Here is chapter 3 :) AN at the end!
Disclaimer: I do not own AC; characters you do not recognise is solely my own creation.
All Her face twitched ridiculously and she blinked, not quite registering what Ahmad just said to her. " Pardon?"
It was her third day off and Ella was idling around in the house, humming a simple song as she hoarded things to place it back in its correct position. It was relaxing to say the least, compared to running away from guards and dancing all day but whatever sort or form of relaxation came crashing down the moment Ahmad opened his mouth.
A sigh absconded his lips, and Ahmad gave her a tired look, " Ella…"
" Don't Ella me," She said back, " I am most definitely not going to Acre to collect your package. Do you know how long does it take to travel there? 10 days! 10 days to travel there and another 10 days to travel back. You must be insane if you think I would do it; ask Sayve or someone else to do it –you gave me a week off."
She walked away from him and entered her room to take her shoes, remembering that she didn't want unwanted stones wedged in her feet.
Ahamd's voice continued to plead her to go to Acre and help him out, even when she closed the door on him. " You know that Sayve's busy and so is the rest and I know that I gave you the week off. Come on Ella, just this once."
" Well, sorry but no," She bellowed at him, fuming silently in her room as she slowly strapped on her shoes, ready to leave the house. Ahmad had his arms crossed as he leaned against the wall opposing her room when she opened the door aggressively, a glare directed his way.
" I will ask you again Ella, can you help me collect my package in Acre –or do I need to force you?"
Her head was pounding with rage –there were a few things that Ella undeniably did not like in her list of dislikes. The first thing was being told to do this or do that like a servant because she was not a servant and she will not do as told; granted if she wanted to do it she will, no questions asked.
The second thing was cooking. Ella could not cook to save a life. Sure, she had some skills in cooking a decent meal but it usually ended up being hurled out after a few hours. This was something Sayve had promised to help improve on, which Sayve has yet to prove.
The third thing was wasting 20 days on collecting something so absurd just for Ahmad.
And that was the worst.
" Just because your father left you in charge of this fraction while he's gone doesn't mean that you get to boss me around, Ahmad," She said grumpily.
He snorted, " Yeah it does. So are you helping me?"
" No."
Ella would be damned if he expected her to waste away 20 days of her life span just for him. Moving past him, she made her way to the exit as she did a mental checklist to see if she forgotten anything else to take along with her. After a few seconds, Ella decided that she had everything with her.
" Then you leave me no choice: either you help me retrieve that package or you can find another fraction."
Find another fraction? The words echoed in her head and she halted into a dead track in front of the door.
" Are you blackmailing me?" She asked quietly as she turned to face him, shocked at the outcomes of his choice of words for her. Was he that desperate to get that package until he had use threats to come on her to make her agree? Ahmad very well knew she had nowhere else to go other than staying here with them.
" No –yes. Kind of," He shot her a sheepish smile, " I really need that package, Ella. Please understand that and you'd know I would go if I could but who would run this place without me?"
So he really was desperate.
She gave out a sigh and caved in –something told her she was going to regret this decision a lot in the near future. Ella blamed her kind soul and heart for this.
" Fine," She said, pinching the bridge of her nose as she squeezed her eyes shut. " But I expect at least a month off and no more errands to run –any errands, give it to Sayve. When do I leave?"
There was a loud puff of breath emitted by Ahmad when he heard that she agreed and almost in an instant, Ella was enveloped in a bear hug. Awkwardly, she hugged him back, her touch gentle on him.
" Thank you, Ella. Really," He whispered, pulling himself back.
" Uhh," She started, an uneasy smile materializing on her lips, " You're welcome?"
Ahmad chuckled and turned her back to the door as he steered her out, " You leave preferably tomorrow morning if you don't mind. I will gather your supplies and give them to you later tonight."
" Okay, sounds good," She agreed, " See you later! Oh –one more thing, is there anything you need? I'm going to the market."
Ahmad gave little thought on the subject as he replied smoothly, " Spices."
" Spices?" Ella questioned, " Why do we need spices for?"
He gave a wave of dismissal and muttered a " Just because." Softly as he closed the door at Ella's inquiring face.
