Chapter 29

Now that she had spoken to her father about her feelings for Altair, Franchesca couldn't help but feel happy that Demetri was accepting over it, and wasn't telling her that she was being stupid. He may not have admitted that he was very happy about it, but he was supportive all the same.

In fact, the raven haired young woman knew that Altair should be the next person she spoke to – to finally tell him that she was carrying his child.

The raven haired young woman could see the Master Assassin making his way down the hill not to far away from her, and before she could think about being discrete about her approach she had already called his name rather loudly.

"Altair!" The Master Assassin halted and turned to her voice after a short moment, watching as she quickly walked towards him, "I...I had something to tell you."

"Chesca!"

The raven haired young woman sighed, but did not look away from the point of Altair's hood as Cameron jogged towards her, and slung his arm around her shoulders, "I've been looking everywhere for you!" The blonde stated, slightly out of breath. "You weren't at home, and after what father told me about your unwanted visitor last night-"

"-Unwanted visitor?" That was the first time she had heard the Master Assassin's voice that day, and it was like honey to a bee.

"Didn't father tell you?" Cameron asked, "When he was visiting Franchesca late last night, who should come knocking? But Abbas."

Altair was silent in his response, but looked up towards the gates of the citadel - where he had been heading after his morning free-run around the city. "The man is not to be trusted, Franchesca." He finally stated, "Do not open your door at night if you are alone. Even if it is Cameron, Max, Demetri or myself-"

"-Yourself?" Cameron asked, smirking. "And why would you be visiting my sister at such a late hour, Altair?"

"Demetri has asked me to keep watch again." Was the quick reply from the Master Assassin - he always had an answer when Franchesca would have found herself stuttering like a fool.

"Oh yes, of course." Cameron rolled his eyes, "I always knew something was going on between the two of you." Both Altair and Franchesca were silent, but luckily for them, Cameron took it that they were merely getting fed up of his jokes. "Did I interrupt anything?" He then asked. "Nevermind," He shook his head. "I have to go, grandmother wanted to see me."

Both watched the Assassin leave, before Altair turned his attention back towards Franchesca, "You had something to tell me." He stated.

"Yes," She began nervously, looking down at her feet - only then realising that she had forgotten to put her shoes on that morning. "I wanted to tell you that..." The raven haired young woman then sighed, losing her courage once more. "I wanted to apologise if I offended you."

"Offended me how?" Altair asked.

"If I offended you with...with the dagger." She replied eventually, "I do not want you to feel as though I was giving it to you for merely...being with me, I...I just wanted you to know that I offered it to you for the reasons I am supposed to. I just...I just wanted to explain myself...and apologise."

When she looked up, the first thing she noticed was the fact that the Master Assassin wasn't looking at her. She followed his gaze, to spot her grandfather standing just a little ways away from where they were standing. "What is it that Max knows?" He immediately asked, "For he is still showing himself to me as an informant, with my eagle vision."

"That was it." She lied, looking away from him once more.

"No, it wasn't." Altair replied, "For you did not offer me the dagger until after you requested to speak with me the first time."

She didn't know why, but Franchesca could feel tears building up in her eyes and she had to look away from the Master Assassin, "Altair, I have to be fair on myself, because of the feelings I have shown that I have for you. I do not think it's good for me if I speak to you anymore. My grandfather knows how I feel, he told me the story of the dagger the night you visited. I do not think it is fair if I keep meeting with you…it is leading me to be hopeful."

"This is truly how you feel?"

"It is." She lied, not lifting her eyes any further than his right shoulder.

He nodded once in understanding, "If you wish."

There was a moment of silence between them, which Franchesca found - for once in a long time - uncomfortable. "Thank you." She eventually whispered, before turning on her heel and making her way back towards her house, allowing her unshed tears to fall freely down her pale cheeks.

She couldn't believe that that was how things had gone! Why had she said those things? She knew they were true and that it would be best for her if she didn't meet with Altair any more. The physical damage may have already been done, but emotionally? She needed to be fair on herself; it was time to be selfish.

It wasn't long until she was visited by her grandfather. 'The man is strong, talented and well respected, Franchesca. And I do not doubt the rumours of his good looks, and I believe his voice is pleasing to the ears.' The raven haired young woman blushed at both hearing those words, and re-thinking about them – but that was because her grandfather was right. Altair was all those things. But he wasn't scolding her because she had failed to gift him the dagger again, but because the Master Assassin still had no idea that he was going to be a father. 'He will do the right thing, Franchesca. He will be there to support you and the child. He will be a good father, like his own.'

