Awwww thank you for all the reviews! They mean a lot. Now, off we go with more Altair this time.

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Altair POV - 3 Weeks Later

I almost sobbed as I pulled myself up the building. Desmond had started us climbing two weeks ago, and he'd trained us like he did everything else. By throwing us in head first and expecting the best of us. My muscles strained as I pulled myself up the final beam, climbing onto the top of the roof. Desmond stood at the top, nodding as I stood before him, the first to reach the top.

Malik was on my heels, whimpering as he pulled himself onto the roof. He nods at him as well as the others climb onto the roof, all of us waiting for his words. This was a three story building, the highest we'd climbed. Desmond had climbed it like it was nothing, reaching the top in seconds. It felt like it took forever for us, muscles straining and a screaming in pain from the effort of pulling your entire body up.

Desmond nodded at us again and moved to glance down the side, unafraid of falling. He hums softly and says "I think you're all ready for the next part of training." I grin at him, happy to learn something new. He'd been hammering words into our heads and skills into our bodies constantly for the last three weeks, the prospect of doing something new was amazing.

He walks over to his left and says "Follow me." He quickly climbs up the nearby wall and keeps walking. We rush after him, climbing as fast as we can. The sword and robes we wear were weighty and thick, but they kept us from getting splinters elsewhere. As we got to the top of the building Desmond stood at the other end, looking across the beams between two houses.

He glances back and waits till all of us are up here. Once we are, he turns and steps on the beam, walking to it's mid point. He didn't even sway, standing straight and proud, turning around and looking at us. "If any of you wish to be an Assassin, you will have to master the ability to beam walk. And for the next stage of training, you will have to be at least capable in this art."

He takes a few steps towards us and says "Balance is a learned skill. Anyone can be good at it with enough patience and work. Now. Whose first?" I blink at him, glancing at the thin beam he stands on. No one says anything at first. Abbas won't look at Desmond, Malik seems to be thinking something over, and the others won't even make eye contact. We look for leaders. His words ring in my head as I take a step forward and say "I can…"

I thank whatever creature blessed my voice so that it didn't shake like it normally did whenever I was nervous. I step forward and he motions to the beam to his left, directly parallel to his. I gulp, setting my foot on it. It's barely as wide as my foot, and I'm a little big for an eight year old. I glance at Desmond's, and see that he's perfectly balanced, even though there's barely enough to balance on. I step forward, balancing precariously on the beam.

I'm thankful that we don't have any wind today as I step further onto the beam. "Altair. All you have to do is get to the other side." Desmond says gently, watching me carefully. I nod slowly, shaking slightly out of fear of falling. I know if I fall from this height I may not walk away from it, and Desmond seems to notice. He adjusts his stance to a crouched one, moving his center of gravity and saying "Copy me."

I do so, being careful not to fall. I find it remarkably easy to move now that I'm crouching and grin over at Desmond. He nods with approval as I easily make my way over to the other side. Once there I stand and grin at Malik and say "It's easy! Just crouch and move!" He nods at me and approaches, the beam. Desmond shows him how to crouch on the beam and he makes it over just like I did.

The others make it across too, save for one of the larger boys who almost fell. Desmond realized it before any of us saw it coming and jumped from one beam to the other, steadying him and helping him across. I was in awe of how he'd jumped, spanning the five foot space in one jump. He didn't even get a running start, or waver when he landed. He stood on the beam as he looked back at us. He jumped back to his other beam, looking at us and saying "Go across again. Now we're going for speed."

He turns and runs down the beam, balance perfect as he gets to the other side. "The faster you go, the easier it is for you to fall. The slower you go, the easier it is to get caught. Find the balance between the two." The rest of our day was spent like this, running back and forth across the beams. By the time dinner rolled around, and there was barely enough light to see by, my legs burned just as much as the rest of me.

Everything aches, either from overuse or from using a muscle for the first time. I wasn't the only one who limped back to the castle. Once back within the castle walls he said "Stretch, than go wash up. Join me for dinner when you're done." He walked within the castle as I saw Aslam stretching in the courtyard. He'd been sent to Jerusalem a few days ago, and was finally back.

