Chapter Four

Later that night Ara stumbled out to the center of the camp where the majority of the people were. The soldiers were in an uproar after the raid by the Assassins. One of the Assassins was caught and was being held in the clearing. Ara had pushed her way through the crowd, heading towards Robert's voice. She could barely hear it; the crowd was too loud for her to know exactly where he was at. Eventually Ara found her way to the center, her hands pushed the crowd and she fell to the ground.

The loud thunk caught their attention. The Assassin was tied to a post, blood dripping from his mouth. Both Robert and Maria looked back. Ara was helped up by Maria and then stood by her side, Robert, on the other hand, went back to interrogating the Assassin. As the interrogation went on, Ara started to recognize the Assassin's voice. She walked from Maria and stood center the clearing, Robert stopped speaking. The Assassin's voice shook,

"It's you, you've cursed us again…" He said quietly, but Ara heard him.

"What did you say?" Her eyes grew wide and she started to cry.

"You've cursed us! You wrecked girl, you caused us failure again! You should be dead!"

"Ah! I'm not a curse, I have every right to live!" She started to run towards the Assassin. She tripped, her hands landed on the Assassin's boot.

"God help her." Maria whispered.

Ara gripped his bootlaces and slowly pulled herself to his face. She felt the rope, then his uniform, she could feel his breath on her cheek. Her fury engulfed her as her hands encompassed his neck.

"Let me tell you something, Kudar! It was not Masyaf that was my home, it was not the Creed that kept me safe, and it wasn't Allah that gave me strength! It was God!1"

Robert pulled Ara off and stood her back whispering something in her eye, "I give you the knife to wield…what will you do?" He slid a dagger to her. She held it for a moment feeling its weight, briskly she walked back over to Kudar thrusting the knife forward. It barely missed his face landing in deep in the post. Kudar flinched but remained calm, his breath heavy. Ara thought to herself: why should I just kill him now, especially after I've been through so much? How, how can I bring them the same kind of pain that they gave me? Ara stood up leaving the dagger in the post, Robert was thinking that maybe she wasn't able to kill them after all.

"I think I have a better idea!" She spoke up so that everyone could hear her, "Make an example out of him!" Cheers rained through the crowd.

"How so?" Robert inquired.

"Take him to Masyaf, kill him there were Al Mualim and all the others can see. Let their so called brother's blood fall on their home! Let all of those jackals know that we're not afraid of them."

Robert pondered the thought, looking to his second in command. Robert decided to call a meeting in the War Room and order everyone back to work telling Maria to set up a guard shift to watch the prisoner. It was done.

Ara continued to sit in front of Kudar throughout the changing of the guards. Her expressions would change from evil smirk to emotionless; Maria would even call her limp. Maria grew uneasy with each progression.

Robert returned from the meeting and ordered Maria to take Ara back to her tent and confirmed their march on Masyaf. Maria grabbed Ara by the hand and led her back to her bed. Ara rested for a few hours before dinner, tossing and turning. Robert was the one to bring food in this time and the three of them ate together. Robert told Ara of their plans and told her to listen to Maria while he was away. Robert even tucked her into bed before leaving, the sun was setting. Maria stayed there for the night.

"Maria, are you awake?"

"I'm awake, what's wrong?"

"Remember that prayer you were saying the other night, the Hail Mary one?"

"Yes, I remember it."

"Can you teach it to me?"

"Sure: Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with Thee. Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen."

Ara repeated the prayer over and over again until she fell back asleep.

It wouldn't be for another two days before Robert would return, in the meantime everyone did their normal duties. When they did return, the sight wasn't encouraging. The Assassins had a trap set for any intruder that would happen on their gates. Many of the man returned with broken limbs and serious injuries. Needless to say, the hurt to Robert's pride was his biggest injury.

Ara did her best to help the injured, going days without sleep tending to them. It wasn't until a few days later that she would see Robert again. She couldn't bring herself to say anything as she changed his bandages, as a side thought she thought it was ironic that she was changing his bandages this time. When Ara had finished she bowed and walked out,

"Wait!" Robert grabbed her wrist. Ara dropped everything in her hands, "Stay here a little longer." He looked away from her.

"Of course," Tears streamed down her face, "I'm so sorry, I didn't know about the trap. I promise."

"Ha, how old are you now, Ara?"

"I'll be thirteen soon…" she sobbed.

"Stop crying little one." He wiped away her tears and pulled her in close to him. She knelt down between his legs, resting her head in his lap. Robert covered her with both his arms and held her.

"This was a sign. God didn't want me to have victory over the Assassins. That honor shall be yours."

"How do you know that?"

"Because that is your reason for living, and the reason you were delivered to us. Go now and rest." Robert kissed her forehead and permitted her to leave.

Ara stumbled back to her tent, Robert's words echoed in her mind. My reason…my honor? She pulled the blankets over herself, a soft rain rhythmically danced on the tent while the wind sang a lullaby.

Rachael hums a beautiful melody as she strokes Arya's hair. The night is clear, the house is clean, and father was finishing some work. A candle illuminates the study, her baby-blanket covers her.

Faerie gives Arya her precious hair pendant. The aroma of flowers filled the air carried by the winds. Faerie's soft bosom comforted her.