Oh, so this is how he treats her after she agreed to help him gather his stupid package. What a gentleman he is, Ella thought grimly to herself as she proceed to walk down the streets of Masyaf.
Without the guards always being on her back 24/7, Ella found herself enjoying her time passing through the streets to get to the market. Familiar faces greeted her on her way and small conversation was enacted upon reaching her destination but she didn't mind stopping every once in a while –she had nothing else to do after all.
A large 'Herbs and Spices' signboard came large in her view, after all, she had walked right into it, causing the man tending the stall jerk awake. " S-Sorry," She stammered, blushing a deep shade of red. How embarrassing was she? Walking straight into a signboard.
" It's okay," The man said, sending her a kind smile as he stood up from the chair. " How may I help you?"
" I need some spices."
A spark of excitement ran into his eyes –He must have little business, Ella thought sadly–and clasped his hand together, " Ah, then you have come to the right shop young lady. I have a variety of spices imported from all over the world. Though, the prices may vary of course. Take a look around. "
Giving the man a nod, he disappeared back to his chair at the end of the shop, leaving Ella to find what she needed herself. A diverse of scents and colors clouded her senses as she wandered deeper into the shop, a fumble of names written on top of each spices.
Just as she continued to walk around, a random thought occurred to her that Ahmad had never specify what type of spices he wanted. So now what was she going to do? Run back to Ahmad and demand what sort of spices he need or randomly choose one? After a second's contemplation, Ella decided to erratically pick one. After all, it was time to even the score.
" I'd like this one please," Ella said, drawing the attention of the man as she pointed to the sack containing red powder.
"Cayenne Pepper?" The man questioned, his brows raising into his hairline but he shook his head when Ella gave him a weird look. " Ah, it's nothing. Is there anything else I can help you with?"
Ella pressed her lips. Was there anything else she needed? She wasn't entirely sure about what they needed in the house –her other members were the one dealing with the stockings.
" Do you have any herbs for traveling?" She asked, following him as he nodded at her, motioning to follow him to the other part of the room.
The man lifted up a small pouch of tiny green leaves, " This is Gotu Kola. It helps heal open wounds and it can be applied externally which helps when you're traveling. Would you like this as well?"
Eyeing the little pouch, she pressed her lips together. It would probably be best if she bought the herbs and ease her travels a bit if anything. " Yes, thank you."
As if grateful of her answer, he was visibly relaxed as let out a puff breath and gave Ella a small smile. Again motioning her to follow him, Ella trailed behind him blindly as they made their way back to the counter. Settling her items on the countertop, he mumbled a few numbers to himself before looking back up at her green eyes, " This would be 15 coins."
" There you go," She said, pushing the coins to him in exchange of her items and placed them into her bag. " Thank you again."
" It is I who should be thanking you… Lately there's been little customers coming to buy things here. You must have been my first customer in a week." He admitted, taking the coins, eyes lowering, unable to meet hers.
Ah, so what she assumed was right. This man had little customers these days. Peering over the counter, she gave him a pat on his shoulder, tossing him a grin as she said, " Don't worry, sir. I'm sure more will come after me."
Reassured at her assurance, the man nodded and smiled back at her as she made her way back to the entrance of the shop. A distant " Thank you and do come again." Faded softly in her ears as she was soon again in the scorching sun of Masyaf. Wandering hopelessly in the streets, Ella hummed a simple song as she took her time walking back to her house.
There was no good in going back early as Ahmad would only force chores into her hands and Ella definitely did not want that. Or demand her to cook, even if the outcomes of her cooking was disastrous and has a high potential of poisoning someone. Heck, she'd rather waste 10 years of her life than walk back to the house and be pushed around like some rag on the floor by Ahmad.
" Stranger in the night/Wish I could see you again/Do you remember me?" She sang softly, weaving herself through the crowd and earning a few stares as always. Ignoring the stares, she continued on singing to herself, wasting time away as she waited for the first sight of the sun setting.
Hours later, Ella went back to the house and time from then onwards passed in a blur of motion. Sayve had begun cooking and asked Ella to pass the freshly bought spice for her to add. Handing over the spice, Sayve muttered a soft " Thank you." To her and Ella nodded, already moving to head to her room and call it a day.
