Guess who's back? :D ME! And Meadjean, and Christina, from their wonderful vacation. Well, not really. We didn't go on vacation, but we did have a girl's night out. Which was awesome.
Anyway, I bring you CHAPTA 14! We've got some fluffy stuff in here, some funny stuff, hmm let's see, let's see... Well, I don't want to spoil it for you. But next chapters will be cruel to Maria, there's gonna be some 'AWWW!' moments between her and Altair (omgoshikright?), some sad and tender moments, some more goofy stuff, some Benjamin stuff, some other stuff, you know.
And here's my question: should I have chapter names instead of just numbers? I've been debating that with my editors, and we're all stumped. Meadjean says DO IT! while Christina says NO! So, help me out here?
Kay, thanks, enjoy :D
"Benjamin?" Maria breathed out as her eyes nearly bulged out of her skull. She felt her mouth fall open as the man smirked, then brought his broadsword down upon her. Her eyes widened even further when the sword slashed down at her hands, cutting the rope holding her wrists together.
Baffled, she stared at her hands, hardly noticing that the man was now chuckling.
"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah," he whispered humorously while shaking his head back and forth, "only you would be the woman to blindly walk into a trafficking camp."
Maria forced the corners of her gaping mouth to turn upward gracefully, but instead it turned out to look more like a grimace. She wordlessly accepted the hand he offered to her and allowed him to pull her to her feet. Her eyes were fixed on his face, and without any warning, she flung her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest.
"Oh, Benjamin, it is you! You still have that moldy, wet smell to you!" She breathed in his scent and held him tighter. Chortling, he held her to him as he rocked back and forth on his heels. She sighed and rested her chin on his shoulder. "So much has happened, Benny, and loads of it terrible."
"Maria, my dear," he placed his hands on her shoulders and held her out from himself to address properly. "I want to know everything, love. But first, I'd very much like to know what you're doing out and about at night, and especially waltzing through such a dangerous place!"
She shrugged sheepishly and gave a small grin. "Ill fortune strikes many, it seems."
He sighed, not fully convinced that that was all there was to her reasons, but nodded nonetheless. "You're thinner than usual," he remarked when he gave her a quick once-over. "Has Damiel been pestering you about your weight again? The boy can be such trouble sometimes, I know."
Maria averted her gaze to the ground, frowning when she glanced over the dead slavers. "You've missed a lot, Benny. Damiel, he's... well, he's not here, obviously."
Benjamin furrowed his brow. "What do you mean— Maria!" He quickly wrapped his arms around her waist as her knees began to buckle underneath her, followed by her stomach growling. Swearing under her breath, she leaned against Benjamin as he escorted her to his mount. "When was the last time you ate anything—and what is that smell?"
Maria humphed and raised her nose in the air. "I've been eating on and off throughout the day, but not enough to substantially quiet my stomach. To answer your second question, pardon me if I am a woman, Benjamin."
He coughed at her last statement and glanced side to side uneasily. Rose would always badger him for wondering what was stinking up their house when it was her time. Maria was no different, apparently.
"Benny, w-wait," Maria huffed as he attempted to help her into the saddle. When he raised an eyebrow at her, she continued, "I've my own mount—somewhere."
Benjamin let his hands fall back to his sides and followed her as she stepped over the dead bodies in an attempt to find Shihad. Where did the blasted horse go?
She past several of the slaves, now free men and women again, and they each gave her grateful smiles. Benjamin muttered something unintelligent from not receiving the praise.
Maria was not about to go shouting for the horse. She'd look ridiculous doing that, and she still had some honor left to defend! Did Shihad know how to respond to verbal commands? Did Altair even take the time to properly train the beast to accommodate his profession? Shrugging, Maria decided it was worth a try. Wetting her lips with her tongue, she scrunched her lips together and whistled.
Her response was a shy neigh and the click clock of hooves against rock as a horse approached her. She held her ground until the beast was in front of her. He whinnied when he recognized her and pushed his muzzle to her chest. She involuntarily took a few steps backward from the impact, but recovered and ran her hand up and down his forehead.
"You are such a hypocrite," she lowly said when he began to affectionately nip her. "One moment you want me off the saddle, the next you're kissing up to me like some damn suitor." Shihad whickered gently and nuzzled her cheek.
Benjamin came over to her then, the reins of his own mount in his hand as he led the horse. "I take it this is your infamous steed, Maria?"
Shaking her head back and forth, she turned her head around to sneer at her friend. "Don't let his face fool you. He's a devil underneath all of it." Shihad took small steps toward Benjamin, smelling and smacking his lips against the man's palm when he held it out to him.
"Nonsense," he chuckled as the animal quickly won him over. "How can a fine, lovely horse such as this one be anything but loyal?"
"Loyal," Maria grumbled as Shihad's honey colored eyes blinked innocently. "Right." She made to pull herself up onto his back, but grunted as shocks of pain were sent up her legs. She planted her feet firmly back on the ground, and soon a hand was supporting her back.
"I take it a rough night isn't all that you've been through since I've been gone," he whispered sadly.
Maria closed her eyes and mumbled. He took that as a 'yes'. "You have no idea, Benny." She grabbed hold of a chunk of Shihad's mane as Benjamin hauled her up into the saddle by her waist.
"Now, just where do you think you're going?" Benjamin crossed his arms over his chest and raised an eyebrow at her when she began trotting off. "I didn't rescue you just so that you could go marching off into yet another situation! Maria!" He quickly threw himself on his own horse and urged the steed to catch up with his friend.
