After a few days of travelling, they finally were back at Masyaf.
Altaïr, Maria and the others stopped at the stable and get down their horses. Malik was already waiting there, after being informed by Raouf's falcon.
"Notice of your victory has spread…" Malik said to Altaïr, approaching him.
Altaïr lowered his hood.
"It was our victory, not only mine…" He said.
Malik nodded and looked at Brian.
"Who is he?"
"My brother…" Maria answered.
"Your brother?" Malik asked.
"It's a long story…" Altaïr said. "Can we talk about it later? We're tired from the trip… a shower and some rest is required…"
"As you wish…" Malik said, opening space for them to pass.
Altaïr put a hand in Maria's lower back to guide her as the others followed.
X ~ X ~ X
Maria stepped out of the tube and started to dry herself. Altaïr approached her and hugged from behind…
"I love when you hair is down…" He said, kissing her shoulder.
"I won't hold it up again… only if necessary…" Maria said.
She turned in his arms and put her arms around his neck, kissing him for a while.
Then they separated as their tired muscles protested.
"I'm beaten…" Maria said.
"Let's rest…." Altaïr said.
Maria nodded as she felt a hand on her thigh. She beat it playfully.
"Rest, Altaïr…" She said.
"Ok, ok…" He said as they went to his fortress bedroom.
X ~ X ~ X
Later:
Altaïr was the first to wake up. He kissed Maria on the head and got up from the bed.
He had to talk with Malik, see that everything was ok and start to study the apple.
Exiting his rooms, he descended the stone stairs and meet with Malik in the middle.
"I was going to see you…" Malik said. "We need to talk…"
Altaïr nodded.
"Well, let's go to the garden, so Maria can rest…" He said to Malik.
"When you two become involved?" Malik asked.
"In Ar Raqqah…" Altaïr said. "After I killed Simas…"
Malik nodded.
"It was going to happen, sooner or later, I suppose…" Malik said resigned.
"It was that obvious?" Altaïr asked.
"Yes, for every one…" Malik said. "So her brother…"
They walked outside to the garden. The sun was beginning to set.
"Yeah…" Altaïr said. "It's a long story…"
"I'm all ears…" Malik said, stopping.
Altaïr sighed and started the talk.
"When I sent Abbas and Rashid to Mosul to spy on the Templars and they returned with a prisoner…"
"Yeah, but her brother?" Malik asked.
Altaïr was going to answer when a woman's hand turned his face to a kiss... he was surprised and saw it was one of the courtesans of Masyaf… Amira for be exactly…
"After all this time, master, you appear to be in need…" Amira said, putting her one hand on his chest as the other was going down.
But a voice interrupted them.
"Altaïr…"
He quickly look to the side, as Amira and Malik did the same.
"Maria…" He said. "It isn't what you…"
"Save it…" Maria said. "I saw what happened…"
"So you know it was my fault…" Altaïr said.
Maria nodded.
Amira, on the other hand, looked at him and asked:
"Who is she?"
Altaïr opened his mouth, but Maria was faster:
"I'm his fiancée…" She said to Amira.
Altaïr looked surprised, but then smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, she is…" He confirmed.
Amira looked at him and sighed.
"I'm sorry…. I didn't know…" She said, before walking away.
Maria approached Altaïr and Malik. Altaïr then put his arms around her.
"Well, I'm going…" Malik said, before walking away also.
But neither Maria nor Altaïr heard him as they stared to each other.
"So, you decide to marry me after all, uh?" He asked.
"Yeah…" Maria answered. "I love you and to pass my whole life you will be wonderful…"
"Thank you for giving a chance for us…" Altaïr said. "I promise you won't regret this…"
Maria nodded.
"When I'm ready?" She asked.
"When you are ready…" Altaïr said again.
They kissed, as the sunset dyed a beautiful orange color at them…
The end
PS: This Story is over, but I will wrte a few continuations of Journey (stand alones and stories with a few parts and transform it into a "SAGA").