She would take her dinner as breakfast tomorrow.
She woke to the sound of someone tearing up and coughing or choking uncontrollably outside of her room. Glancing out window, it was still night and so she assumed it was only a hours or maybe minutes that had passed after knocking out. With a sigh, Ella dragged herself out of the bed and went out to see what all the commotion was all about.
" So –spic-ey," Ahmad choked, eyes watery as he looked at her, face scrunched up. " W-water."
Rolling her eyes at him, she stalked back into her room, flipping her hair back with her hand and she said, " Go get it yourself."
Snuggling back into the comfort of her bed, sleep slowly devoured her and a small part of her mind told her she had forgotten to get her supplies from Ahmad. Oh well, what's done is done. She might as well just get it from him tomorrow before she left.
The second she woke was when she saw red behind her eyelids, the unmistakable sunlight shining through her window and onto her. Eyes still squeezed shut, she stretched her arms, a satisfying pop on her bones as she continued to stretch her body. Shaggily rolling out of the bed, she stumbled in her steps as she walked out, still drowsy from her sleep as she made up her mind to eat breakfast, shower, find Ahmad and leave Masyaf for Acre. Finishing off the first 2, Ella looked around the house, poking her head in random places in the house, calling out his name every now and then just to draw out his attention.
Ella found Ahmad snoring away in his room, -in which where it was her least choice to find him in since he was always an early riser -one hand over his chest as he sprawled across the single bed diagonally. Rolling her eyes, she spotted her bag of supplies for her journey on the table beside him, a messily folded( how typical of him) piece of paper lying next to it.
All your supplies are inside the bag; there is a horse ready for you at the main entrance gates of the city. And just in case I'm not awake to say this, have a safe journey back and forth, Ella. I'll be waiting for your return with my package.
-Ahmad.
She heaved out a puff of breath and scribbled her reply onto a piece of paper and set it down where his note was. Looking over at his peaceful face, she scrunched her lips and gave a small peck onto his cheek and in a distant corner of her mind, she could just hear Sayve screeching like a little girl.
Ella grabbed the bag and stuffed the small pouch of herbs into a random pocket as she made her way out to the gates.
" Are you Ella, miss?" A young boy asked when she reached the stables at the gates. Ella regarded her gaze at him, he was not more than 14 years old of age and she winced inwardly at the memory of her being 14. It was not one she wanted to relieve.
To the stables, honey –to the stables and hide!
" Yes," She replied, pushing aside the dismaying remembrance of her childhood and fixated on getting the horse and leave Masyaf to Acre.
Instead of asking her to follow him into the stables, he did something she was not expecting. He narrowed his eyes and eyed her, like he was trying to pin point what was so familiar about her. " You look familiar… Do you dance?"
She laughed, " Yes, I do. You must've seen me during one of my performances on the streets."
" That must be it," The boy agreed, and then he beckoned her to follow him, " You dance well."
" Thank you," She said, and they fell into silence after that.
When Ella got her horse, and a soft blessing from the boy, she set out for her journey to Acre.
Days came and went as slow as her horse walked, but nonetheless, Ella managed to reach Acre within 10 days without so much of a commotion. It was a smooth journey, if anything –excluded the blazing sun and the heat rising off the sand like fire.
But either way, it was nightfall and Ella was nearing the city gates, another 2 or 3 more hours and she would reach it.
And then Ella saw something in the middle of nowhere, a body and a horse on the ground. An idea popped in her head and she decided to be the little sneak she was back home and made her way to the sleeping figures.
The walls of the city of Acre came into Altair's stereoscopic view; the soft glow from the fires surrounding it cast a perfect arch on the sand. Even with the great distance Altair and the city had, it was duly noted to him that it was a beautiful sight to see in the night. After being a day late because of his stubborn horse, it was finally a relief to see the city.
A cold breeze swept past him and Gazi(more or less what he named his temporary horse) gave a small snort, telling him to stop for the night and Altair succumbed into dismounting his horse. It has been a daily routine for the past week and a half for Altair and Gazi –small snort and Altair must stop for the night.
