Chapter 38

Altair made good of his words to Evangeline and took Danor to see Al Mualim that very next morning. He would also try and speak to the Mentor about allowing his daughter to come and see him (possibly earning himself a night in bed with the blonde if he did a good enough job at persuading his Master to visit).

"I suppose it won't be much longer until you will have another addition to your growing family." Al Mualim allowed his grandson to sit upon his knee and look at the scrolls displayed in front of them on the desk. "I have always wanted many grandchildren."

"Yes Master." If the Mentor wanted 'many grandchildren' then he would have to get Evangeline in the sack more often than once a month.

"You appear to be troubled," Al Mualim began. "What has she said to you, Altair, in regards to myself? I am no fool."

"She has asked me, Master, to persuade you into speaking with her."

Al Mualim finally looked up at his son-in-law and shook his head, "I suppose she thinks I have forgiven her for interfering in matters she has no business in? Well, she is mistaken. If she steps one foot on those stairs, Altair, she will receive no less than ten lashings for disobeying me."

"Master-" He began to protest.

"-Leave me. I'll hear no more of it, Altair." He placed the young boy back on the ground, and bowed down to his level, "Run along now, Danor. Go back to your father."

"Yes, Grandpa."

Altair didn't tell her what Al Mualim had threatened. The eagle did not think the Mentor was in a fit state of mind, in fact, it was almost as though he had gone a little insane.

"I don't understand," Evangeline ran a hand along her stomach. "If I cannot apologise to him, then how will I ever receive his forgiveness?"

"Forgiveness is earned, Evangeline." Altair stated, stopping Danor from pulling at the laces on his boots. "You cannot do anything except wait. I do not believe he is in a fit state of mind right now, he's almost bordering dangerous. Do not go to him. Do you understand me?" The blonde merely sighed and picked up her book. "Evangeline, are you listening to me?"

The blonde looked up at him, "Alright, I'll wait."

"And you give me your word that you will not go to him?"

She frowned, something was amiss, "What aren't you telling me, Altair?"

"Evangeline…" He warned, "Do you give me your word?"

She couldn't hold his gaze any longer than for a few seconds, so she eventually nodded in agreement, "I give you my word that I will not go. But what has he said?"

"You just need to trust me." The Master Assassin stated, "You should not visit him unless you are given permission to do so."

"Not even if I go with you?"

"Not even then, do you understand me?"

She nodded, tears brimming in her eyes as she turned back to her book. Altair eventually pulled Danor onto his lap, the young blonde had been clawing at his leg for the past few moments now, whining and calling for him to gain his attention, and be pulled onto his lap.

"Patience." Altair scolded, smirking. "Something you will not learn from your mother."

"Can we go to town?" Danor asked, fiddling with the buckles on the front of Altair's outer robe.

"Are you not tired from playing with your Grandfather?" Altair asked.

Danor shook his head, "No daddy, I want to see the sword making man."

"You're too young to have one."

"He doesn't want one," Evangeline stated, looking up from her book. "He just likes to watch him work. And he likes his son, they've started playing together-"

"-How old is he?"

"He's a little older than Danor, by two years I think." Evangeline replied.

"And they run around the Blacksmith's?" Altair questioned.

Evangeline shook her head, "Outside."

"And while they're running around," He began, looking up at her now. "What do you do?"

"I talk to the Blacksmith." She replied innocently, "Is there a problem?"

"You shouldn't." Altair stated, his tone sharp. "He's known for sleazing himself around, he'd jump at the chance to have you, Evangeline."

"He's done nothing to me, Altair." She replied, frowning. "We merely talk about Danor and Nathaniel."

"I do not trust him, Evangeline." Altair warned her, "And you'd be doing yourself a favour if you didn't speak to him from now on." She returned to her book. "Since when have you been visiting him?"

"Only in the few weeks." She replied honestly, "His wife died in childbirth a week before I met him, and his second born son didn't survive longer than two days."