It wasn't that Shihad was galloping at full speed, he was still trotting and taking his sweet time. But Maria's posture clearly told Benjamin that she wasn't interested in hearing him through. Riding parallel to her, he secured his hand over her arm, forcing her to pull Shihad to a stop.
"Maria, for heaven's sake, listen to rea—"
"How dare you demand me to follow your orders!" she barked at him. He looked positively dumbfounded. "I've been planning this night out for hours, maybe even days! Don't you go telling me to calm myself down!" She groaned and slouched in the saddle, a cramp making itself known in her abdomen.
Benjamin sighed sympathetically and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Perhaps due to your condition, you should consider letting me handle things from here, hm?"
"My condition," she growled, "is none of your concern."
"Rose used to be the same exact way," he chuckled before removing his hand from Maria and grabbing Shihad's reins with it. He inclined his head when he saw Maria give a small, apologetic smile. "She was always yelling my ear off, complaining about how the house was a mess after she'd just clean it. The list goes on and on with the woman and her bleeding."
Maria closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against Shihad's neck. "She must have made your life interesting," she mumbled.
Benjamin shrugged and casually replied, "I suppose she did. Although, sometimes she proved to be unbearable whenever she'd start craving certain foods. It was always something sweet. I know more than once she drained our honey and sugar supplies with her moods."
Maria quietly moaned and turned her head to look at Benjamin. Somehow the man had managed to slip a rope around Shihad's head and tied the end of it to his own saddle. "Benny?" she whispered.
"Yes, Sarah?"
"I'm glad you're here," she said softly. He smiled at this and brought his horse closer to Shihad to rub her back assuredly.
"I'll keep in mind that your hormones are talking," he chuckled before pulling his hand away from her. "I hope you're in good enough condition though," he thought to himself.
She quirked an eyebrow. "For what?"
"I sent Aden, Olivia, and Zaina to scout out Damascus for us. Apparently, Clarence has made himself quite comfortable there over the past week," he grumbled while rolling his eyes. "The man never fails to disgust me."
Maria bolted right up in her saddle, ignoring the protests her lower back made. She gawked at Benjamin, not believing what she was hearing. "Th-they're in Damascus?"
Benjamin bobbed his head up and down, not noticing her mouth gaping wide open. "Yes, they've been there for a few days now. They'll report back to me in a week or two."
She flapped her lips, searching for the right words to use. "B-but..! But they were captured!" Weren't they?
The veteran frowned at this and puckered his lips out. "Yes, they were, and they were damn lucky that I followed their captors, else Olivia would be missing fingers vital to the bow and arrow."
Maria shook her head free of her dazed state and crossed her arms stubbornly. "You mean to tell me that after Damiel and I saw them be taken prisoner, and when we saw that you were nowhere to be found, you actually followed them?"
Benjamin coughed and raised a disapproving eyebrow from her hellish behavior. She rolled her eyes. "And do you mean to tell me that you and Damiel did not go back into town to find the note that I had asked the innkeeper to give to you two? The note that explained my whereabouts and what my plans were?"
"What note? What plans? And you honestly expected me to go back to the town and speak to that innkeeper? First of all, that man was just sour and seemed to despise the human species—"
Benjamin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You recall how I said I have many sources here?"
"Yes," she humphed, "I remember."
"He was one of them, Maria—"
"He wouldn't even allow us to have rooms to ourselves!"
Sighing, Benjamin swept a hand across the back of his neck before calmly replying, "He only did that because he knew Templars were in the area, and if we were divided, what would that make of our strengths? We'd easily be picked off. Do you understand now?"
Maria dug her nails into the saddle and gave a sideways glare at Benjamin. "Lovely to know all of this now."
"I'm to blame for it, and you have my apologies, my dear." Benjamin squeezed her shoulder and offered her a friendly grin. "But enough of that. Where have you been all this time? I'd assumed Damiel would be with you."
Maria, albeit unwillingly, briefed Benjamin in on what had transpired in his absence. She covered how she and Damiel arrived at a disgusting town, how Damiel was captured, how Templars were looking for her, and how she had searched Acre for the boy without any luck. She did, however, not mention anything about her lover and his pitiful band of killers.
Benjamin listened intently, frowning and nodding his head here and there.
"I'm not sure what's become of him," Maria concluded sadly. "He could be in a cell for all I know."
"We will set out to look for Damiel then. The boy still has much to learn, and I'm afraid more scars will only discourage that."
Maria rested her head in her arms on Shihad's neck. "It's my fault, Benny. If I... if I didn't push him, he'd never—"
"Save it, Maria," the man gently told her. "No one could have predicted this to happen to him. You didn't know, you can't put all the responsibility onto yourself. That drives a person insane." When Maria's shoulders began to heave, he added in more firmly, "Sarah. I know that you love the boy. I do as well, and so does the entire Rose. But dwelling on the past can only bring ruin to the future. We will find Damiel."
She moaned.
"But first, I believe you need your rest more than anything." When she began to protest, he held a hand up. "I won't lug around an emotional lass to and fro cities, Maria. Now, don't you fret about it. I have a feeling that we're about to gain even more allies than what we originally have."
Maria tented her eyebrows together. "And whom might these allies be?"
Laughing, Benjamin dug his heels into his horse's side, calling over his shoulder, "Assassin's, my dear. Assassin's."
