"Of course I do!" She exclaimed in happiness after shutting her mouth that threatened to catch flies. And leapt to her feet, "Errr...So how do we go about having this um... wedding?" she asked craftily, batting her eyelashes deliberately,
"I'm so glad that you're so eager!" he clamoured loudly and practically flew on to the bed, one knee propped up after skidding to a halt. Facing her, he seized her hands tightly, pulling them to his chest, her body dragged up, "Miss Leah, I must do this properly!...I will ask. – Will you marry me?" he asked, his eyes bore into her wide open ones.
She'd waited not very long, barely a minute of thought was spared for this topic, but to hear this question...Someone who'd take care of her for the rest of her life, to comfort her, to love her, provide for her when she was bearing their child. That's all well and nice and pretty isn't it?
BUT NOT A BANDIT. "What would mah mother think..." Leah berated herself mentally, with a roll of her eyes, shaking her head as she did...She could see it now, with the fluffy white and pink gown, hands on hips, rollers in the hair,
""YOUNG MAN! JUST WHAT ARE YOU DOING? MARRYING THAT FILTHY RUFFIAN – MY LORD LOOK AT THE STATE OF YOUR CLOTHES- HAVE YOU NO DECENCY?" Good old mother...always knew a way to insult a girl in every way possible, firstly by calling her a man."
"But muuuuuuuum!"
"NO "but mums!" Leah! I would have thought you'd have used that brain of yours! - Bandits - theives! - vulgar people! You should be marrying -"
"A prince, a rich billionaire...a lawyer."
"Yes, good girl, now go catch one."
"I'll just get my net then (!)"
"Miss Leah, is your tongue numb with surprise? Have no answer for me?" Ammar asked sadly, his expression crushed.
"Erm...that would depend, what would you like me to say?" she choked out in a honeyed tone, shaking herself from her dazed expression.
"Yes. Please say yes..." The Princely bandit pleaded sincerly, with such a hopeful face, Leah didn't dare have the nerves to reject his proposal. Not to mention the shadow of him being a bandit, and bandit's having such reputations as they do...
"Of course...yes." "Goodbye mother... I'm off to marry a bandit...don't worry, I shall live in a cave and feed off stolen supplies, and wear potato sacks for clothes... It's the good life."
"Well. You brought it on yourself."
"Thanks mum."It was the instant crash of regret that had her wishing the bandit killed her straight off.
"EXCELLENT!" He roared, leaping to his feet, Leah in tow, her body limp with regret, her eyes closed with the effort of controlling the need to bawl aloud "Nooooooooooooooo!" in a dramatic pose. She was dragged out into the main "hall" which was the main cave area,
"Hear ye- hear ye- hear ye! I hereby wed - LEAH!" he hollered aloud, gaining the attention of every living person within the cave, even prison beaters stopped their flogging and abuse to listen, their victims grinning at the poor girl's misfortune,
"He always says "hear ye" that's just the, you know...coolest catch phrase in the century(!) You just need a bell to swing round too! – Complete the outfit and what not." Leah mentally gwauffed, "lolololol indeed." She thought with a sour expression, and a small scowl.
"We shall raid plentiful of villages! I will sure you have the best second hand clothes to wear within all my domain! They shall not be tainted with blood, or guts – maybe a dash of sweat – but they shall be pristine by my standards!" he cried, the bandits shouted out praise and eagerness to him, raising their multiple weapons aloft.
At that speech Leah could have cried with exasperation, "Not tainted by blood or guts but just a bit of left over sweat! – My dream wedding indeed(!) It's alright though, your horses get treated better than I do – respect for you from a bandit!" With a blink of her eyes, she found the bandit holding her hands when she opened them, much to her surprise, he was down on one knee once again.
"I thought proposal was all over..."
"It is and I will be back very soon my dear wife, wait for my arrival, we shall wed once tomorrow's dusk arrives. Please wait for my arrival darling...we will make love when I return, do not fret, I love you my sweet!" He reeled out with a sappy expression melded on.
"You're kidding right!" Leah squeaked in horror, her face dropping into stone, the bandit stared for a long, long, long, long, long while at her, then he gave the smallest shake of his head which only agitated her even more.
"You will be my wife." He said firmly, as the cold blustery wind of her imaginations whirled around her she thought, "Never thought I'd be in this predicament...arranged marriage can go soooo soooo wrong – like children. CHILDREN? Never mind, it's the entire making love part!"
"Yes I forgot to mention children, we shall have 20, no - 200 no - more than twenty! We shall have as many as you can carry!" he announced with all the pride of a doting father...