"He's never been married." Altair stated, "And that Nathaniel is a bastard son."

"Does that mean you're not going to let Danor play with him, Altair? His only friend?"

The Master Assassin looked down at his own son, "Perhaps it would be best if he didn't." He stated, "It could reflect badly on him-"

"-How?" Evangeline questioned, "He is no bastard. And having a friend, an older friend may do him well. They can learn together, Altair. It will be good for his development."

She was pleased when her husband said no more, perhaps she had made him realise that he had been wrong about Nathaniel.

"Fine." He reluctantly agreed, "But you are not to speak with the father again." He picked up Danor and headed towards the door.

"And I suppose you're going to go and speak to him now." Evangeline snapped, running a hand across her stomach as it began to feel tight.

"I only talk to dogs when they misbehave." He replied coolly, "In this case, the tramp is begging. I'll see to it that he runs away with his tail between his legs. However, Nathaniel may continue to see Danor. The pup hasn't been tainted with fleas just yet."

She believed the dog references were uncalled for, but the blonde allowed him to leave without hearing another word from her. As long as Danor still had his friend, then Evangeline would sacrifice her acquaintanceship with the father.

The blonde pulled herself into a more upright position and sucked in a deep breath as she ran a hand across her stomach, it ached, and felt very tight. She continued to read for another hour, but when the throbbing and aching still persisted, Evangeline thought it would be best to visit the doctor, just to check up on the baby to see if everything was alright.

But as she opened the door, she was surprised to find her father standing there and was stunned to silence. Quickly regaining her composure, Evangeline looked down at her fathers booted feet, before looking out towards the darkening sky outside on the balcony, "Altair's not here."

"I'm not here to see Altair, Evangeline." He stated, stepping into the room and making his way towards the fireplace. He rested his arm against the back of an armchair and stared deeply into the fire, "I have decided to allow leniency towards you, Evangeline." He began, "On the condition that you do not involve yourself with mine or Altair's affairs, nor mention Jerusalem again."

She bowed her head, "Yes, father." The blonde guessed she would never know his reasons then.

Al Mualim nodded, "Danor is asleep?"

She shook her head, "Altair's taken him into the town. Danor has made a friend with one of the boys."

"That's lovely." He forced himself to smile, but Evangeline noted that it did not quite reach his eyes. "You've grown into a fine young woman, Evangeline. I have Altair to thank for that."

Was he insinuating that she had been tamed?

Al Mualim coughed suddenly, regained his composure, before turning to face the blonde, "How is the unborn child?"

"Still, father. There hasn't been any movement."

He frowned, "The same happened before with Danor, right when you were about to give birth. Perhaps it is a sign?"

"It is too early father, Danor wasn't even as premature-"

"-Another day, perhaps." He waved at her from over his shoulder as he made his way towards the door and left.

Evangeline, confused by her fathers strange words, ran a hand over her stomach when a slight ache arose, but it quickly left as Altair stepped into the room.

"I see your father paid you a visit." He stated as he began to don his weaponry onto the dresser.

"Yes," She replied, "But he did not seem himself." For once, Al Mualim had called Evangeline by her full name rather than the endearing term 'my dear' as he usually did.

"I did tell you that he is not in a fit state of mind." The Master Assassin stated, turning to look at her as he removed his outer robe.

The blonde stepped round the table to take a seat in her armchair as she turned her gaze towards the fireplace, wincing as another ache settled inside of her stomach.

"What's wrong?" Altair asked, pausing by her as he made his way towards his own armchair.

"Nothing," She replied, for the pain had gone as quickly as it had come, and she felt fine. "I'm fine."

"Do you want me to fetch a doctor?"

She shook her head, "No, thank you."

"If it happens again, Evangeline-"

"-If it does, I will visit him in the morning."

A/N: A second update for you all :) Please leave me a review, I have such bad writers block at the moment! xx