"Perhaps we should turn around and go to Damascus? Help the others out there, or, or or... begin our search for Damiel?" Maria tried desperately to change her friend's decision as she adjusted the stirrups on Shihad. They had finally found a decent spot under a tree that offered well needed shade, and Benjamin insisted that they halt their progress and rest. The man also reasoned since their makeshift camp was right next to a river, they'd be able to refill their waterskins.
To Maria, being near water only meant mosquitoes. An abundant amount of mosquitoes.
Waving a hand at her, he shook his head stubbornly and continued his task of cleaning new leaves for her in the river. "No, that'd only make them think that we have no faith in their abilities. Besides, we're halfway there. Turning around now would be foolish."
Maria groaned and smacked her forehead against Shihad's saddle. The horse, in turn, gave her a not-so-amused look—and was that a growl?
"Oh, come now, Maria!" Benjamin chuckled as he held out a handful of sanitized leaves. Maria snatched them from him and fisted out the bloodied ones from her shift. "Soon, we won't be sleeping on dirt and will actually have civilization around us. After all, you said yourself that you'd been camping in the outdoors for weeks in search for Damiel."
Another groan.
"And besides," he turned around so she wouldn't see his jolly smile, "you can actually use cloth instead of leaves once we arrive at Masyaf."
Maria slowly turned her head, a frown clearly imprinted on her fine features as she pointedly stuffed the new leaves into her undergarments. He was a lucky man that his back was to her, else her eyes would have burned his to a crisp.
"Now, if you're done with your whining and complaining, I suggest we make haste. The sun's almost halfway to its peak, and if we ride now, we'll make good time." Benjamin turned around once he heard her mount Shihad again, and he followed suit with his own horse. "I intend to make it there before midday."
Maria gave a sideways frown and allowed Benjamin to take the lead, even though she perfectly knew the way back to Masyaf. "I pray that we never make it there," she secretly said under her breath. Benjamin swung his head over his shoulder and gave her a questioning look, but she smiled sweetly and shrugged her shoulders in response. Slowly nodding his head, he returned his attention back to the Kingdom.
Maria blew out of her mouth and let her shoulders sag. 'What the Hell am I going to do?' She fumed in her head for a couple of hours, debating if she should stealthily ride away with Shihad. It was a nice thought, but then the fact that Shihad would snort and draw unwanted attention to herself kicked in. No, that wouldn't work.
'Maybe if I suddenly fall off of Shihad and begin chanting that Masyaf was a dangerous place to go to?' She smirked from even thinking of herself babble senselessly in hopes to change that man's adamant mind. True, Shihad would probably curiously nuzzle her, and Benjamin would be absolutely perplexed, but it could work—
'No, I'd look like a ninny.'
Maria refused to admit to herself that her plan had just been sat on and squashed like Abu'l Nuqoud planting his great, holy behind on one of his lavish rugs. Why did God seem to throw her back to that idiot of a man? Not that she wouldn't mind being in his arms, or stealing a few kisses from him, or maybe even touching his manh—
'What. Am. I. Thinking.' She idly twirled Shihad's mane around her index finger and stared at her saddle. 'But could it possibly be so awful as to forgive? Maybe not forget, but to just accept an apology?'
She let out a hmph! and crossed her arms around her chest, raising her chin into the air. 'Of course it'd be terrible! Not only would I be subjecting myself to him, but I'd be looking like a complete softie! A grandmother! A... a... NINNY!'
"Now, Maria," Benjamin said in a calming voice, ripping her from her thoughts, "I know that we may encounter a fellow that we both know you don't exactly like once we reach Masyaf. But I want you to be on your best behavior. That means," he added in when he felt her roll her eyes, "there will be no foul language, no attitude problems, no menstruation attitude problems, no defending-your-pride attitude problems, no stubborn-ewe attitude problems—"
"I understand, Benny, I— did you just call me a female goat?" she demanded as her mouth flew open.
"Actually, I called you a female sheep. There is a difference between the two animals, Maria—"
"I know there's a difference!" she spat as she focused her laser-eyes on his back. "And I don't even have an attitude problem," she hissed sourly.
He snorted and rolled his shoulders. "I'm sure you don't, Maria dear. I'm sure you don't."
Maria lightly tapped the reins against Shihad's neck, and the horse galloped over to the cliffside to ride parallel to Benjamin. "I don't."
"Oh, I believe you— Sarah, watch out!"
"He looks a bit tense, no?"
"I'd wager a little more than that."
"You're both wrong, he obviously ate something that didn't agree with him."
The three novices scratched their chins in wonder as they stared at their Master who was perched on top of the ramparts.
"I wonder if we never should have let that woman go beyond our territory," one of them chuckled nervously. "I can't help but to think that this is all our fault."
The other scowled and shook his head at his Brother. "No, Mustafa, you always look into these things too much. We were simply being polite was all."
"Yes, Nabil is right, Mustafa. A little stroll in the night never did anyone harm," the third one agreed. The boys both sighed, wondering if what they said was even true.
Mustafa cleared his throat. "Well, what should we do? I saw Hildegard just an hour ago, meaning that Hildegard never left, but instead, his woman left."
Nabil frowned and stared deeply in thought at his boots. "We did nothing wrong, though—"
"Perhaps we should tell the Master? What if she went to Damascus? We were fools by telling her the danger there! What if she gets herself hurt or captured?"
"Rakin has a very good point," Mustafa sighed. "Maybe we should just tell Master Altair what we did. I'm sure he'll understand, even if he'll be angry with us."