" S'cuse Mr Bandit dude, but err DO I LOOK LIKE I'M ABOUT TO PRODUCE CHILDREN! MAKE LOVE AND ALL THAT SHIZZ?" Leah shouted at him, her face a raging monster of teeth and fire, however a second too late her future husband was already on the back of a horse, riding off into the sunlight, shouting back his farewells, his arm waving maniacally in the air.
"Goodbye my fair wife! I shall return – preserve your beauty and youth for my use when I shall return..."
"You're a lost cause mate! Just wait until you get back! DOMESTIC ABUSE IS IN ORDER! Make love(!) No chance you deluded rabbit of pencil case land!" she roared out, discovering that she was all alone, every bandit had left her standing in the middle screaming foul language.
"This is great(!)" She muttered with a scowl, with a depressive sigh as she looked up, "Maybe I could tunnel my way out", she said seeing quite literally the biggest gate in her life made from wooden trunks, it stretched from the top of the cave to the ground. "Can't have his wife running away can he...lock the gate, chain her up – keep her frozen – anything to stop her escaping..." She thought exasperatingly.
Altair ran relentlessly, his lungs pained him with every breath he inhaled as he sped across the landscape his boots taking the brute force of the ground, the leather thinning with each mile he crossed, every boulder he leapt over, his feet numb with the effort, his body burning with the gruesome travel.
"Damnit she's not here." He gasped out to himself as he finished scouring the Assassin course many times, "Where could you be...darn it...I need a lead, I need a clue...DAMN YOU AL MUALIM." He mentally growled, he pulled down his hood and rubbed at his sweaty forehead, it throbbed persistently with a head ache and tiredness. He sat himself down for a moment to contemplate the moment, it was defeat.
Hand on head, he gave a sigh as he pulled together all the facts, "I don't have a hope in the Creed of finding her, she may have fallen down the ravine, devoured by a wolf, sprained her ankle and gotten trapped within a gorge...my duty was to tell her she cannot return to the brotherhood, so perhaps I should leave it..."
With a peculiar sensation of regret he got to his leaden feet, and looked towards the blue sky for comfort, or what should have been a clear blue sky. It was tarnished with a stream of dark smoke. He frowned as he thought, "Strange that I didn't notice this...ridiculous, that smoke wasn't there before. But I must pay more attention my surroundings, I may have missed Leah unconscious on the floor..." As the dark, bitter smell hit his nose,he threw his shrouding hood back up. "Reputation or not with the brotherhood, it's my duty to care for this land."With a steely expression, he sped towards the crisis.
The first thing that hit him strongly, was the absolute devastation and death wrought upon the village, secondly was one of the culprits rummaging through a basket of possessions, while the house in front smouldered, past the house was a messy mound of bodies.
"You bastard." Altair snarled viciously, the bandit grunted and turned around to face the slash of a blade through the throat. Altair spat on the ground with disgust at the dead man and muttered, "Bleeding bandits...why don't they make something useful of themselves?"
He suddenly heard the low trumpeting of a conch shell, he hid behind a building and peered out from his hiding spot. He could see a figure on a horse in front of the corpse pile, it raised his sword heralding the success of the raid to the rest of his comrades, "There's only one person I know with that many jewels on a turban..." he thought with a dark look on his face, "But what's he doing out here..."
He stealthily crept closer, using all of his Assassin training to the max where he then listened intently as he perched on the roof of building inconspicuously though not yet, torched alight.
"My followers, we have annihilated this village and we shall have a feast tonight! And tonight we gain a sister! My WIFE!" Ammar shouted and followed by woops and shouts of praise, he turned his horse and began to canter away leaving Altair bemused.
"He has a wife to wed?...I wonder...Surely not...I beg it not to be...that woman will surely bear many of his children forcibly...she can't – I can't...She cannot be helped..I assume... I should return to the brotherhood...and face that old codger before he blames for something else absurd..." With a heavy weight on his heart, regret seeping in, he took a step forwards, and weighed his decision, "This is farewell then Leah, may our paths cross again. But our destinies have ended, may Ammar treat you well." He declared mentally and sped away back to the castle.
"So Altair...you have chosen to crawl back to the brotherhood though you had a chance to find her, this is exceptional news..." Maness snickered, as he watched the Assassin bolt away into the distance.
"Brother, you have returned so soon?" Malik said in surprise as he spotted Altair trundle across the hallway of the castle. Ignoring the question Altair asked wearily,
"Malik? Why are you holding so many bottles as such?" The Assassin was cradling them carefully against his abdomen with his arm.
"Well I and Goutar was originally expecting Leah to arrive, which brings me back to my earlier question, why are you back so early, I expected to not hear from you again for a few days straight," he replied a flicker of worry gracing his face.
"Did you expect her to come back half alive or dead?" Altair asked him stonily, looking at one of the bottles, "There's enough here to heal half of the villagers!"