Even Demetri turned up on her doorstep to scold her. But he was doing so purely because Franchesca had done the opposite of what he had thought and hoped. 'Why would you turn away a man that you know you love? He is very talented and respected, Franchesca – perhaps a little arrogant – but you would do well to be with a man like him.'

Despite having told Altair that she did not wish to see or speak with him anymore, the Master Assassin still kept true to his word with Demetri and kept an eye on her. Franchesca knew the feeling of his eyes on her back, and she knew that she wasn't mistaken...until about a week later when the gaze grew closer and closer until she was touched on the shoulder.

"Altair, I said that I didn't-" She stopped however, when the Master Assassin was not the white hooded man standing beside her. "Sphen?"

"Good afternoon, Franchesca." He greeted, the usual charming grin etched onto his lecherous lips. "You are looking lovely today."

She offered a forced smile, but appreciated his kind comment all the same, "Thank you." She replied, "That is very kind of you to say so."

"You look lovely all the time," He reassured her. "But today is different."

Franchesca frowned, "How so?" She questioned.

Sphen cleared his throat, "Because I...I'm not sure." He replied mock-awkwardly, "I'm not too good with words, you see." He lied, taking a staged moment to supposedly compose himself before turning back to face the raven haired young woman to continue. "I understand that most of my brothers do not have good words to say about me regarding women," He began. "But please understand that I would do nothing to hurt you. In fact, I would do anything to protect you."

"That's not what happened in the stables at my father's house, when you almost stabbed me."

He smiled awkwardly, "I cannot apologise enough for that. But I can assure you it was an honest mistake. Myself and all of my assassin brothers have automatic reflexes when we are surprised - in case we are being attacked – it's like a second nature to us."

She nodded in acceptance of his words, and turned to walk away - but he skipped in front of her to keep her attention, "Franchesca," He looked into her eyes and smiled, "I would like for you to become my wife."

To say that the young woman was stunned was an understatement, "I can't..." She replied eventually, noticing that the Assassin was waiting for an answer right that second.

"It is because of your family, isn't it? They have poisoned your thoughts regarding my intentions."

"Your intentions were made clear when you stated them to Altair, challenging him as to who would have me first."

"I know I've already lost that." He sneered. "I also know that you gave him the Chapman dagger. I overheard you apologising to him...you said about him 'being' with you. I suppose, if you do not wish to be married to me, but state that you have feelings for him of all people after laying down for him, then you must have different intentions for wanting his affections?" Franchesca did not know what to say and Sphen took her silence as confirmation to his thoughts, "You may need to get married soon, before you start to show." He stated, gesturing towards her stomach before turning on his heel to leave.

The lady-killer paused however, and looked over his shoulder towards the young raven haired woman, "He will not marry you. If he has had you on your knees then he was treating you like he does any other whore." He made his way back towards her, grabbing her chin in his hand in a tight grip that made the raven haired young woman wince, "I can assure you," He began, "I wouldn't have you on your knees - your face is too beautiful not to look at." She slapped his arm away, and rubbed her chin. "But other men will treat you like a whore, now you have been tainted by another's touch...I will be the only one who will look at you now. So my offer remains open...unless you would prefer your father to know of the new addition to the family?"

Franchesca could do no more, but look away from the Assassin as he smirked towards her. "I'll come for you tomorrow." Upon hearing his retreating footsteps, Franchesca dared a look up at him. His confident stride had her blood boiling, and Franchesca now knew that she needed to speak with Altair as a matter of urgency.

Franchesca looked up for the shadow that would alert her to the fact that the Master Assassin was around. But not being able to spot him anywhere, Franchesca decided to use the rooftops to see if she could get a better look as to where he was.

But an arm slipped around her waist before she could place one foot onto a crate, beside a tall building. "You should not be climbing," The voice which always managed to cause butterflies in her stomach stated, picked her up and placed her on the ground beside him. "Not in your condition anyway."

Franchesca was so shocked by his words that she just couldn't bring herself to look at him, shameful for keeping it hidden for so long, "You heard."

He nodded, "I heard."

She hoped that Altair didn't think that the pregnancy was another reason as to why she had given him the dagger, and if he did, then she hoped that by not mentioning it to him – he would be lead into understanding that it wasn't, and that her feelings for him were as genuine as the blue sky. Franchesca finally found the courage to look up at him, and upon finding his hooded head already positioned in her direction, the raven haired young woman blushed, "I wanted to tell you." She whispered.

"You were worried, I understand." He replied. "Your grandfather knows, I assume?"

"Yes." She stated, "He was encouraging me to tell you."

"What does he think?"

"Does that matter?" She questioned.

"I do not wish for your family to feel ashamed, as other families would."

She was grateful of his words, "He offered me his support." She stated eventually, "And he was thankful that it is yours and not Dominic's."