I walked over toward him and he grins at us, as the other followed me. He noticed my limp and said "Learn to beam walking today?" I nod slowly as he says "Stretch than go jump in the hot pools of the baths. The heat will help. Desmond will help you after that." I than shakily go through the stretches, finding it both painful and easier to go through today than when I first got here.

Once done I go grab my clothes and walk to the baths, talking with Malik. "Did you see how he jumped? Like it was nothing…" I say as we walk, only to almost smash into someone. "Altair? You look tired." My father says as he looks at me. I grin up at him and launch myself into a hug, one he returns. "Hello father. I'm fine actually." He nods and says "I know. Desmond has been telling me of your progress. You are in fact doing very well, keep it up, and you'll be an amazing Assassin."

I can't keep a grin from my face as I see Malik's father, as well as Abbas's. Malik's claps my father's shoulder and says "You don't get to hog all the parental pride my friend! My boy is doing just as well as yours. And three Assassins are taking apprenticeships. But only one gets the prize." I don't know what he speaks of but Abbas's father tosses an arm over both of their shoulders and says "We have work to do my friends. And we all know my son will win it."

My father ruffles my hair affectionately before he and the others bid us goodbye, Malik's father hugging him tightly. We rush to the baths, not wanting to be late to dinner but my head was buzzing with the words my father spoke. You'll be an amazing Assassin. I found myself grinning as I yanked my clothes on.

"What do you think they meant by 'the prize'?" Malik asks as we exit the baths. I shrugged as we walked out the door. The baths were a large set of pools where everyone got cleaned up, and were located in giant underground pools. The water was different temperatures depending on where you went. There were even hot caves that made the water steam.

They had some pools that were so hot they could burn you, at least they burned Malik and I, but I'd seen Aslam happily lounging in the water like it was nothing. It had been a few days after we started training that Desmond had shown us what he called the salt pools. They were hotter than I liked, but the salt helped relieve some of the muscle cramps.

We rushed to place our dirty clothes in our room before running to dinner. Our sleeping clothes didn't have a hood on them, but during dinner was one of the few times that people removed their hoods. Desmond wasn't one of them, and we still hadn't seen his face. We stepped into the Hall, finding Desmond sitting on the rug with some of our group around him.

Everyone had taken to calling us Novices, and now we recieved a few nods as we moved over to Desmond. I took the place a little to his right, leaving enough space between us for someone else. Desmond already had food, so I could easily serve myself. He only pulled his mask down to eat, and even than it was barely, and he angled his head to keep his face shadowed.

I was plagued by curiosity, wanting to ask what he looked like, but knew that was impolite. And my father would tan my hide for such an act, something I really didn't want. So I kept my curiosity to myself as a serving girl my age stepped over to the rug, setting down a tray of cheese stuffed peppers.

Desmond thanked her kindly, to which she bowed deeply and replied before walking back to the kitchens. Dinner passed without sight of my father nor Malik's or Abbas's, not even Aslam was here until the end. When he was he quickly rushed into the Hall, not even startling those around us as he knelt beside Desmond and whispered something to him.

Desmond nodded hurriedly and placed his plate down, saying "Aslam stay with them and get them to their rooms. I don't want them wandering the castle." Aslam nods, face almost scarily serious as he sits. The happily playful grin I was used to seeing on him had vanished. He looked worried about something, but he sat with us while we ate and lead us to our rooms.

The weirdest thing was he didn't answer a single question we had. Normally we had an hour to talk to each other, play games, go to the library, or walk the castle. Desmond had said to not let us do that, which made me even more worried. Aslam looked at us before we went to our rooms and said "I don't know what's going on. Just that whatever it is required Desmond to go to the Master that second."

I nod and start fiddling with the hem of my robe, which was perfect as always. Aslam continues with "Try and sleep. And stay in your rooms, I should know something by morning." He ushers us into our rooms as Malik says "I'm worried for them all Altair… Why would the master call together all the Master Assassin's?"