Nabil grunted and shook his head yet again. "No, what you mean is that the Master will likely tear our throats out! His woman, Mustafa! The love of his life—"
"Out there, somewhere, starving half to death," Rakin sobbed. "She could be a slave now for all we know! Trafficking has increased so much over the year!"
"Oh, will you quit your bellyaching? The Master will hear us if you keep it up!" Nabil clicked his tongue and raised his hand in the air.
"Speaking of the Master, where did he go?" Mustafa squinted beneath his hood and stood on his toes. "He isn't on the ramparts anymore."
"That's because he's coming right toward us!" Rakin squeaked in sheer terror. Sure enough, when the two other boys turned their heads where Rakin was looking, a figure garbed in black robes was gaining in on them.
Maria leapt out of her saddle and rolled on the ground just as men assaulted from above on the cliffside.
"There are more of them in the bushes!" Benjamin yelled as he pulled his broadsword from its sheath. Tightening his legs around his mount, he charged at their pursuers and made a clean swipe at one of the bandits.
Maria struggled to her feet, but then flung herself at the ground once more, barely avoiding a blade to her chest. The throwing knife hit the cliffside with a chink! as it was snapped in two. Pulling out her own sword, she scrambled backward as another bandit catapulted himself in front of her. The man, with stringy dark hair nearly covering his entire face, bared his rotten and brown teeth at her.
Maria returned the gesture before pulling herself back onto her feet. She lunged at him with her sword, and he blocked it with his dagger. With his free hand, he pulled yet another knife from his boot and flung it at her. She gritted her teeth as the knife grazed her arm. Applying more pressure to her blade, she took a step closer to the man and brought her foot to his shin. With his balance wavering, he tripped backward, giving her enough time to bring her sword down upon his skull.
She yelped when she felt something dig into her leg. Without sparing a glance at her injury, she dropped to the ground and pulled the blade out of her flesh. She saw the brigand draw his sword to charge her through like a kebab. She waited until his sword was a hair's width from her before twisting her body and digging his own throwing knife into his neck. He fell to the ground in a gurgle of his own blood.
Limping, she tried her best to regroup with Benjamin. He was handling three of the villains at once, and was doing a fine job of it. It was her own well-being that she feared for. When she heard footsteps scampering closer to her in the dirt, she turned around just in time to see her attacker leap at her, dagger high in the air. She readied her own blade, but to her benefit, Shihad chose that moment to take action. She could hear his hooves pound the earth as he rammed into the bandit, knocking the man and his weapon to the ground.
The horse reared up, and brought his forelegs down onto the man several times before he was satisfied he'd killed him. If she wasn't in pain, she might have thought it to be full of humor and wit. However, she hobbled on one leg over to where Benjamin was standing with over three dead bodies surrounding him.
"Is that all of them?" she hoarsely asked, stopping to clutch her calf.
He kept his eyes on the cliff, waiting for any movement. Convinced that the robbers had been dispatched of, he quickly jogged over to Maria and wrapped an arm around her waist. He laid her down on the soil, removing her boot to assess her injury.
"You're lucky you were wearing a boot, young lady," he sighed before tearing a piece of cloth from his own tunic to use as a makeshift bandage, "otherwise this would have been much more severe."
"Will I live?" she brusquely asked. He stole a glance at her eyes, then nodded his head. "Good."
He helped her back up, her arm slung around his shoulder as he whistled lowly for their horses. Both animals came trotting up to them, Shihad more than curious as to why she was wounded. He blew gently at Maria, and she lightly pet his muzzle.
"Up you go," Benjamin grunted as he lifted her into the saddle. "God, you are too light for a woman your age."
"I'll add that to my list of flaws. Anything else, Benjamin?" she grounded out. He innocently raised his hands in the air and swung his legs onto his own saddle before leading them again.
Frowning, he stared up at the cliff, not pleased with how quiet it was. "We need to move faster. Maria, are you in a decent enough shape?"
"I'm fine!" she snapped at him. "God Almighty, you think I can't handle riding a horse?" She didn't give him time to continue, for she whipped the reins against Shihad. More than willingly, he bolted and burst into a blur of motion. Benjamin was close behind them.
"How is it you know the way?" he called to her.
She leaned forward in the saddle and shouted over her shoulder, "Women's intuition!"
Hildegard sighed and scratched Bayo behind the ear. The dog thumped his leg and looked up appreciatively at the woman sitting at the dining table. Smiling to herself, Hildegard shrugged her shoulders.
"I suppose that man was right after all, Bayo," she mused aloud. "Maria seems to be missing in action. More importantly," she huffed, "she left me here!"
Bayo stood and shook his fur. He whimpered and rested his head on Hildegard's lap. "No, don't give me that look, boy. Why am I even speaking to you? You'd defend Maria no matter what."
He mustered up his cutest, most innocent look possible. Hildegard narrowed her eyes. "Don't even try it, dog."
He whined sadly.
Sputtering, she pushed the chair back and rose. "Look at this! Here I am, not doing anything when my best friend is out there somewhere! No, wait, I am doing something! I'm talking to an animal! An animal that cannot even comprehend what I'm saying!"
Bayo growled at this and stamped his paw. Hildegard sighed and knelt down to his level, cupping his chin in her hand. "No offense of course, boy. And no, I don't blame you for her missing. I'm sure you would have helped us sniff her out if you were feeling up to it." She smiled softly and stood up from the floor. "Speaking of finding her, where did that irritable man go anyway?"