It was the first night set on his mission, when Altair was thrown off the horse. Gazi had snorted and yet Altair wanted to continue forward, so he did what every other people would do. Give a big slap on the horse's bum to move. Instead of having the results he wanted, he had himself a trashing horse and him falling onto the ground. He swore, there even was a stupid smirk on Gazi's lips too.
" If we travel for another 2 more hours, we should reach Acre's entrance," He said to Gazi, in hopes of changing the horse's mind. " And you would be in a stable where it is warm and not cold. Are you sure you do not want to continue forward?"
Gazi gave another small snort, and used his hooves to dig into the sand, as if making a point that he will not be moving from this spot. Altair's fought of the need to scream and trash around like a little boy and remained composed, he would not let the damn horse get the satisfaction of getting under his nerves.
Heaving a sigh, Altair placed the sleeping mat on the ground after surveying the area and lowered his hood. He was uphill, which was a good thing. If Templars came from below, he would notice them first before they noticed him and it gave him the chance to escape –killing would not be an option. There was no mirages to hide the bodies and leaving them here would draw a lot of attention and the security in Acre would be on high alert for an Assassin.
He could not have that.
Gazi gave another snort and Altair peeled his eyes open, a glare directed at the horse. " Stay." He commanded, giving himself the contentment of bossing the horse even know he knew Gazi would go nowhere without him; a very well trained Assassin's horse he must say.
This time it wasn't a snort, it was a soft neigh that came from Gazi's lips.
Sometimes, Altair wished that he could set up a fire so he wouldn't be so cold when he slept. If he ever slept at all –not with the wariness of his surroundings he couldn't but he could allow himself to relax.
It was never sleep, not out in the open like this; bare and unprotected.
But Altair couldn't have much choice in the matter, after all being brought up as an Assassin, you never did have much choices in your life. For the umpteenth time, Altair let out another sigh for the night and twisted his body to the side on the mat, facing the city lights. He stared at it for a while, before he closed his eyes once again.
Maybe he should try to get some rest; in view of the fact that tomorrow was going to be a long day.
Sleep came to him for a while but not long after he woke up to the sound of footsteps at his campsite. Forcing his body to remain still, he evened out his breathing and pretended to be asleep.
The footsteps were light and quiet, and he amused whoever it was was a woman. To the untrained ears, it was hard to tell where the direction of the sound was coming from but since Altair was Altair, he could tell. There was a shift in the footing and he figured that the person was at Gazi, rummaging through his pack.
Ah, he thought to himself, we have little thief here now don't we?
His fingers ached for some action but he continued to be still –when the time is right, he will pounce. But even with that thought in mind, adrenalin coursed through his veins to just attack and be –
A hand brushed against his shoulder and his eyes snapped open, and on instinct, he grabbed the hand and flung the person down to the mat as he rolled out and hovered over the body, blade extracted and poised above the figure's neck.
Altair rarely ever got shocked or surprised in his lifetime but trust him when he said he was not expecting to see this girl being pinned down by him. In some dark dusty corner of his mind, he could hear a thought murmuring something about 4th time. He brushed the thought aside.
" What ," He asked, his voice coming out lower than he intended. " Do you think you are doing, girl?"
He could see the fear going on her strange green orbs of hers.
Well, here you guys go with chapter 3! Hope you guys like it as much as I liked writing it :) I made it longer than my other 2 chapters by around 2 thousand words, it's not much but heh, at least it's longer :3 What do you think Altair is going to do with this strange girl? Who is this girl anyway? Dun-dun-dun-dun! THE SUSPENSE.
Anyway, back to business, I don't really liked how I wrote Altair's POV in this chapter, could anyone pin point me what's wrong? Like I said, I still don't really know his personality and sorry for the OCC-ness :/
Reviews, favs, alerts are very much appreciated so thank you to everyone who did those -hearts-
Review, fav & alert if you love this chapter/story? I'll love you forever and shower you with Altair -hearts-
And on a side note, review to tell me what's wrong with Altair in this chapter? Thank you! -hearts-
