Previously in Needle in the hay: Allen walked over to the doors and knocked on them slightly. There was a pause and then we heard a low enter. Allen easily opened the door and waited me to go in then reclosed them when he walked in. In the center of the room there was a really big chair that almost looked like a thrown. On it was an elderly man with a long white beard. I guessed that he was there leader

"I have brought Ela, the daughter of Alonzo." Allen got down on one knee. I then gave a bow to him.

"If it alright with you master I wish to stay with her."

"Fine but do not speak."

"Thank you my Master.' Allen stood up and then walked over next to the chair and stood beside his master. I couldn't help but stare at the older man before me. He wasn't at all what I was expecting. Even so he is there leader and I mustn't judge him simply because of his appearance.

"Thank you for allowing me to come to your home, I'm truly honored. " Again I gave another bow.

"Also thank you for assisting my father. I don't know how I'll ever repay you kind sir."

"There is no need to thank me child. Your father has served me well for ages now. I will not hesitate to aid him when he is in need." I smiled at his comment I'm relieved to hear that father has allies like these.

"Um, i don't mean to sound rude but Allen told me you wanted to see me for something."

"Yes there is some matter I want to discus with you, but first where is Zeno I was informed he was with you."

"Ah, well he was, but I told him not to follow me anymore. He didn't want me to see my father so I told him not to find me till he was himself again. That is why I came here with Allen." The man lowered his head in understandment.

"I see, he did not wish for you to see Alonzo. Allen see to that Zeno is here before sunset. I wish to speak to him." Allen gave a smile to his master and a simple nod.

"As to what I wanted to speak to you about. For the next couple of years you will be staying here with us as are guest. After you have spoken with your father you will be escorted to your room. I will send someone to bring all of you belongings back from your home to here. That is all."

"W-what, why can't I go back home with father and why can't he take care of me. I know he's not well but surly he is not that bad. I'm sorry I don't mean to sound rude but I cannot stay here." The man closed his eyes and took a long pause before speaking to me.

"I understand how you must feel but it would be more convenient that you stay here child. Now go and see your father I'm sure you have a lot to speak to him about. Oh, and it almost slipped my mind you can refer to me as Al Mualim." He made a hand motion and Allen walked over to me.

"Shall we go princess? Your father is waiting." I nodded. More than ever now I wanted to see my father. I gave a low bow to Al Mualim. Then I quickly walked over to Allen.

We took the same route to get back upstairs and then Allen led me into a long hallway that seemed never to end. Well actually it was just me. I could feel my emotions build up in me. If I didn't see father safe and sound I was going to explode.

"Ela before we arrive there I need to tell you something." Allen wasn't facing me but he sounded really serious. It was scary how quickly his personality changes.

"What is it Allen?"

"You shouldn't be so hard on Zeno." I made a face at his comment but didn't say anything else.

"You see he only want you to be happy and he believed if you see your father now you're going to be displeased." I stopped making the face and got serious.

"What do you mean displeased? How could I not be happy by seeing my father? I don't understand you two, why don't you want me to see him? I raised my voice a little. I don't understand why there trying to keep me from father.

"Ela your fathers dying. . ."

"What!" My body froze. Dying, my father's dying? N-no I must of heard wrong. My body began to shake. I could feel the tears build up.

"I thought you should know now before you go see him. Also there's something else but I'm not the person to tell you it." My ears ringed and my legs felt like Jell-O. I feel down to my knees and my hair fell over my face. Tears fell down on my lap.

"Ela he's waiting we should go." I heard Allen say in a soft voice. I didn't think that I had the strength to move, but I had to get up I had to see my father. I stood up and wiped the tear from my eyes.

"Sorry we should get going." I smiled at Allen.

"You'll find your father in the door ahead of us." I nodded and walk over to a door at the end of the hall.

"Ela . . ." I heard Allen say from the distance.