Bayo blinked, then sulked off, obviously not interested in her babbles. Hildegard sighed and plopped her bottom back into her chair, her elbows on the table and head in her hands. "Oh, what am I going to do?" she groaned out. "I'm stuck here now, not a chance in the whole world to see my friends again. I'm... I'm a prisoner, for God's sake! Captured against my will unknowingly!"
She slowly slid her head to the table and knotted her fingers in her hair. "What did I do to deserve this? This is punishment for Clarence's idiocy, isn't it?"
She sat at the table groaning to herself for quite some time, eventually falling into a light snooze. However, a commotion in the fortress' foyer had her bounce out of her chair and hit the floor on her side. Peeking her head up, she looked back and forth.
"I wonder what this is all about?" Huffing, she grabbed hold of the table's edge and heaved herself up. "This'd better be good."
"Maria, you need to slow down!" Benjamin hoped to God and Heaven that she heard him. "Maria, if they see you charging at their fortress, they'll kill you!"
Snorting, Maria pulled on the reins, her voice low and calming in Shihad's ear. "Easy, whoa, boy, whoa." Shihad slowed to a gentle trot, and Maria pat his slick neck a few times in praise. He whinnied, and soon Benjamin and his own horse were trotting alongside them.
"Their outpost is just up ahead, through the pass there." He pointed ahead of them, and she nodded in dread confirmation.
"And how exactly do you know all of this, Benny?" She bit the inside of her lip and anxiously stared in front of them at the top of the two cliffs where they almost joined as one.
"I'm more accustomed to Assassin's than you think I am," he coolly replied. "Sarah, don't keep your head down," he chided once they were underneath the pass, "they may assume the worst from you."
Maria made a sound from the back of her throat and did her best to not slouch in her saddle. 'Oh, no, no no no no no no...'
Her eyes wandered over to the viewpoint beside her. She could see Assassin's climbing higher like possessed animals to gain better ground and to have a more precise vigil. She gulped and tugged on her hood. She didn't like all these eyes on her.
And she especially didn't like that one novice gawking at her. She furrowed her brow at him beneath her hood. He hopped onto his own horse, and sped quickly away to the city.
"Benny, I think... we should turn back now," she whispered when men began to approach them. Benjamin shook his head and swung himself off his horse.
He gave a small bow of his head in greeting, as did the other Assassin's. They kept their hands near their swords and other weapons.
"We've come to gain an audience with your master," Benjamin said smoothly with a kind smile. "Please, grant us this one wish, and we promise to not pester you and your people with our presence."
They slowly nodded, easily recognizing the woman behind the man. "You've returned," one of the Assassin's said. Benjamin immediately whipped his head around to stare at Maria. He slowly frowned, then sighed.
She felt positively humiliated. She knew that her face was red with shame, and if it wasn't for her hood, she would have looked like the inside of a pomegranate. She tucked her chin to her collarbone and slid in her saddle. The accusing and heartbroken look Benjamin was giving her burned her insides with guilt.
She wanted to apologize, but the words would not come out. Instead, she closed her eyes and allowed to be led back into the city.
And what a welcome she got.
There were sighs from all of the Assassin's she past, most likely from relief. The Master's woman was back, they would not be buzzing around with anticipation and energy, and could return to their training. Perfect.
Perfect for all but one person.
Maria stared at the fortress looming high in the distance. Could he see her from here? She wanted the earth to swallow her whole, or miraculously float away from it all. Oh, God, she couldn't do this. She just ran away, and now to return with a hurt leg, a broken pride, a disappointed father, and with her stolen equipment? She felt as if Embarrassment was just waiting to pounce on her again.
She had long since dismounted Shihad, and he was now at the stables again. She bit her bottom lip as her feet stepped in Benjamin's tracks. He was lugging his saddlebag over his shoulder, and to her, it looked as if whatever it was holding was about to burst the bag. Normally, she'd be curious, but now she was little more than humiliated and defeated.
Benjamin's back was as straight as a board, obviously very aware of her untruthful confessions. He occasionally threw her concerned and upset glances over his shoulder.
"I expect a full explanation in the future, Maria."
She flailed her lip from hearing his tone so menacing and betrayed. She didn't want to be considered a traitor, especially by Benjamin. She didn't really lie, she only told a half-truth. There was a difference, wasn't there?
Their escorts didn't stop at the courtyard's gate. They brought them straight through the courtyard and into the fortress' foyer. Too many eyes were boring into Maria's back, and she didn't even have to look to know that the Assassin's were shaking their heads at her. To them, she was a woman: a piece of property. And by running away, she stole property from her man.
She hung back outside of the foyer as Benjamin stepped in. Her escorts gave her puzzled looks, but didn't question her action. She braced herself with a gulp of air and kept her gaze to the dusty floor. The Assassin's filed in front of her, behind Benjamin, and also took places beside her, probably to make sure she wouldn't bolt like a frightened horse.
Altair raised his hand to silence the sobbing Mashhur, the boy's speech incomprehensible due to his wheezing and panting. Honestly, can a little run up to the fortress really steal someone's breath?
"They're... man and woman, Master... yours... in the city..."
Altair frowned, then shot a glance at the three novices standing off to the side in his study. Rakin's face was red and swelled, as if he was holding back tears. Nabil looked stubborn to admit that he was guilty of letting Maria out of the city, while Mustafa was shooting a sideways glare at his friend for being so adamant. They'd just survived—barely—the Master berating them for their error. He had reduced the boys to little piles of hummus.
