(sorry for the long delay, I'm about to be deployed so it took a little longer. Enjoy.)

Chapter Six

Ara got up an hour earlier; she wiped her eyes and headed out of her tent. The clouds still overcastted the skies. Ara managed to make it to the practice ring. Those who stayed behind built the makeshift ring while Robert was away at the meeting. The clanging of swords drew her to past memories, her hands landed on the wooden boundary. Her hand slid across the wood and she quickly pulled her hand back. A splinter pierced her finger.

Robert walked up behind her, Ara tried to hide her hand but he already knew her injury. Robert grabbed her hand and put her finger in his mouth, pulling out the splinter. Ara tried to hide her blushing by pulling back her hand and wiping it on her tunic. Robert smirked as he ordered the ring to be cleared. Maria entered the ring, she bared no weapon. Robert grabbed Ara by the back of her tunic throwing her into the ring,

"Happy thirteenth Birthday!"

The dirt stained her clothes as she skid across ground, she rolled then brought herself to her feet.

"Defend yourself!" Robert shouted out.

Ara wasn't sure how to do that, when she had practiced with the Assassins she had her sight and still failed. Now she couldn't see the hand before her. Maria moved closer and closer, her feet slid roughly on the ground. Maria let out a grunt as she brought her fist forward, Ara put her hands up to defend like she was taught long ago. Maria's fist hit Ara's upper arm, Ara thrust forward hitting Maria in the chest causing her to lose balance.

Next Maria did the same thing, but followed immediately with another punch, landing squarely on Ara's cheek. She fell to the ground.

"Again." The word echoed.

Ara was knocked repeatedly to the ground, those watching whispered amongst themselves. For hours a day Robert only allowed Maria to fight her. And day after day, Ara received many bruises and scuff marks. Eventually, Ara was getting better and better, so to the fact that she was knocking many of the soldiers to the ground.

For the next two months, Ara trained with sword and shield. Her progression was much slower, but with the constant leadership from Robert, she learned this as well. The men were impressed, not only had this young child learned the knight's way, but she did it blind as well.

Ara's hair was starting to reach her lower back, causing it to tangle and snag on random things. Maria pulled Ara to the side and mentioned her hair length. Ara didn't want to shave her head so they came up with a solution. Her hair was cut to the jaw line with the forward portion of her hair pulled back. Ara couldn't prevent herself from thinking about how she used to cut Altaїr's hair. She shook her head from the image. She was a Templar now.

Robert exited the War Room and gathered everyone in the center of the camp. He announced their next battle; Saladin's army was progressing and we would be the ones that would stand in their way. They would march in two days. The men readied themselves and by the second day they would ride out, leaving only a handful behind to tend to the camp.

The weather had been constant for months now, the sun never shone. The two armies met in an open field as the rain started to fall. As usual, Ara and Maria stood at Robert's side. This would be Ara's first battle and she was eager to prove herself.

"See, Ara, you bring the rain." Said Robert.

"I guess you're right." Rain dripped from her helmet.

Robert drew his sword and raised it above his head, holding it there for a moment. The others drew their sword and waited for the command to charge. It was given. Both armies charged forward, clanking swords resonating throughout the valley. The mud made for a treacherous battle field as men and horses alike fought to stay up.

Robert did his best to keep Ara in sight, though she was doing just fine on her own. Opponent after opponent fell before her. Maria was likewise, striking down all that came before her. The rains increased over time, the battle enraged.

An enemy soldier was able to burst through a few people and rammed Ara from her horse. His sword came down hard on her shoulder, cutting through the chainmail. The pain was so intense that she fell to the ground. The enemy raised his sword for the final blow.

"Ara!" Robert screamed from afar. And though he wouldn't admit it, for a brief moment he feared for her life. A second blow hit Ara's side.

The enemy was about to throw the final blow. His sword dropped to his side. Maria had come up behind him and impaled him in the chest; his lifeless body fell to the ground. Ara tried to get up, but wasn't able to do so.

"Just stay there for now, don't worry, we're almost done." Maria stood next to Ara defending her to the very end of the battle.

The Crusaders had won the fight, Robert ordered all able men to help the wounded back to camp. Robert rode in the back to make sure that his entire group returned safely, though his eyes never left Ara's stretcher. Maria, on the other hand, stayed by her side.

Considering that Ara was a female, she was placed in her own tent for personal attention. Maria stayed with her as her while she received medical care. Maria fell asleep next to Ara, her head resting on the bed. Robert entered the room taking a seat next to them. He stroked his head with his hand, his thoughts running through his mind. She's only thirteen, why did I allow her to go into battle? She could have died. He looked up seeing that Ara was awake,

"You're awake?" He asked rhetorically.

"Thank you, Robert de Sable of France." He looked surprised at her, "Thank you for teaching me everything and giving me the chance to wield my own faith. That's more than I could have asked for, and I promise with all my soul and as God as my witness I will do whatever I need to in order to repay you for this."

Robert smiled, pushing away all of his previous thoughts. He had grown close to Ara as if she were his little sister or even his daughter; he knew that he would have to let her go sooner or later.