"Quite, heaven knows what she's gone through."Malik said with a sympathetic look, "Falling down cliffs and battered by everything...not to mention that poison!"
"Well I expected myself to return only when I've found her, but err I've decided events will not find me gaining much prestige for disappearing on a chase." He admitted in discomfort, shifting his feet as he spoke.
"Well aren't you just this beam of sunshine and determination?" Malik commented with a small laugh, "So where is she?" he asked brightly as Altair snorted in response.
"I've no idea." He barked in reply quickly, his annoyance covering the growth of guilt that settled on his mind like a leech to skin.
"Calm down there..." Malik told him reproachfully, "You must have an idea, so where did you hide her? I refuse to believe you'd come back empty handed."
"I haven't hid her." He said tiredly, and at that moment Maness walked into the castle hallway where they were stood, the two Assassins instantly fell silent as the stocky Assassin approached cockily with a smug look plastered on.
"Ah so what do we have here? Mongrels mingling I see..." he said with a smirk, looking from one scowling Assassin to the other one who gave a polite nod of the head,
"And I see that you've finally crawled out of that hole you were hiding in," Altair said cattily, his eyes staring daggers at the man,
"I did indeed, and I've being doing so much more," Maness said with a slimy sneer,
"Like what? Making children cry? Taking their sweets? Terrorizing the elderly? Trivial stuff indeed." Altair scoffed, folding his arms in a surly manner.
"Wouldn't you like to know indeed..." He snickered, and Altair gave a snort, "and it was in fact trivial." He added loftily, "So where is that little ratty wench?" he asked indifferently, and gave a small glance around the hall for her, "I wanted to see if she'd died already."
"Tch, absolutely no idea." Altair said stiffly, his mouth twitched in annoyance as Malik's expression remained suspicious, and Maness' became mildly surprised,
"Oh really? You of all people for once have no idea where your little puppy dog is? Are you not concerned? Or is poor little Altair hiding his emotion like some traumatic teenager?" Maness goaded deliberately, watching Altair's expression grow angry.
"In all honesty you don't know? On the brotherhood's creed?" Malik asked carefully, watching Altair's expression.
"Yes, yes and yes, on Mother's very being if you both want."Altair replied snappily, pointedly ignoring Maness.
"I'm quite-" Maness interrupted, but he continued regardless, turning away from the Assassin.
"I grow tired of this my brothers, I have answered your questions and satisfied your curiosity-"
"No Altair you haven't-" Maness challenged with a broad smirk.
"I already told you. I've spoken enough." Altair told him softly, his piercing eyes glaring at Maness' own, who glared back evenly, but he ceased to press further. "I shall report to Al Mualim." Altair finished blandly and he moved towards the staircase.
"Be my guest, but make it fast you roach, I need to report also." Maness spat at him as they climbed the stairs quickly, he reached out a hand that caught Altair's robe in an effort to throw him back,
"I will take all the time I require dear Head Assassin." Altair scoffed slapping Maness' hand off him, as he raced up the last flight of stairs,
"My speech is MUCH more important than your smidgen of a report." Maness called out after him, as he held back from the study of Al Mualim.
"No it isn't, my report is better than yours!" Altair snapped back loudly,
"In your prayers they are! Don't be such a fool, I blatantly have the better report!" Maness shouted back to the surly Assassin,
"YOU DO NOT!"
"I DO INDEED."
"DON'T START THIS!"
"Ridiculous...the pair of you..." Al Mualim tutted disapprovingly as he slowly approached the stair case where the men were ready to fly at each other's throats,
"Master." The two muttered, falling into a silent seething mood,
"Just like two school children disrupting a class, I cannot have you both near each other at all...do not tell me who started this please... you both are grown men one with a wife and family! Behave appropriately! - Altair into the study now." The elderly man ordered, and Altair paced away quickly with a shout of,
"SEE – I do have the better report! – AND I WON!" before scarpering away,
"Argh – you little-WE WERE NEVER RACING ANYWAY!" Maness snarled angrily, bunching his fists, the Master gave a tired sigh of exasperation,
"MANESS, please... will at least someone show a little restraint and patience for the mentally challenged?"
"Pfft, mentally challenged is your entire face old hag." Altair thought acidly as he heard the scolding. Soon Al Mualim returned to the study, where Altair waited patiently.
"So my dear child, what news do you bring me?" he croaked out wearily as he took his seat, clasping his hands together on the desk,
"I bear news, that I can find no trace of that wench when I scoured the land thoroughly Maness allegedly sent her to. I covered it swiftly and repeatedly, but I find absolutely no trace. Could it be that he sent her somewhere else?" He reported flatly,
"No, most of the brotherhood saw her ...what is your plan now Altair?" Al Mualim asked him, his gaze fixated on Altair's expression,
"Master?" he questioned, "Testing my loyalty now are you old man?...Fine. I'll just play it as it goes."He thought darkly as he carefully plotted out his choice of words.