I shrug with a small gulp as I climb into my bed and say "Whatever it may be, I'm sure that they'll be fine." I sound confident and strong with my words, when I was really beyond terrified. Why would anyone need that many Masters in one spot? Whatever the reason, I had a feeling that it was unbelievably bad…

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Desmond POV (Thank you Assassin's creed Wiki. Also as you can see, Altair has a far better relationship with his father than he did in the games.)

I ran as fast as I could to Al Mualim 's study, finding not only Altair's father Umar, but Abbas's father Ahmad and Malik's father Faheem. Umar gives me a grin and says "Desmond. Nice of you to join us." I nod at him and look to Al Mualim, who nods and says "Four lives must end. And you four shall be the blades to do it."

His gaze sweeps over us and he says "Ahmad, you shall go to Damascus, those there shall explain your purpose. Faheem, you shall go to Acre, this note will explain your purpose. Desmond and Umar, the two of you shall go to Jerusalem. The Guild there shall inform you. Go now, time is against us. They must not live long." I nod at him, patting Umar's shoulder and saying "Bet you I'll get there first."

Hearing his indignant sound as I vault over the railing and roll to the floor. With a perfect landing I hear Umar chase after me, the others on our heels as I dart from the castle, startling the guards. They cry out as the others run behind me, Faheem darting in front of me to run right down the path. Umar had taken to the roofs, Ahmad gracefully ran down the railings as I ran toward the hay bale I set up for these situations.

I darted down the alley and jumped without a seconds hesitation, landing gently in the hay. I scrambled up and ran toward the gates, seeing Alexander standing there while a stable boy held his reins. I rushed forward, Alexander not even jumping at my sudden appearance as I swung into the saddle, the boy dancing back as I rushed from the castle, seeing Umar run up with the others on his heels.

I laugh as I ride off, hearing them cry out in playful outrage. I slow down once we reach the fork, Faheem and Ahmad splitting off to Acre and Damascus. Umar and I talk much over the ride, mostly of his sons progress. Dawn was peaking over the horizon before we reached the city. I paid a stable boy to tend to our horses while we were in the city.

Entering the city was fairly easy, just climbing from the ceiling braces to within the walls. Finding the guild was easy too, and entering undetected was as simple as breathing. As I landed within the guild a few apprentices let out startled sounds, jumping further into the air when Umar landed. The guild master was an elderly man, not long from retiring to Masyaf and relinquishing his position to a younger man.

He easily told us of the men we were looking for. They were Identical Sacrean twins, nobles here on an invite from another noble family. However their true reason was to further the slave trade, making connections here. Al Mualim had ordered their deaths for the safety of the people here. "How ever, I need your help as well. We have been trying for months to kill a man named Hadar."

I nod as he pointed out a large building on a map. They hadn't been able to get to him because he had barricaded himself within the walls of an old military fort. Making it nearly impossible to get him. Umar grinned and said "We can get him. Three lives for your kindness my friend." We now to him before exiting out into the city. It was actually surprisingly easy to find and kill the Twins.

Which I found almost odd, since they were nobles, you would think they would be better guarded. Guess they just decided to tempt fate and leave them behind. They were dead before midday, they city was shocked for some time as we rushed back to the guild, hiding within until the city had calmed, nearly nightfall before we left to go to the fort. It was heavily guarded, guards marching back and forth constantly.

In the end we got inside with a small scaffolding that was used to repair a small portion of the wall. Before we entered I paid a boy to keep a hay bale nearby, where we could easily jump to. Once within, the place was oddly empty and silent, every window darkened. "Brother… something is wrong here." I say softly, fear prickling at my spine. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and I got the distinct feeling I was being watched.

"Come my Brother. It is a simple task, in and out before anyone knows what's happening…" Umar encouraged, not seeming to feel what was setting of every single one of my survival instincts. My body was screaming to run from this place, run and not look back. I hadn't felt anything like this since I came upon that castle deep within the desert not long after I arrived.

The place had been stricken with famine, yet refused to call for help, instead they ate the animals and plants from the surrounding area. However they weren't as forthcoming with why they were arresting people semi constantly, but I never saw a single jail cell filled. It took a day or two to realize what they were doing, and why the chef always had meat to cook with.