"I'll be fine I promise." I responded as best I could. Then I focused my attention on the door or rather what was behind the door. I brought my hand slowly up to door knob, and then gently turned it. I hesitated before I walked in. I was afraid of what I was going to find. Quickly I open the door and scanned the room.

My father was on a small bed in the center of the room. Zeno was next to him. He was talking to him but stopped when he heard me come in. Then he stood up from where he was and walked to where I was. He gave me a quick glance. I looked away though. So he then walk out the room and closed the door behind me. I then turned to my father's direction. I gasped at what I saw. He's eyes were closed but underneath them I could clearly see dark lines circling around them. His breathing was low and his chest was slowly rising and then falling. I walked closer to him. His face was ghostly white and seemed to have accumulated more wrinkles. His lips were dry and cracked. The more I looked at him the more twist and turns my stomach did. I kneeled down beside him.

"Father, it's me Ela, your daughter. I've come to see how you're doing." My voice was shaky. He slowly turned his head to my direction. His lips slowly parted.

"Why have you come Ela, I told you to stay home."

"I know but I had a bad feeling. It seems I was right to come. Though I don't understand why you and Zeno insist in keeping me away."

"This is a dangerous place Ela."

"Yea but I found Zeno and he's been taking care of me. I also meet Allen too. They have been helping me a lot." I decided not to tell him about Altair.

"Ela I don't want you trust in any of them, they are after all assassins. Not even Zeno."

"Father but I-

"They are all dangerous men and you are only a young girl."

"You forget Zeno is among those men and I trus- mostly trust him, he is after all my brother." All of the sudden father's expression changed into a painful one.

"Ela there is something I have to tell you. It's going to very hard for you but bear with me child." I nodded and listen closely.

"First of all Ela I am not you biological father. Also Zeno is not your brother either. He is son to myself and a woman I was married to before I was with your mother. When I found your mother she was already barring a child. That child was you."

"What?" I said in a small voice. My mind could not process what he said.

"The reason I did not want you to come was because there was no need for you to come. If you had waited a little longer you would have received another letter telling you everything. I didn't think you would have come if you knew I wasn't your father. After all you have no need to risk your life for a dying old man." My heart ached. Every word he spoke was like a needle piercing my heart.

"How could that even cross your mind? I don't care whether you're my real father or not. You've been with me for as long as I remember. You and mother have taught me all I know. I don't have any other father but you. I love you even though you're not my biological father. So don't say things like that. You are the best father anyone could ever ask for." I was crying now but I was able to say it all with a smile. I loved this man more than anything he was my father. No matter what anyone said. He weakly lifted his hand for me to take.

"Thank you Ela you make this old man happy. I thought that when you knew the truth you wouldn't want anything with me. I should of now better though. I guess in the end I'm happy you came. At least I was able to see you one last time."

"Aw, common papa you'll be fine you're really strong after all." He slowly shook his head.

"No my time is already up Ela. I'm sorry I can't stay with you longer." My face was full of tears and a lump seemed to form in my throat.

"There is something else you have to know your father is, your father-, he suddenly clutched his chest. Then he let out a bloody scream. Zeno and Allen quickly came running in. I put my hands over my mouth. After a couple of minutes he no longer moved and his eyes were dull and almost looked white.

"Father, father common don't do this, daddy?" I placed my hands on his chest and shook him lightly.

"Ela he's already dead." I heard Allen say.

"No, no he just passed out from the pain that's all. He's not dead." Allen grabbed both my hands and pulled me away from my father's body. I tried shaking him off but I couldn't.

"NO LET GO OF ME I WANT TO BE WITH HIM, LET GO ALLEN! Zeno walked over to are father and closed his eyes and then pulled the covers over his face.

"ZENO TELL HIM TO LET GO OF ME!" He didn't say anything he just stood there staring at the floor with his bangs over his face. Right now I felt my heart being ripped out of me. I stopped struggling and let myself fall on the floor. My tears dripped on the floor. He was gone he was really gone.

R.I.P.

So guys ill make sure to have Altair in the next one.