The Master turned his gaze away from the boys once he heard multiple people enter the foyer. With Mashhur's report confirmed, he stood from his desk and descended the stairwells, not saying a word to the boys.
And also not seeing Mashhur's infuriated face for being discarded so quickly in conversation. His look was not ignored by Mustafa, however, who narrowed his eyes at him. Mashhur was a sneaky one—no, he was slippery. The novice's gut told him that he was not to be trusted.
Altair stepped down into the foyer, his face mostly covered by his hood. The man before him, with dirty and slightly soiled blonde hair, inclined his head out of respect. Altair did not respond to his gesture, only kept his posture still and tall. Usually intimidation worked best with unwelcome visitors, but the Englishman proved not to be unnerved in the least bit. If anything, he seemed to approve of his stance. This had the Assassin frown beneath his hood. Who was this man to judge his actions?
"Grandmaster of the Hashashin," the stranger's accent clearly told all he was of European origins, "please accept my most humble apology for intruding in such a manner." He bowed from the waist up, causing one of Altair's eyebrows to quirk. "Normally, I'd have sent a letter or a courier to inform you of my visit. But circumstances are far from normal."
"And how, I demand, are they not mundane?"
The soldier seemed to hesitate from looking behind him at the woman obscured from Altair's view. "I was hoping that you'd be able to tell me that, seeing as how those I trust deem me unworthy of the truth."
The Assassin smirked at this, taking some pride in that he was to be considered superior by this man. 'Good. If he knows what's best for him, he'd do well to stay his assertions.'
"I care little for what woes have plagued you. Speak of why your presence is in my city, good man, else I will be sure to remove it."
The veteran nodded his head. "I seek an alliance, Master Assassin, between your brotherhood and mi—"
"What's all this?"
Both men turned their heads toward the woman trotting down the staircase. She gave fleeting looks to all the Assassin's at presence, then froze in her tracks once she caught sight of the man in the midst of all of them. Her mouth flew open, as did his when recognition was shared between them.
"B-Benjamin?" She ran past Altair, nearly knocking the man out of her way as she charged at her friend. The Assassin's seemed flustered by her outrageous performance, including Altair himself.
"Hildegard?" he chuckled nervously as he returned the embrace. He didn't know whose hugs were worse: Maria's or Hildegard's.
"Oh, thank God and all the angels!" she cried as she held him tighter. "You've come to get me out of this place! Oh, Jesus must love me today!" She pulled away from him when he gave an embarrassed cough. "I've so much to tell you, so many, many things! You've no idea how long I've been imprisoned in this jail of a fortress! My trip here, the people I've met, Maria—and oh, definitely Maria!"
Benjamin smiled, but it was far from friendly. It was a forced and shadowed smile. "Yes, you do have a lot to tell me, now, hmm? Perhaps you can start with why you left England without telling anyone. Or, maybe you can tell me what she," he gave a dangerous and heart-stopping glare over his shoulder, "failed to tell me before setting foot in here. Maybe save me some more humiliation in front of an entire fortress!" he barked.
Hildegard shrunk away from him, not used to his voice raising in such a way. Well, he usually yelled at Aden or Damiel, but never to her or—
"Maria?" She looked past Benjamin, and sure enough, there was the woman, cowering behind a group of Assassin's. Hildegard rolled her eyes. "So, she's been just as equally stubborn with you, Benny?"
He grunted. "Immensely so. To the point where I question where her loyalties lie."
Hildegard easily moved past the Assassin's, knowing most of them by name already. "When are you going to say it's enough, Maria?" she sighed as she stood in front of her. "How much longer are your games going to last?"
The other woman chose silence over words and let her looks do all the speaking for her. The blonde woman only snorted and shoved her shoulder. Maria took an involuntary step backward, steadying herself with her injured calf. She groaned and gnashed her teeth together. Hildegard stopped, stunned by her reaction, but was pushed backward as another person moved toward Maria.
"Are you hurt?"
Maria tried to stand on both feet without favoring her leg, but that only had her wince. "I'm fine," she lied through her teeth.
Altair, being unconvinced, paused. If he offered her an arm to support her, she'd probably snarl and lash out at him, either with words or by force. Then again, if he didn't help her, she'd be insulted. 'You once again prove to be impossible, Maria.'
He shrugged his arm toward her. He felt rigid and tense as he saw her eyes gleam furiously at him. He didn't see that Benjamin was staring thoughtfully at him, then looking at Hildegard for an answer. Hildegard only wagged her eyebrows up and down, then gave him a knowing smile. Benjamin mouthed an 'ahh, I see', then continued to evaluate the Rose's lover. He seemed to approve rather quickly.
Maria raged and screamed swears in her mind as she accepted the man's arm. It instantly wrapped around her waist, allowing her to lean her weight against him. The pressure on her calf decreased greatly, leaving only a nagging pain. It also allowed her to slouch a bit, her lower back's cramps subsiding somewhat. She felt her face redden with humiliation and anger, particularly when he held her tighter for a better grip.
Altair led her to the middle of the foyer, stopping only to give Hildegard and Benjamin suspicious looks. He could have sworn there was a silent conversation passing between them that involved him and Maria. He cleared his throat, then addressed the new man. "Forgive my earlier hostility. I was not aware of your involvement in their faction," he motioned to the woman in his arm and to Hildegard.
