took off the dressing... the wound was ugly and bleed more now.
Ali arrived with the things she asked.
"This is going to hurt..." She said wetting the rag and pressing against the wound...
Altaïr closed his eyes, grimacing. He was feeling weak...
"Sorry..." she said.
"Just finish..." said Altaïr.
Maria nodded.
X ~ X ~ X
Maria let Altaïr sleep after the torture session, but kept vigil beside him in the tent, since he had lost a lot of blood between the day before yesterday and now…
Ali approached her.
"How is he?" The Assassin asked, knowing she was worried about their master.
"He has lost a lot of blood..." She said.
"But, do you think he will get better soon?"
"I don't know..." She said frankly, looking Altaïr.
"If you want, me or Waqar can go to Masyaf and get help..." offered the Assassin.
"Are we far from there?" She asked.
"The city is about... 19 miles..." Said Ali. "Galloping, it will be quickly..."
"Do this, please..." asked Maria. "Do you have someone who knows medicine there?"
"We have Zahira..." Said Ali.
"She must understand more than me..." said Maria. "If you can, bring her..."
Ali nodded while Waqar approached...
They talked for a while. Ali left and Waqar looked at her while sitting out of the tent.
"Do not worry, he will be fine..."
"I hope so..." said Maria, looking back at Altaïr.
She thought in the last things that happened between them... she was happy on hearing that he loved her, but guilty for don't say anything for him… she only hopped two things: that he knew that and that he got better, so she could show it to him...
X ~ X ~ X
PS: Sorry if this chapter is almost equal the second one, but you'll understand why shortly.