The Story of a Rafiq
Chapter 36
Tazim and Altair raced back to the city as quickly as possible. Word of Abbas' death was spread quickly by the guards in the castle, and soon even reached the men on their side, causing a stand still. Was that all that it took for them to side with someone? Lose their original leader? How disloyal. The master assassin shook his head as he approached Majid, who stood outside of the house Malik was inside of.
"There's a Templar army heading this way," he stated, the other's eyes widening and looking at him in horror. "We need to rally up as many men as we can. We must stop them."
"This is Abbas' doing, is it not?" the older man asked, narrowing his eyes as Altair let out a soft sigh.
"Yes, but with his death we can show our brothers the evil he has brought to us. Hurry, spread word of their arrival." The older man rushed away, the master turning to Tazim, who looked around almost nervously. "Tazim, I need you to find as many of the younger novices as possible. Take them to the castle to the safe bunker down below it. If you still wish to fight, after they are safe you may join us."
"I will guard them, Master Altair," the teen stated, the older man nodding, knowing fully well after Abbas' death the other had seen enough death.
When Tazim was out of sight, the master assassin walked into the house, and to Malik's room. He could not deny that he was feeling restless even though the head had not belonged to his lover. As soon as his eyes hit the man standing at a window, a wave of relief washed over his body. The Ex-Rafiq turned, and blinked as he rushed forward, bringing him into a tight embrace.
"I love you," Altair whispered, the other's brows furrowing in confusion and hugging him back.
"Altair, what happened? I heard that Abbas was killed?"
"He's dead. He claimed to have killed you, and even though I knew it was not true, it still clouded my eyes."
"You killed him enraged?" Altair hesitated, then nodded. "I'd normally scold you, but to be honest I don't particularly care."
"How do you feel?"
"Better," he paused, looking to the door as Rauf entered.
"Masters, the brothers are ready."
"Ready for what?" Malik questioned, peering up at Altair, brows raised.
"There's a Templar army approaching. Abbas led them here."
"Then I will help-"
"You are still resting."
"I am not a child, Altair. I am fine!" he snapped, glaring at the other, "I rested enough."
"Master Malik, we should be fine," Rauf stated, the other turning his glare to him instead, "I mean... Your help would be much appreciated."
"Rauf!" Altair snapped, the gate watchmen looking uncomfortably torn between the two.
"Get my sword," Malik ordered, the man nodding and rushing out of the room to get what he requested.
Altair stared at him a moment, before sighing and walking to the side, pulling out master robes and laying them on the bed. The younger man peered at him, curiously, but did not say a word, undressing from the thin robe he was wearing and putting them on. Once he was properly dressed, he turned, straightening them out, and glancing at the assassin, who had to contain his smile.
"Although I am against you fighting, I will not deny it is good to see you in those robes."
Malik stared down at the robes he had only seen master assassin's wear, He never was able to to wear them himself, being pushed all the way to Rafiq before he ever had the honor to wear them. He grinned down and then looked to the door, taking his sword with a nod and fastening it to his side. "I will be fine."
Malik and Altair stood at the front of the castle walls, staring down the hill at the approaching cloud of men. Many assassin's from both Abbas' side and their side stood behind them, looking fierce and ready for battle. Majid explained what Abbas' plan was, turning many (almost all) of the assassin's back to their side. Altair was not sure of how loyal they would be afterward, but during the current fight he did not doubt them. There was little fear from their side, but the sight of how many assassins they were having to fight caused fear to weld up in the Templar's expressions.
There was no movement from either side. Both walls of men stared at each other, watching and waiting for someone to make a move. Then it happened. The Templar captain in the front stepped forward, drawing his sword and yelling out as he pointed it towards the men they were up against. The wall began to move, the Assassins standing still, watching as they charged forward. Majid stepped forward, drawing his blade, sending a shock wave of clanging as the men behind them did the same. Altair held his hand up, holding it in place, before finally dropping it.
Majid roared his voice, running forward, the men coming up behind him, passing Altair and Malik who stood their ground a moment. They both surveyed the land, before Malik darted forward, challenging the first red helmet that he could find. That was their plan. Take out as many of the higher ranked Templars as possible. Without their leaders, they would flee, saving more men than if they went forward with the thought process to slaughter.