Benjamin nodded and shrugged in understanding. "I have no blame toward you. This is your territory, and I respect that." Altair tented his eyebrows in approval, knowing that he'd soon grow to trust this man.
"Mustafa, Rakin, Nabil!" On command, the three novices came slowly to attention, still distraught about their discipline. "See to it that our guest is provided for." The boys repressed a groan, their already paltry rank reduced even further. "That means a bath, food, and a proper bed," Altair smirked when he saw the annoyed look from Nabil. He didn't normally enjoy punishing his Brothers, but he was a man that enjoyed earning such amusing looks from people.
"Well, this is rather unexpected," Hildegard chuckled as the other Assassin's, besides the three novices, classified Benjamin as a friend and filed out to return to their previous tasks.
Benjamin shrugged again. "It could have resulted far worse than it did," he mused aloud.
"For who? You, or Maria?" Hildegard laughed when Benjamin struggled to keep a grin off his face. "You sly weasel! You're giving her a taste of her own antics, aren't you?"
"My dear, I do not enjoy appearing as a fool in front of others. I'm merely..." he paused, thinking of the proper term, "exposing her to what it means to be humble in another's presence, especially when that person is the law and order of the territory."
Hildegard sneered as they followed the novices to the bathhouse. "So, what do you think of him?"
"Hm?" The corners of Benjamin's mouth twitched as he feigned innocence. Hildegard struggled to not smack his arm. "Oh, you mean her... acquaintance? Well, he's a rather... suitable man, I suppose you could say. A bit quiet, a little too possessive, maybe, but maybe not. He's... tall and obviously knows how to show it, too."
The novices curled their lips into their mouths as they tried not to chuckle at his words. It felt good to hear such talk of the Master when they had just been scolded.
"It'd be nice if I saw his face, though," Benjamin said gruffly. "Did she fall for him while wearing the hood, or did she actually see his head before Acre?"
Hildegard snorted and stopped once they reached the bathhouse. "I think you've demoralized her enough, don't you think?"
Benjamin, who most likely could win an award for having the most mysterious and devious smirk, casually commented, "Oh, don't worry, Hildegard. You'll have your share sooner or later."
It was quiet as he gently guided her to the infirmary. He didn't know what to say to her, or if he should even speak to begin with. He frequently stole glimpses at her. She was tired and there were streaks of dirt on her face and clothes. Her hair was coming out of her bun and braid, which he half hoped would. It was so pretty down...
He had his expression covered by his hood, not that he'd actually have a notable face on. He was expressionless as they walked, the only thing giving away his discomfort was how hard his jaw was. Hildegard was right. How long were her games going to last? He'd have to keep an eye on her to make sure another crazy idea didn't go through her head. She'd be quick to notice his lookout on her, though, and probably confront him about it. But even if she didn't, he had other responsibilities to tend to. It couldn't always be Maria that he'd be watching over.
No, he wouldn't keep an eye on her directly. He'd put a stop to these games once and for all.
At last reaching the infirmary, he contemplated whether or not to ask for Asiya's help. His decision was quickly made when he remembered how she had handled Maria previously. He'd think of something to tell the healer if she noticed someone else had patched up a wounded patient. He had a different job for Asiya...
There was a small pause in their progress as he pushed open a door and ushered Maria inside. Her eyes were closed and she was leaning heavily on him.
Thump-thump, thump-thump...
He had such a nice heartbeat...
Thump-thump, thump-thump, thump-thump...
Altair, thinking that she was slowly losing the energy to stay awake, quickened his stride to one of the beds.
Thump-thump...
It was like a lullaby...
He helped her lie down on the small bed, noticing that her face twisted in a scowl as he did so.
No more lullaby?
He gathered a bowl of clean water with a towel soaking in it, as well as salve and bandages. She stared him down with icy grey as he sat on the bedside. He ran his hands up her leg to the hole in her boot where the bandit's knife had punctured. He bent her leg so his job would be easier for the both of them. Peeving the fire-breathing dragon, as Malik had put it, would not be wise.
Maria, obviously not in the mood for the man's presence due to his disposition and also for the fact that this time of month was not enjoyable, reached over and tugged his hood back, grabbing him by the front of his robes and pulling him to her.
"I don't need you smirking and rolling your eyes from beneath that cloth," she growled at him. "I know it's a small wound, you needn't ridicule me because of it."
He blinked at her, his face calm as he gave a firm push to her shoulder. Her back hit the bed once more and he carefully slid her boot off. "I don't need you looming over me, Maria."
She scoffed and folded her arms over herself. "I could have dealt with it myself."
He bit the inside of his cheek and rolled her pants up to her knee and unwrapped the makeshift bandage around her calf. If she was going to be difficult, then so would he. A difficult Assassin, the Master of Assassin's, was not a person to be trifled with. "Oh? Is that so?"
"Yes, it's so! I don't need pampering or special treatment from anyone here..." She barked on and on, defending her pride as he examined the injury.
'How were you even able to walk, woman?' His brow furrowed as he assessed the wound. It wasn't fatal, but it most certainly looked painful. He took the cloth out of the basin and dabbed at the blood slowly oozing from the puncture. She was too busy snarling and writhing at him to notice the painful sting the cold water brought her.
"And to emphasize the point where you are a complete and total shit, may I say—no, why am I even asking for permission? I demand that you jump off the highest tower ever created into the concrete waiting below!"
