Chapter Six: Whims

"Adnan!" She exclaimed getting up her feet quickly, her injuries however did not let her get away with sudden movements. Just as she got up, her body started its way back down, if Adnan were not there to catch her, she would've found herself on the floor again. He took the hood off and looked at her, a very sad expression on his face.

"How did you get here?" she asked him. Getting a hold of herself, she managed to stand upright though she was still clinging to Adnan's arm.

"Do you forget who I am, young lady?" He asked, faking being insulted. She giggled quietly, she still feared there might be someone around.

"You are nothing too special, Adnan," She said mockingly and he smiled.

"You really got beaten this time, Amira." He could not see in detail the extent of her injuries, though the lacerations were superficial they covered most of her body. Her foot was swollen and the wound on her head was still open. She also had a couple of bruises on her face, arms and abdomen.

"I've been worse," she replied, trying to hide her pain, "remember when I fell off your balcony when I was fifteen? I almost break my legs."

"Oh, how would I forget? It was me who had to carry you all the way back to your house! And it was me who had to explain things to your enraged father!" They looked at each other and started laughing.

"Seriously, Adnan," Amira said, her tone of voice drastically changed, "how did you get here?"

"I broke into the prison, that should be obvious and I took the keys from the warden. It was easier than it seems, don't worry." He was rushing his explanation. She knew from previous experiences with him that he would only do that when he believed that concealing information from her would be for the better; after all she would get really upset when his mischief got too illegal. She sighed and let go of the grip she had on his arm. She was finally able to stand on her own, though her ankle made it uncomfortable for her to walk.

"Are you sure you can stand?" he asked her, his voice filled with the true concern her condition brought upon him. He had always been by her side, ever since they were kids. Though at first, the bond they share was different. As time flew by, after many losses and grief, they became each other's support. Unlike her, he grew to love her and see her as something more than just a friend. He loved her but he knew she did not love him back. Her heart was too difficult to be tamed, and he was aware that someone who she had known for so long, someone who knew her weaknesses and secrets, someone who made her feel vulnerable, would never succeed at such a task. Still, he cared for her with his life. And, like every lover, knowing that his loved one was injured made him feel horribly worried.

"You have always been so protective with me, master Adnan. You do not need to worry this time, though. I am fine." She replied. Having her dear Adnan so close to her gave her a boost in will power.

"You are not okay, Amira," he answered back quickly, "I never understood how you managed to get into so much trouble. Ever since you were a kid, you would always do something you were not supposed to or just wander off to the wrong place. It's like you are always looking for trouble. And this time, this time you found it big time." His voice had become very harsh, it felt as if he was his senior scolding her for a wrong doing. She sighed, she was used to being scolded just not by him.

"I am sorry." She whispered. Adnan rolled his eyes and stretched out his hand to her.

"It's fine, let's just get out of here." He offered.

"No," she said hesitantly but firm. 'I am going to regret this, I know I will,' she thought, but she knew it was the best way to proceed.

"Amira, what do mean no?!" he said raising his voice a bit too much. She quickly glared at him. The warden, she knew was not dead and like anybody who is not dead, would be able to listen to his screams.

"Adnan, I am in no condition to be running away right now. I would only be a burden to you. What if they catch us?" She asked. "I am already set to be executed; I don't want to drag you down with me."

"They won't catch us," he assured her, though not even he was sure of that.

"Okay, let's pretend we get away. Where would we go? We could not possibly return to our homes. We would have to leave the city."

"We could go to Acre with your father."

"Yes, because they won't go look for us there." Amira said, sighing in frustration. They were both smart enough to think of a place to go if they got away. They would be able to survive in a different city, they were skilled enough. But, it did not matter. In order for them to think about life in a different city or different country they would first need to get away from the guards. And she knew that they would not be able to escape from them. 'If my foot was fine,' she told herself, 'then it would not be a problem.' But she was hurt and she could not escape.

"Look, Adnan is too risky," she tried to explain.

"If you were going to stay here then why did I bother to come?" He said, her hesitant attitude got on his nerves a lot.

"Adnan, you know it is too dangerous."

"So what?" he had started yelling, at that point. "Do you want me to just let you get killed? Do you want me to sit back and see you get executed? Put yourself in my position, damn it! Not that I would have let myself get framed for being an assassin…"

"Look, I am sorry!" she snapped. "But I'd rather have them kill me than have them kill us both!"

"Yes, because I would be incredibly happy about your death!" he said in a bitter and sarcastic tone. "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"

"Why do you have to be so hasty?" She threw back at him. She knew she could not and should not argue with Adnan, their arguments could drag on for a long time.

"You only have three days, but you don't want me to make haste?" he scuffed. He was still angry, but following her lead finally stopped screaming.

"I am not here because I am working with the assassin's, Adnan," she said and he nodded.

"They want my father's money. They actually expect him to pay for my freedom." She said, her voice trailing off. The anger that the warden had provoked in her when mentioning this was starting to leak.

"How much?" he inquired, "If it is money they want, I can give it to them."

"Like I would let you," she replied almost automatically.

"It's for your life, I would never hesitate."

"But it would not be fair, I could not possibly ask so much of you."

"Do you have a choice, Amira? You either pay them or you die."

"Look," she said, finally fed up with the discussion. He really was stubborn man. "Do me a favor instead. Go to Acre, where my father is, and let him know of what has happened. The guards, I am sure they will twist everything to make me seem guilty. If you could talk to him, I am sure he would understand. He knows you would never lie."

"You want me to convince your father to pay the ransom?" he asked her coldly.

"I want you to tell him the truth of the matter. I don't want him to think any less of me."

"And then convince him to pay the ransom?" he pressed. Amira sighed and crossed her arms across her chest.

"So you basically want me to go all the way to Acre to convince your father to hand out the money I could easily turn in without needing to leave the city?" he asked her, sounding very annoyed by her request.

"Pretty much." She whispered, "though, there is something else. The assassin was not after me, he was after my father. I want you to go see if he is okay."

"Why is your father a target? What happened to the whole creed thing about not hurting innocents?"

"I don't think they stick to their creed much, nowadays." She said, with certain disappointment in her voice.

"Are you sure you don't want to leave with me?" he asked her again, though he knew she would not budge.

"I am sure." She replied just as he expected. He took a couple of steps back until he was out of the cell. He reached to grab the door and pulled it shut. With the keys he had stolen he locked it again and then proceeded to throw the keys a couple of meters away from her, far enough for the guard to believe they had fallen off his pocket. He leaned his head against the bars and with a faint smile said his good-bye's. It was common of her to feel guilty for asking too much from Adnan. She knew she depended too much on him but after everything that'd happened, she grew to need him more than she could help.

The night was just beginning and she found herself having to choose between two not so appealing choices: she could stay awake and sulk about everything that was happening or she could fall asleep and face the assassin in her dreams. Both were bound to be torturous but the choice was easier than she had thought. Though he had brought all hell upon her, there was something about the assassin that made her ponder about him. Against her common sense and logic, she had started to feel a certain attraction towards him. It was not physical; she had not even stolen a glimpse or his face and she was well aware that as far as beauty is concerned no man could claim to be superior to her fiancé. It went beyond her understanding. He was behind every ill thing that had occurred to her yet she could not bring herself to loathe him. She only hoped that time – if she was to be granted the gift of time – would allow her to understand her quite ambiguous feelings. She closed her eyes and made herself as comfortable as she could to embrace sleep. It did not take too long before she was fast asleep, leaning on the cold stone wall nor did it take long for her dreams to start flowing.