Hours passed by like seconds as men from both sides fell. Even with a missing arm, Malik was fighting as fierce as any other man. Altair fought hard, making sure to spare any man he could, but failing as he had to defend himself more often than not. It was nearly nightfall before the screams started. "Retreat!" some of the cowardly captains began to call, once they noticed that all the more braver ones had already fallen. No one cheered over the victory. Too many people died. This battle could have been avoided if only they stayed strong to Malik, and had not listened to the snake words of Abbas and Swami.
Though, despite the blame being spread about, no one dared to even point a finger. They collected themselves, making their way back home, helping the wounded to get to the few doctors they had. Malik and Altair took to disposing of the dead, piling the nameless Templar soldiers up, then lighting them with fire. It was not long before they noticed Tazim among the other men who were helping them, Malik hugging his adopted son, and staying still as the teenager shook in his arms.
"Too many men died here today," the teenager murmured, rubbing at his left eye as he struggled not to let a tear fall.
"Because you see that makes you wise," Malik whispered, looking to the stars that were shining above.
"We will have to get to the others later," Altair stated, walking over to them, holding a torch up, "It's too dark now to see."
Nodding his agreement, Malik and Tazim joined the other, heading back to the castle where they found a distressed Majid standing at the gates. He tripped on his tongue several times as he tried to force the words from his mouth, before he just gave up and led them to the doctor's quarters. There, they were met with many people, either being treated for their wounds, or laying and waiting for their deaths.
"Fakhir," Malik whispered, stepping forward and leaning down next to the man, who grabbed at his hand.
"Malik. I'm glad... you are here," he whispered, his lips and teeth stained with blood, "I get to apologize for how cold I had been."
"That's just your personality, brother," he weakly smiled. "You helped Altair out, when I could not. Thank you."
"It was an honor. It was an honor... to have you and Altair both... as my masters," he smiled wide, his grin soon fading as the life left his eyes.
"Peace brother," he whispered, reaching up and closing his eyes, standing up and looking back at Altair, who stared down at him grimly. His eyes glanced to Majid, who lowered his head and stepped towards the back of the room, the two men following.
"Rauf!" Altair rushed forward, the man sitting up, his back to the wall as he stared in the distance.
"He will be fine as soon as we get that leg and arm off," the doctor stated, making the man wince and look away almost in shame.
"What happened?"
"Was just making a few too many mistakes," Rauf stated, grabbing his arm with his good arm and letting out a shaky sigh.''
"Let's go, we need to get those limbs off before they fester," the doctor stated, another man helping him carry Rauf off to the side to do the deed.
There were many people like Rauf, where they had to lose a limb, but that was a lucky situation. It was better than losing your life, and that's the hope that they had to cling on to. Altair and Malik left the ward, looking among the castle for nothing in particular. This, their home, was taken from them but restored just as quickly. It was a miracle that nothing worse happened.
"The Templars might be back," Malik whispered as they stared out at the dark land.
"They will, eventually. There's so much out there that I found out, and so much that we won't know. This all just seems too big for us."
"Maybe, in time it won't seem that way."
Altair grinned, then grimaced, putting his hand to his cheek, the Ex-Rafiq shaking his head, taking his hand and pulling him to their quarters. He pushed him to sit on the bed, walking out of the room once more, and returning with a bow of water and a cloth. He dabbed the cloth in the water, pressing it to the slice on Altair's cheek and working to clean it.
"How do you feel?" Altair whispered, reaching up and placing a hand on his lover's cheek.
"Worn out, same as many of our other men."
"Malik..." he pulled his hand away, "I'm worried. You were starved, beaten, and yet you still went against my will and fought."
"I had every right to fight. You are treating me as if I am a cripple, Altair. My body is good enough to stab out a few Templar captains, and I survived. Why do you doubt me?" he was hurt, sitting back and looking to the other bed wanting to curl up in it and stay away from the other.
"That's not what I meant, Mal. I have never doubted you. I just wish that you'd listen."
"Like you?" he raised a brow, looking to him, knowing fully well that he was going to argue, "You rarely listen to what anyone else wants, why should I?"
Altair held his tongue, knowing he was right, surprising the other who rolled his eyes and re-pressed the cloth to the assassin's face, "Look. We both need rest. I know that I am not the only one who's emotions are conflicting with fatigue. You may be a strong man, but after a fight we just had there is no way one person would not be tired."
"Malik, I'm scared."
"What?" the smaller man's brows raised as he stared up at the other's face, confused.
"What if all of this... All that we've been fighting for all our lives..." his voice trailed off as his brows knitted together, "What if everything we've known and have been fighting for is wrong?"