I again tried to convince Umar to leave but he insisted, demanding that I go with him or he would go alone and I cave. I won't let you go alone you ass. And within the building was just as silent, not a single guard nor servant in the entire place. Yet as we walk through the main hall, working our way toward his room, the doors slam open, and Sacrean soldiers spill out.

"You! Umar Ibn-Alahad have been charged with Assassination of the noble children of Sacrean. And you Desmond shall share his sentence with him! You shall come quietly, where you shall than be executed at dawn." One of them shouts and I growl softly. "I FUCKING TOLD YOU THIS WAS A BAD IDEA." I shout at Umar, startling the man nearest to me, who I easily kill and Umar and I slam back to back, planning to fight our way out of here.

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Altair POV

Word of the mission Al Mualim sent all of the Master Assassins on spread like wildfire. Aslam had supervised our training while Desmond was away, and Aslam had expectations just as high as Desmond. We climbed higher than before, beam walked longer, had to read and write works as well. By the end of it I was exhausted and collapsed into bed without any reservations. I didn't even eat or change, Malik and I passing out instantly.

The next morning we awoke earlier the usual, the sun not even breaking the horizon as I hear guards and others alike running around the castle. I jump up, Malik rushing toward the door as I yank my boots on. Abbas and his roommate rush out as well, watching us carefully as a guard runs by the entrance to the tower shouting "WAKE AL MUALIM. WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY. TWO OF OUR OWN HAVE BEEN GRAVELY INJURED."

I freeze and look at Malik and Abbas, who stood frozen in horror. I turn, grabbing Malik's arm and Abbas's shoulder and saying "We have to find Aslam. Or we have to go to the infirmary." As I speak the others come down from the stairs. The small boy who's always last on our runs says "Novices aren't allowed into the Infirmary… nor are they allowed into the Assassins rooms… but…"

He thinks for a moment and says "There's a way to climb from the fifth hallway's rightmost window, up into the infirmary… but it's risky. It's the part over the cliffs, and falls straight to the water. The waves would kill you, if the fall didn't." I nod at him and say "Malik, Abbas and I can climb it. You can show it to us. Grab two of the others to come as well. I must know who's hurt…" he nods and grabs two other boys before we're running toward the fifth hallway.

We stayed quiet, easily slipping by guards with the castle in such disarray. Once at the window the boy stopped us and said "You have to be careful Altair. All of you do. One slip, and you're dead. Now. Climb out the window, and go slightly left. Than climb straight up two floors. Than climb further left, around part of the tower before climbing in the window. Be careful." I nod, thinking over the path as his friend gives me a boost up to the window, letting me unlatch the beautiful glass.

I'm hit with a blast of cool ocean air, and the sound of roaring waves. I shiver, my thin robe doing nothing to block the wind. As I hear a crash and sound of running from above us I hear him say "Now or never!" Before I move left and swing out to a small iron ring used to hang lanterns. I quickly found better hand holds and Malik was soon out the window. I climb upwards, the old stone providing many hand holds.

Abbas was out soon and the window shut behind us. Malik says "No turning back huh?" I nod and climb up, trying my best to not look down. Once we get to the tower part a gulp and shiver. The stone here was newer, with less holes and crevices to grab onto. Malik somehow sensed my unease and grabbed my ankle gently, making me look down at him and say "We're right behind you. If that oaf can do it you can too." He motions to Abbas.

Abbas instantly let out an indignant sound and says "Feel so much appreciation coming from You Malik." I grin at the both of them before moving along a thin lip around the tower, finding the window I need open. I slip inside, helping Malik and Abbas in. The three of us slipped quietly through the infirmary, moving toward the sounds. This hall was dark, mostly lit by moonlight.

I pulled them with me as we crouched inside an unused room and saw two men walk by, talking hurriedly. "He won't make it Ashima! He's too far gone, to many wounds! It's amazing the other managed to bring him back!" The other man, who I'm now assuming are the Creeds doctors say "It does not matter! He's a fighter, just like his son. He did not become a Master Assassin, just to roll over and die! He has a chance, and as such, we will not tell the boy. It is a small chance, but a chance nonetheless."