"Child, I know your heart is set on something else, perhaps you have outgrown your time within the brotherhood, I am debating on whether you should set your sights on a world beyond our missions and tasks." The old man said gravely, with a bowed head, the situation was with utter importance Altair realised...
"Master. If I may?" He asked feigning hesitation, "I will not bear accusations, or falseness my Master. I acknowledge myself to have been distracted...Malik has alerted this to my attention and I will...hold the punishment." He paused for a while to study the expression of the Master, which seemed to be quite attentive, "I've got this old horse eating out of my hand..."He thought craftily, twisting the flicker of a smirk into a firm line. "Master, if you allow me to serve the Brotherhood once again, I can fully assure you that I can prove my worth of my skills. My loyalty to you has never wavered, I will readily accept my tasks as always."
Al Mualim gave a few satisfied nods of the head and said slowly, "You have prepared your devotion to the Brotherhood?"
"Yes Master." Altair said firmly,
"You will not be side tracked by the...short lived happiness of the fairer sex?" Al Mualim asked carefully. Altair felt the sinking feel within, as he rapidly weighed the outcome of his answers.
"No Master."
"You DARE defy the brotherhood once again – You of all brothers should know that servitude to our cause is a lifelong service, you serve us for life, or you do not serve us at all! With this chance of your running off and cavorting with women I cannot entrust your service to the brotherhood - ALTAIR I EXPELL YOU FROM THE BROTHERHOOD!"
Or...
"Yes Master."
"Ah I am pleased about this. Of all my Assassins and scholars within the brotherhood...You were the one I least suspected of falling in the snare of the witches."
"You refer to them as witches?"
"Yes, the fairer species is a deadly type...we as the Brotherhood have a weakness of the heart bestowed upon us from the Heavens above. Therefore we force immense training to control this...weakness until there is a chosen one. Ah but of course my lectures are wasting time...run along Altair, I shall send for you soon."
"Altair? Are you well my child?" Al Mualim questioned with a forwn, tapping the assassin's head lightly,
"Master." Altair said snapping out of his day dream, "Err..."
"Child, you seem to be contemplating something, please share your thoughts with me." The old man asked shrewdly as he returned to his seat, interlocking his fingers.
"It was nothing of much importance; it was only a reflection of my past. I am...ashamed that I have let my rashness replace my judgement of the greater cause." Altair gave a small bow, "Master, please forgive me."
Al Mualim gave a murmur of acknowledgement and said proudly, "Rise my child, I hope that you will once again become my most favoured protégé."
"I shall." Altair said standing back upright, "Is there anything else you wish of me?"
"Nothing at all my child, I look forward to your next achievement of our ranks." Al Mualim said with a small smile and approving nod.
"Yes Master." Altair said with another bow. As he walked away he thought, "Ridiculous...I have just lied through my very soul to my Master...however, why should he deserve the truth? He lied to me from the beginning, having Maness follow me, those missions that had no results...That bumbling fool of an assassin could not have been more obvious." With a small snort he marched past Maness who gave him a piercing glare before stepping up the stairs to Al Mualim.
"So what did you discover Maness?" The master asked tiredly as Maness approached,
"Nothing out of ordinary, running at breakneck speed, pushing through crowds of elderly, although he did seem quite flummoxed at some point in time, un fit as always. However he abandoned the search rather early after we caught sight of bandits pillaging a village."
"Intriguing..." Al Mualim said softly as he stroked his beard thoughtfully,
"Master?"
"Maness, I have a shrewd theory that our brother Altair may not be all as he seems...not to mention the rise of bandits!" The old man said sharply, Maness' eyes widened slightly in surprise,
"You...suspect he leaks information out about our cause to them?" he suggested lowly.
"No nothing of the sort, Altair is too tight lipped about everything on this world. If anything his pride would stop him from socialising with them...I suspect he may have a hidden cause within this brotherhood, and his loyalty his wavered towards that woman. Tell me truthfully child, wherever did she vanish to?" He quieried, watching Maness shake his head.
"I can honestly say that I haven't the slightest idea...hopefully she slipped down into the ravine and drowned." he replied with a snicker,
"Perhaps, there is no need to wish ill on others my student. I would like you to follow Altair for a while longer whenever he leaves this castle. I would like to know his motives, before I entrust much more information to him, our tasks must come to a standstill. It is a shame that we have fewer Assassins than ever before." Al Mualim said wisely,
"A clever motive, I shall carry out this request as you wish, I'll train those till they have necessary skills. Safety and peace Master." Maness droned before leaving.