Altair nodded in understanding, "Has he told anyone?" Franchesca knew he was referring to her father and Cameron.

"No," She replied, "He told me that it isn't his business to mention anything to anyone, not even Magdalena."

"I shouldn't have doubted him, Max is very honest of his words." They stood in silence for another moment before the Master Assassin spoke up, "What do you wish to do?"

"I don't know." She replied honestly, "I wanted to tell you before anyone else, but my grandfather was the first person I saw."

He nodded, "At the moment, it appears as though Sphen needs to be dealt with first. Then we should discuss this further."

"How will he be...dealt with?" She asked.

Altair smirked, "I shall not kill him." He stated, "Unfortunately, he is one of my brothers. But leave that to me, I will see to it that he will be telling no one about this."

"He said that my father would be the first to know."

"Perhaps your grandfather would be willing to keep Demetri busy, whilst you must keep Cameron occupied." Altair looked up towards the citadel, "I will send him down to your house. Go to your grandfather now and tell him what has happened and that he needs to keep your father away from Sphen for the time being. I'll go and speak to the pleb now."

The Master Assassin left without another word, and Franchesca couldn't help but stand there stock still. Altair had just found out that he is expecting a child, and he is already able to think clearly and know what needs to be done? She had been an emotional wreck for three days! She knew Altair wasn't one to show his emotions, but she would have thought that he would still have been affected by the news. He was going to be a father – it was definitely a big step in life, something that needed more thought than just: 'what does your grandfather think about this?'

But Franchesca did as the Master Assassin requested, and spoke to her grandfather. The old man was pleased that Altair now knew and he understood the circumstances that they found themselves in was more: 'act now, ask questions later.' So he was eager to leave his house to go and see his own son before Sphen could get to him. Franchesca, meanwhile, made her way towards her own cottage at the bottom of the hill to await the arrival of her brother.

Perhaps he would give her some information about Abbas? Had the gatekeeper's friendly intentions turned lecherous? Because if so, then Altair had been right, 'He will not act when I am away.'

Franchesca didn't need to wait for very long, in fact, Cameron took the jug of water from her hands as he joined her by the well. She thanked him as he carried it for her, and set it down on her kitchen counter before making his way towards the dining table to sit down and converse with her.

"Altair said you had something to tell me?"

The raven haired young woman had completely forgotten about talking to her brother, and she was so worried about acting nonchalant that she blurted out the first thing on her mind, "Sphen proposed to me."

The look on Cameron's face didn't waver for a long while. In fact, the only movement that let her know that he was still alive, was that fact that his chest was rising and falling with each breath that he took. Then the smile slipped from his face, "What?"

Franchesca shrugged, "I don't know."

"You declined him, right?" He demanded, "Actually, that surprises me that he's gone straight to you, rather than ask father for permission. It's only our family that I know of, who allows their daughters to marry whomever they like…" The blonde trailed off, a frown working its way onto his face, "He actually proposed to you?"

Franchesca allowed him to occupy himself with his thoughts – at least she didn't have to say anything more! "But that's not the point." She shook her head, "What's going on with Abbas?"

Cameron's attention was immediately diverted, "He hasn't proposed too has he? Because I swear I was only off-post for an hour!"

"No!" She reassured him, "I haven't seen him since he visited when father was at my house."

Cameron let out a breath he didn't realise he had been holding as he ran a hand through his shoulder length blonde hair, "Good." He stated cheekily, "Because if father knew I wasn't on duty, then I would be in so much trouble!"

Franchesca eyed him suspiciously, "And where have you been going?"

The vibrant blush on Cameron's face was enough to make Franchesca's curiosity vanish a little (she did not want to know about her brothers antics with the whores in the Gardens), "Do I want to know?" She asked.

Cameron sighed, "Alright, you remember Siobhan, the cook from Jerusalem?" Franchesca nodded in response. "She's in Masyaf – her father's the blacksmith. I've been…visiting her."

Franchesca didn't know what to say except, she frowned, Abbas had visited her very late in the evening, which meant that that was when Cameron was missing for the hour. "Why so late?" She asked curiously.

"Because her father's at home then. I want him to know that my intentions with his daughter are honourable. I'm not a scumbag."

The raven haired young woman was pleased to hear his words, but couldn't help feeling a little awkward. She was looking at it by how Siobhan wanted to wait until she had sex, and Cameron was more than willing to do that for the young woman…Franchesca however…it was almost as though she had shown Altair her feelings by giving herself to him. Siobhan was showing her love to Cameron through her purity…which is what Franchesca felt like she should have done, for now she was in a position which was irreversible.

A/N: Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, favorited and alerted this story :)

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