I stare at them as they walk on, falling out of earshot as I hear another crash, which is followed by someone shouting. The others look to me before we all run off toward the sound. This hall was bright, torches throwing light onto the walls. In the hall stood Desmond, his back to us, who looked a little worse for wear.

He had a cut across his side and gash on his shoulder, along with a number of smaller wounds, blood staining his white robe. He however growled at anyone who can near him and said "Go help Umar. I'll be fine, let me be. He needs all the help he can get." He stood proud and tall, like he wasn't bleeding out onto the floor as I felt my legs weaken and my face pale as everything came together and I ask "My father's been hurt?"

Desmond turns, not even looking surprised as one of the Doctors says "Novices? How dare-" Desmond cuts him off by saying "Silence Aaron." Voice soft but commanding as Desmond looks us over and says "Come this way, I'll explain." He walks proudly into the room to our left, the three of us on his heels.

He motions toward the seats within and says "Sit. I shall explain." Aslam follows us in with a small basket of supplies. He shoves it into Desmond's hands and says "If you won't let them help you, the at least patch up your side and shoulder on your own. I'll go check on the other novices and get them into bed." He leaves than, shutting the door behind him and leaving us with a bleeding Desmond.

Desmond grabs a thick bandage, pulling up his shirt enough to place it against the gash on his side. "Your father is currently here as well Altair, as you've heard. How, I don't know, but probably from all the panic within the castle." He says, not even flinching as he looked the wound over again before tying the bandage there. He moves onto his shoulder and says "We were ambushed in Jerusalem after hunting town a pair of Sacrean twins."

I blink in shock, the thought of two masters walking into a trap seeming almost impossible. "Your father was injured as we fought our way out. I will be honest Altair… it's bad. They truly don't know if he'll make it through the night." I shiver softly, hating how detached he sounds, almost like he just told me the weather. Part of me wanted to hit him as he finished patching up his shoulder.

The door opens, a guard standing in the doorway and looks over us. "Al Mualim sends for the boy." He says, motioning at me. I stiffen as Desmond looks at him and asks "To see his father?" The guard nods gravely, seeming far more solemn than I'd expect. I stand, nodding at him before he leads me out of the room.

As the door shuts behind me, the warm light of the room replaced by the colder light of the hallway. The guard doesn't say another word, simply leading me toward the more populated areas of the Infirmary. He nods at another guard, who then steps away from a door and allows us entry into a brightly lit room.

My father laid in a bed within, covered in a thin sheet with blood pooled around the floor. A woman who was tending to him gave me a brokenly sad look, like the world rested upon her shoulders. My father shifted slightly, looking down at me. His face was free of blood, yet paler than I'd ever seen it before.

He give me a week smile and says "Hello my son…" Voice far from the soft baritone I was used to hearing. His voice was raspier than I was used to, and had a pained edge to it. I tried to straighten up and walked over to him, I tried to keep myself passive, but that facade was shattered when my father ruffled my short cropped hair and said "Just like your mother. Always strong, regardless of the circumstance."

I feel a few tears come to my eyes, blurring my vision as he spoke. His hand was lighter and gentler than normal, more comforting than affectionate. "I'm sorry my boy… But I won't last long… I should have listened to Desmond, taken the council of those around me. Instead I grew over confident and arrogant, and look where it got me?" He motions to himself, almost looking disgusted.

His hand moves to my shoulder as he says "Don't pass by love my child. Don't let someone you love slip away because you were afraid, and don't hurt others in anger. Don't damage others permanently, for temporary mistakes. Be happy, and forgive. Forgive so that you may move forward." His voice grows softer and his breath grows ragged for a moment as his eyes shut.

His eyes suddenly snap back to mine though, the warm golden brown of his eyes hardened with pain, but still look identical to mine. He says "I am proud of you my son. I am proud of how far you have come in such a short time. I am, and always will be, proud of you. Regardless of what choices you make, and what you do with your life. I simply want you to be happy, and that is so rare in this life."