"Have you ever felt that stopping a corrupt man from continuing his horrible deeds was wrong?"
"Well, no."
"Have you ever regretted making the innocent people out there less worried about stepping out their doors?"
"No."
"Then why are you doubting what we believe in?"
"Al Mualim strayed, and so did Abbas. What if they strayed for a reason we cannot see?"
Malik hesitated for a moment. He was right. Although he personally never trusted Abbas, he never doubted his loyalty to the Creed. And their ex-master, no one ever doubted him. He was a little rough around the edges, but he always stood for what they believed in.
"Two men that were acting out of what they were," he stated, removing the cloth and dropping it in the bowl. When Altair peered at him, looking for an answer, the other smiled, "They were human, Altair. We make mistakes. It's how we correct them, and learn from them that makes us different from Al Mualim and Abbas."
"How is it that you always know what to say?" Altair questioned, smiling as he pulled Malik into an unexpected hug.
"I do not always, but when I think my words can help, I will say them."
The two were silent, holding each other. They did not know for how long, nor did they really mind just sitting there. There was a soft knock on the door, the two pulling apart as the door opened and Darim stepped in. Tazim followed, being pulled by his hand by the younger boy.
"He wanted to make sure you two were alright. He wouldn't take my word for it," the teenager stated, the boy letting go of his hand and worming his way between them so he could hug them both.
"We're alright," Malik stated, grinning lightly, then looking to Tazim, "Are you?"
"I do not know. I am sad for our brothers, and wish I could have spared them the pain of passing away like they did."
"They died defending their homes," Malik stated, before Altair had the time to state something. "If nothing else, they died for a just cause. Yes, it is always sad, and you always will wonder what you could have done to save the lives of the lost, but you must always keep in mind that although they have passed on, they did what they wanted to do. They could have turned away and left, but they didn't. It's a bravery that I don't think I will ever really know, but it's a bravery that I am thankful that I have, that Altair has, that you have."
"I could not run away, even if I wanted to," Tazim argued, shaking his head lightly.
"Baba, you aren't leaving again, are you?" Darim asked, changing the subject, feeling that it was best to.
"I do not plan to, no. I believe I spent enough time away from home, and I feel that my place is here."
"Good. Because if you leave, this time I'm going with you," he growled, standing up and grinning. "Tazim, lets go see Majid," he turned, grabbing the teen's hand once again, and pulling him out of the room without another word.
Altair laughed lightly, and shook his head, "Your son has got his work cut out for him with Darim."
"Same as me. I have my work cut out for you. Always have."
"I'm not that bad," the other scoffed, laying back on the bed and letting out a long sigh.
"Oh yes, hardly," he stood and walked over to a pile of clothes, "You should probably change into something else if you are going to sleep," he stated, glancing back over to the other man and shaking his head. Altair was already passed out, breathing deeply, his hood still donned over his head. "Or just sleep in that."
Malik changed out of his master robes, folding them with care and setting them down, changed into clothes he could sleep in, and padded back over to the other. He curled up next to him, leaning his head on his shoulder, the other moving slightly so that his arm wrapped around him, allowing him to lay against his chest instead. His heart beat was soft, like a lullaby that he could listen to forever.
And that was the Ex-Rafiq's plan. He wanted to listen to him forever.
Notes:
Christmas and New Years leaves me with next to no time to write at all x.x I am sorry for the delay, and hope you enjoyed this chapter at any rate, despite that some of it was sad-ish, and a bit slow in other parts.
The end is coming up quickly. I can't believe that it's almost over Dx
Review Responses:
Ookamikuro: Well, as much as I don't like Abbas, I wanted him to remain a little human and give him a little remorse. If Altair had shown up a bit later, the man probably would have had more time to work it through his mind that Malik would never betray Altair, and would have hurt him further. But because of the amount of time he was given with Malik being captured, he still held on to those feelings he had of having Malik as a partner, and growing up beside him.
Midnightxwolfx: I know =[ I felt bad having it happen. He will be happy in the end though!
Future Dictator Inc: I could never actually kill Malik, least in that sort of situation. I personally feel that Malik would have put up more of a fight than that in the book, but I wasn't the one writing it so I couldn't put my input there xD
AllxThatxRemains: I'm sorry to have scared you xD He won't die, I promise~
HoneyBee: Nono, Malik won't die :3, I could never do that to him -hugs him-
Unknown: sorry for scaring you xD He's okay :3
Random HeShe: I'm glad I didn't make you cry then! I'm glad you think so :) Thank you~