His strong, rough hands guided her to safety…and His light will show her the path.

Chapter Five

Ara awoke without any help the next morning. She washed her face in a bowl of water before leaving the tent. It was still early in the morning, even some of the soldiers were still asleep. Ara could hear the patrol walking about. She really didn't want to be awake, but her body said otherwise. She moved carefully across the camp as to not fall on her way to see Robert. Normally he would be in the War Room going over some last minute details for the day. However, when Ara got there the room was empty.

"Well, I wasn't expecting you up so early." Said Maria.

"Oh, yeah, I guess so. I'm usually in bed for another hour, aren't I?" Ara joked.

"Come with me."

Ara followed her to the other side of the camp. There was muffled whispers as they progressed. There was a small group of soldier on horseback, Robert was heading the pack. Maria pulled Ara into another tent and told her to change. Ara could tell that it was a soldier's uniform, Maria placed a belt with sheath around Ara's waist. There was no sword.

Ara didn't expect the chainmail to be so heavy, but she could handle it. They both walked out, Ara did want to realize that everyone was watching them. She feared that she would embarrass herself,

"Ara, come here…kneel and bow your head." She did as she was told. "This is unorthodox, but follow along."

"Yes." She raised her head for a moment as to look up at him, he drew his sword.

"Keep your head down." Robert tapped her on the head with the sword, thunk. The men let out a small chuckle. "Ara this is an important step for you. Foremost, do you swear to follow the church and all of its teachings?"

"Yes."

"Do you swear to always be loyal and never pass a lie from your tongue?"

"Yes."

"Do you swear to always be brave in the face of fear?"

"Yes."

Robert gently brought down the board side of the sword on either side of her shoulders, "Arise and take to arms."

Ara stood up and took the sword from Robert's hand. She noticed that it was lighter than a normal sword. The wrap was made of a thin layer of leather. The sword was holstered on her side.

"Ara, we are going to meet a group of people, if all goes well they'll be our allies. I want you to come with us, listen to everything that will be said. But be careful of your tongue, yes?" Robert shook her jokingly about the neck.

Marie and Ara saddled their horses and followed the group. Robert motioned back to them to join him upfront. Maria grabbed Ara's reins and helped her to Robert's side,

"Ara, don't fear anything, these are the people you can trust most."

"I understand." She tried to be as soldier-like as possible.

Maria noticed a smile on Robert's face, one that she hadn't seen for the longest time. They traveled for hours in the hot sun. The wind would occasionally blow sand in their faces, but it wasn't much longer when they would be traveling next to the sea. Robert spoke again,

"Ara, another note for you and Maria: the person we're meeting is Jubair al Hakim. He is our enemy on some levels however we have a common enemy."

"The Assassins?" Asked Ara.

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Remarked Maria.

They had reached Damascus, its sturdy wall encompassed the massive city. One of Jubair's servants met them at the gate. He welcomed Robert and his men and then led them through the city to meet Jubair. The servants took the horses to the stables as the men headed inside. The room was spacey with a rectangular table center of it. Red drapes were hung over the windows, pulled to either side. The table was set delicately with silver plates and silverware, silk napkins under them.

Jubair sat at the head of the table with his two highest ranking members, two other guards stood at attention behind him. Robert sat down at the other end of the table with his second and third strongest, as his two guards stood behind him. The rest of his men were either outside or at the stable looking after the horses. Maria took Ara around back to an opened window which led to the conference room. They started their negotiations. Ara didn't like Jubair's tone at all, she thought it was that of a snake's.

Maria giggled a little to herself when she noticed Ara's grimace. They sat under the window for hours before breaking for lunch. Ara and Maria met Robert at the table outside in the shade. The men consumed the food on their plates and drank the fresh spring water. Ara sat down across from Robert,

"What do you think of the negotiations?" asked Robert.

"I'll be honest, I don't understand a word of it." Robert choked on some on his meat, not expecting her forthrightness.

"Well, nonetheless, we should finish by dinner."

The meeting continued and it indeed concluded by dinner. Jubair held a celebration for their new alliance. The men from both sides sat side by side, drinking mead and feasting. The party lasted long into the night. Their faces grew redder with each drink and their bellies fuller by each plate. The moon would set long before they were done. Jubair made arrangement for the Crusaders to stay another night before heading back to camp.

The next day the men resupplied their stock and went on their way. Jubair and Robert had one last talk before heading out, it ended with a hand shake whereas their hands reached to the others forearm. Jubair's men accompanied them past the city's entrance and up the hillside. They said their goodbyes and the two parties parted.

The clouds grew heavy and blocked the sun and the winds blew eerily. The Crusaders marched home without a single drop of rain falling; however, the next few days would be dreary, void of any sun light. The camp eagerly awaited their leader's return, lookouts were set on high ridges so that when he did return they would escort them safely back to camp.

The group was welcomed back whole heartily and cheers rang out for the news of the alliance. It would be another night of rest before their duties would return. Once more the mead flowed, lightly, and they ate well. Sleep would come easy tonight.

1 Ara is making a distinction between the Muslim radical beliefs and the Crusaders' religion.