His hand tightens as I nod, feeling a few tears slip down my face as I say "I shall try father…" He nods, smiling a final time and saying "That is all I ask my son… I love you my boy, never forget that…" I nod shakily and say "I love you too father…" Mo voice wavering slightly as his hand falls from my shoulder and his eyes flutter shut, a small smile gracing his face.

The tears come faster now, dripping down my face as I feel someone grab my shoulder and say something. I shove them off of me, turning and running from the room, darting past the guards, who tried to follow me. "The guards aren't as physically fit as the others, due to the fact that they must also have an intellectual part of their training."

Desmond's words ring in my head as I outrun them, faster due to my lack of armor. My father's words ring through my head, Desmond's quickly getting drowned out as I'm faced with the crushing weight of his loss. I'm an orphan now, and a half breed. Something the other kids used to tease me about when I was smaller, calling me a filthy brat of two cities, a worthless half breed that no one wanted.

I'd never met my mother, as she died giving birth to me, and my father was the only person I had. And now you have no one. A sinister part of me whispers as I slam into something, or someone. Desmond stands in the hall, holding me to steady me as I look up at him. He seems confused before a pained look appears in his honey colored eyes.

Before he can say anything I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms around his middle and burying my face into his stomach, finding everything almost to much as I let out a broken sob. He wraps his arms around me without question, rubbing my back gently. "It's okay Altair… I'm so sorry…" He says softly, seeming to saddened himself.

I don't say a word, only sobbing all the harder into his robe, which he had apparently changed, as it wasn't soaked with blood. I could hear the guards run into the hall, shouting something that I couldn't make out through my tears. Desmond replies quickly and they go silent, I hear them walk away as Desmond simply holds me as I sob.

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Desmond POV

It had been a bloodbath at that fort, the two of us having to kill over forty guards to get out. Yet more seemed to be streaming from every crevice I saw. I hacked and stabbed my way through the men, killing without hesitation. However we didn't make it out unsacthed, and the major bleed on Umar's leg worried me.

I'd rushed us back here, after sending a bird to the guild as I ran. We'd made it back alive, but from the tears that Altair is soaking my robe with, Umar didn't survive. I'd been happy that Altair and he had a better relationship this time around, but now I was sorry for it. Last time around his father had been executed after capture, something Altair had almost been forced to watch.

This time they were both given some peace, but I was still angry with myself for not saving him. My mind kept running back to What If? As I held the crying boy. What if I'd forced him to leave? What if I'd fought harder? What if I trained harder? The questions dancing around my mind as Aslam walked up from the shadows, obviously returning from getting the Novices to bed.

He looks at Altair than back up at me with a concerned look before asking "Umar didn't?..." I shake my head gravely and hold Altair tighter. Aslam nodded, giving Altair a sad look before saying "Want me to get him to bed or…" I shake my head again. "He shouldn't be alone right now, nor forced to face his peers… He'll stay with me tonight. Go get those two and get them to bed, don't tell them anything yet."

Aslam nods and walks off toward Abbas and Malik, my side screaming in pain while I gently pry Altair off me, said boy clinging tighter with a slightly fearful sound. "Altair… I'm not going anywhere, it's okay…" I say gently, managing to get him off me momentarily before kneeling down and picking him up, feeling him bury his face into my injured shoulder.

Said wound screams in pain as well, but I ignore it as I carry the crying boy to my room, leaving the infirmary. On the way to my room his sobs quieted and he fell into a disheartened sleep, grip tightening. I stepped into my room, carrying him around as I took off my boots and lit the lamps within.

I gently placed Altair on my bed,forced to let him keep my outer robe due to his hold on it, the boy rolling onto his side as he sleeps and I yank off his boots, seeing a small amount of blood on the soles of them. I sighed and grabbed out a rag, setting about to cleaning them as he slept, guessing I won't get much sleep tonight as I sit down into my chair, cleaning the blood from the boots as I tried to not get lost in thought.

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And that shall be all this chapter. Review! Comment!