"Go back to sleep, I expect you to be on your feet soon."

"Yes, Sir."

Chapter Seven

Ara would be bedridden for days to come. She asked Maria to bring her some things. They included paper, a bowl, a sharpened pencil stick, a bunch of common blue flowers that grew in the country side and some ink and herbs. Maria didn't have any problem getting her these items, but wondered what she'd do with them. Maria set the items on the table next to Ara. Ara pulled herself to the table thanking Maria for her help.

Ara took the ink and poured it in the bowl mixing it with the blue flowers and herbs. The ink turned to a light blue color, just like her father had taught her. She didn't need to see to do this, it was like second nature. She took the pencil and dipped it in the ink, slowly she wrote. As she wrote she would create small indentations within the ink strokes.

"What are you doing?" Asked Robert.

"I'm writing."

Robert looked over her shoulders but saw a blank piece of paper. A childish smile over came her.

"There's nothing there." He questioned.

"Slide your hand over the paper." She took his hand and placed it on the paper, moving his hand from left to right. His fingers traced over the indentations of the ink, the words were from the Hail Mary prayer. He picked up the paper to analyze it,

"Incredible, how did you do it?"

"Reflect it towards the light and you'll see the writing," He did so. "My father developed this so that if the paper fell into the wrong hands they wouldn't be able to read it. They would just think it's blank. The indentations are created so that no matter when the paper was received they could read it."

"Could you teach this to me?" Robert asked.

"Sure, the Broth--" She paused, "The Assassins elders aren't fond of the idea. I would like to continue my father's work, if you don't mind." She looked at him.

"Yes, we can use this. It would be of great help to us."

Over the next few days, Ara taught Robert how to mix the ink into the correct mixture and how to create the indentations. Luckily, Robert was a quick learner and was able to learn the technique. Not much longer, Ara was back on her feet and continued to progress in her fighting skills. Many of the soldiers had much respect for Ara, mainly because of her bravery at such a young age.

Not long after Ara's fifteenth birthday Jubair and Robert had another meeting, this time Jubair and a group of his men showed up to the Templar camp. They entered the War room, the meeting lasting for so long that food was brought in an attempt to finish quicker, but it still lasted for days.

Finally, on the third day, both parties exited the War Room and shook hands in agreement. The following day the Generals briefed their men on their plan of action. It was to be a joint invasion of Masyaf and that they would burst through the main gates then head to the castle in an attempt to kill Al Mualim. Maria would be a part of a different group than Ara: Ara would lead the group along with Jubair accompanied by four of his men and three other Templars.

Robert took Ara aside away from the others. He gently placed his hand on her head and took a deep breath.

"Are you sure you can handle this?" He asked.

"I told you what I told you in the beginning, I don't have any loved ones left, but…" She paused.

"But?"

"Can I request that if I find my father, that he'll be allowed to live? I owe him that much." She peered up at Robert.

"Agreed, we can consider it even for that writing art you taught me." They both shook their heads.

Robert brought her in for a hug, for a moment she stood there resting her head in his chest, only feeling the chainmail under his uniform. Realizing how long she stayed there she quickly pushed away blushing. A smile crossed his face, hardly noticeable.

Later in the evening Jubair met with Robert and to his surprise saw Ara, a female. Robert realized that waiting to the last moment to reveal Ara would prevent Jubair from backing out of their arrangement. And, of course, Jubair was furious about it.

"A woman! No, a child!" He exclaimed, drawing the attention of the camp. "You expect be to work with this child in war?"

"On my honor, I can assure you that she ones of the finest warriors here."

"If that's the case, then I propose this: have this child face one of my men, of my choice, and if she wins I'll continue with our agreement."

"It's an agreement then. Ara, prepare yourself."

Ara stepped forward drawing her sword, Jubair picked the strongest man of his group. He was at least a foot taller than her and was as muscular as Robert. The man brought down his sword like an ax, their blades met and the weight of his sword threw her to one side. He continued to swing rapidly at her landing one strike that grazed her arm, cutting through the chainmail.

Jubair looked at Robert in victory as Ara grabbed her arm. Robert remained emotionless as the fight continued, swing after swing he continued to miss. The blade came down and went into the ground, leaving an opening. Ara cut him across the hand causing him to let go of the sword and then threw him off balance. He stumbled backwards and fell to the ground, Ara slowly brought down her sword by his neck.

"I win."

"Is there any other disputes?" Asked Robert, the crowd stood silently. Jubair stared in disbelief at his fallen soldier.

"I guess not." Replied Jubair, "As agreed, I welcome your soldier." He gave a smile and placed his hands on her shoulders.

At the dinner table Robert mentions that they'll be heading out in two days and that it would be a five day march to Masyaf. Tomorrow they will start packing and prepare for battle. Ara was disinterested in the announcement as she played with the food on her plate,

"What's wrong, Ara?" Maria asked.

"I don't know, there's something I don't like about Jubair." She answered.

"Maybe you should bring it up with Robert?"

"I don't want to bother him with such trivial nonsense."

"Well don't worry, I'm sure you're just not used to him is all."

"You're probably right." Ara finished her plate and retired to bed.