I realize what the general implications of the Templar Ninja (as I call it) back in Bloodlines was, but they never really explained it, they just implied stuff and never really touched on it after the fact - at least from what I saw, and I'm pretty sure I didn't miss anything.

So I'm going to do what I like with it.

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Chapter 6
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"I know you're the murderer." Altair said softly.

Maria simply stood, slack-jawed.

"What?" She finally managed to croak out.

"Don't act all innocent, Maria." He ground out, "Did you think I wouldn't recognize your little Templar outfit?"

"You're acting crazy, Altair." Maria snapped, "What on Earth makes you think I'm the killer?"

"I saw you back on Cyprus, remember?!" He snarled, "When you killed my target as they were about to talk. Or didn't you think I'd remember?"

"What are you talking about?! I did no such thing!" She cried, taking a step back to put the desk between them. She'd never seen him so livid.

"Then where's your ring?" He demanded.

"What? What ring?! What does that have to do with it?"

"This one!" He said, slamming an extravagant ring on the desk, "You lost it on Cyprus, remember?!"

"That's…" She gasped.

"Your ring." He repeated.

"That's not my ring, you bloody assassin!" She snapped, "Its Stephen's! They're part of his family's wedding ring set!"

He stared at her appraisingly for a moment, before he spoke. "Ignoring the fact that I saw this ring on your finger in Cyprus, and picked it up when chasing that Templar… tell me, where is your half of the set, then?"

"It's…" She hesitated, her eyes widening as she remembered. "It's…"

"Well?"

"It's back in Acre." She said, finally, "It's probably already been reclaimed by Stephen, since he was there when I left…"

"So explain to me why you would bring this ring, a wedding ring no less, belonging to a man you hate, not only to the Holy Land, but to Cyprus." Altair said softly.

"…It's an heirloom." She sighed, "I thought I could sell it if I ever needed money; it's worth a small fortune, and it would spite the bastard. I brought it to Cyprus because you dragged me there just as I was about to leave, and I was wearing it for safekeeping." She risked a glance at him.

"Quite the story." He sneered, "You know what I believe is more likely? You never held any animosity for your husband. You were the Templar on Cyprus. And you tricked me in an attempt to infiltrate the Brotherhood. And I almost let you succeed."

He gave a bitter smile, "And there's every likelihood that child you're carrying isn't even mine."

"How….how dare you!" She sputtered, "These accusations are –"

"Enough." The assassin sighed, waving his hand dismissively, "We'll decide what to do with you after your baby's born. I'm not going to condemn him because of his father."

"You're his father!" She snarled, "I'm telling you, there's no one else it could be, because I haven't-"

"Until then," Altair interrupted, "You'll be placed under guard."

"…You really won't listen to me, will you?" She said, her shoulders sagging.

"Don't worry." He continued softly, "We won't treat you badly."

She barked a laugh, "I would say wrongful imprisonment qualifies as 'bad treatment.'"

Altair merely looked on mournfully as the templar was led out of the room.

------

Damn.

Damn, damn, DAMN.

She couldn't believe this was happening.

Everything was crumbling around her.

She sagged on the bed, her head in her hands. To think that Altair would accuse her of that…

But could she really blame him? They'd been enemies for so long…

But no! He was supposed to love her, so shouldn't he take her word?!

She rose, pacing the small room – to comfortable to be called a cell, with a proper bed and a window, but too bare to be called a proper bedroom – the important thing right now was proving her innocence. Then maybe…

She shook her head. What did she care if that bastard assassin took her back?!

But by God, he'd look so hurt…she didn't want to see that look on his face.

She gritted her teeth. Besides that, what the Devil had Stephen been doing on Cyprus?! And in a Templar uniform, no less?! He was no Templar!

Was he?

No, there was no way. She would have known.

"Even if he is," She muttered, "Why is he doing this…?"

"Didn't I tell you, my dear? I want your estate." He called, laughter in his tone.

"Stephen?!" She exclaimed, staring in open amazement, "How are you- This is the top of a tower!"

He chuckled from his place outside the window, "Maria, if I can give your precious assassin decent competition, don't you think I could manage scaling a simple tower?"

She scowled, "Why are you doing this, Stephen?"

"Really, I thought you were smarter than this, Maria." He sighed, "For your estate."

"I realize that!" She snarled, "But that and this are entirely different things! The Templar's would never support you in such a self-serving endeavor!"

"Self-serving? No, no, Maria." He sighed, "This is for the Templars. You see, we lost a lot of support with that debacle at Arsuf with King Richard. And, well, it takes money to run a campaign against the world.

But you had to go and defect to the assassins, and as long as you don't claim your inheritance – and you and I both know it is an impressive one - it sits in Government hands."

"So what are you going to do now?" She growled.

"We wait for you to give birth to your bastard assassin child, and then we take you home." He smirked, "After all, there's nothing left for you here."

"You manipulative bastard." She spat.

"This is nothing new, my dear. I am a Templar, after all."

"…And what were you doing on Cyprus? Were you planning this even then?" She narrowed her eyes.

"Was I planning on my wife getting pregnant by an Assassin after running off to India with him for six months? No." He bit out. She blinked - it wasn't often he was short with her, always preferring to hide behind the mask of a smile. But it lasted only a moment, before his smug grin was back on his face. "But it worked out rather nicely, didn't it?"

"And why are you telling me all this? Aren't you concerned I might run to Altair and tell him the truth?" She said, allowing herself a small smirk.

He laughed, uproariously. "And tell him what? 'It wasn't me, it was Stephen'? Do you honestly think he'd believe you? Maria, my dear, you're trapped." He grinned, "I only came here to tell you to be ready to leave once your child is born. You're coming to claim your estate then, whether you like it or not."

"And what about the child?" She breathed.

"Let's just say the only reason I don't kill it now is because it might kill you." He said shortly.

"You wouldn't dare." She growled.

"I'll see you in a few months, Maria." He smirked, before disappearing.

She waited a few moments, making sure he was actually gone, before she sagged on the bed again, biting a nail. He was right – she was trapped rather neatly.

Damn.