He glanced at her as he rubbed the ointment onto the wound. He had almost forgotten how cranky and volatile she was when it was her time. Whenever she bled, she was prone to snap and chew a person's head off, usually at the closest person available, meaning him. How confused and frustrated he was on their voyages before he realized she meant no harm!
Her head was turned to the side, staring at the farthest wall as she none too pleasantly told him what he should do with himself. He was positively amused and thankful that she could not see his smirk or glittering hazel eyes.
He finished bandaging the wound and placed his chin atop her knee. She was too preoccupied with her colorful language to notice the soft and feathery kisses he placed on the flesh. He stopped his affectionate assault when one of his hands wanted to pull her pants' leg farther up. The corner of his mouth rose as he rolled the cloth higher.
Now, that was better. Even though there was a scar here and there, he couldn't help but to appreciate the view.
Would it be possible if he just tugged a little more out..? He prided himself in stealth, and it'd be a nice challenge...
There. He fiddled with the clip between his fingers, glaring at it. So this was the little culprit that always held her hair up. He pocketed it into one of his pouches, then looked her over.
How could a person be so beautiful when yelling?
He turned and walked out of the infirmary, convinced she hadn't even noticed, and completely satisfied with his work. Now, to find Asiya...
"And finally, I would like to say without your idiotic, bone-headed, sour, and horrendous remarks, thank you." She blinked when she didn't get a reply and sat up. The bowl of water, the bandages, and the herbal creams were nowhere to be seen. There wasn't even a trace that he was even in the room. She stared at the door as her fingers traced over her bandaged leg, then traveled up to her knee.
It was tingling, and she lightly felt the small wet trail on the skin. 'He didn't... did he? No, he couldn't have had... but he... he did...'
Her face blossomed into a scarlet so red she put strawberries to shame. She looked down at herself, noticing that her britches were pulled up to the middle of her thighs on both legs. Far too much skin was exposed for her liking. That, and both of her boots were gone, not even on the floor.
'Damn that man!' She ran a hand through her hair, finding it loose and not held up anymore. Her eyes blazed a wonderful grey-blue as she dug her nails into the bedsheet. 'Damn him to Hell's gates!'
Maria woke later in the afternoon, deciding that a nap would do her good. She stretched her limbs out, groaning in pleasure, and surveyed her surroundings. She was no longer in the infirmary, but back in her previous room that she'd occupied before she ran away. She stood from the bed, shrieking for two reasons. As the sheets fell from her body, she realized she was completely bare, except for the cloth covering her lower region. For once, she was glad that she was a woman and experienced monthly bleeding.
The other reason was that another person was in the room.
She whirled around, gathering the sheets in her hands to cover herself as she stared at the woman standing in the doorway, holding a dress. She was no one Maria had ever seen, which gave her all the more reason to glare at her. She was a stout and big woman, broad shouldered and taller than herself.
"Master want you wear dress." She forced the dress into Maria's arms, along with a belt. It was a beautiful piece of work, the metals imitating the colors of her eyes wonderfully.
Maria shook herself from her state of awe. She firmly swiveled her head back and forth. "I refuse to wear such a thing." She held the garment back out to her.
The bigger woman huffed and pushed it back to her. "What Master says is law. You obey Master, you wear dress."
"I'll wear my other clothes," Maria growled at her. "If you'd be so kind to give them to me—"
"Those clothes burned, no more than ash." Maria's mouth flew open from the news and she stared accusingly at the woman. "No more fuss, wear dress."
Maria wasn't given an opportunity to turn her to ash, as Asiya walked out of the room, slamming the door shut. The hinges practically broke from the impact. Maria screamed out of frustration and stared at the dress in her shaking hands.
"Bastard didn't even give me bindings..!" She frowned and rifled through the dress, finding a long strip of cloth. It was the same material her shirt was made out of—it was her shirt! "You son of a whore!" She tossed the gown on her bed and paced her room.
It was a dress. A dress. She hadn't worn a dress, besides the servant's wear she wore when she first awoke in Masyaf, in years! And now, she was being forced back into the confining stitches of one because of a man! THAT man!
She half-heartedly wrapped the bindings around her breasts, almost choking herself with how tight they were. She swore repeatedly under her breath, pulling the dark blue dress over herself and smoothing it down. It wasn't ugly, it was far from it, in fact. Dark or neutral colors suited her the best, and blue was one of her colors. "That cur..."
She fumbled with the belt, the metal discs clinking together as she tried to secure it around her waist. It was a little large on her and fell to the swell of her hips, but it was a nice touch. She took a look at herself in the mirror, not exactly repulsed by what she saw. The dress fit her nicely, and though she didn't look like a woman ready for battle, she didn't appear to be a helpless, fawning and meek housewife. That, and the sleeves were quarter-length. Though she wasn't picky with her dresses, she did appreciate sleeves in between long and short.
But on further observation, the neckline was... questionable. It didn't flaunt the curves beneath the material, but it certainly showed a bit of her shoulders and her collarbone. "On second thought, damn him to a Templar headquarters. Without weapons."
Mumbling incoherent phrases to herself, she opened her door to come face to face with Asiya once more. The burly woman threw a pair of slippers at her feet. "I suppose if I refuse to wear these, you'll argue."
Asiya grunted, her nearly black eyes hardening. "You wear them."
"Go company brothel girls, prick," Maria muttered as she stepped into the slippers. When Asiya remained standing in front of her, hands on her wide hips, Maria sighed exasperatingly. "What will you torment me with next?"
"Dinner with the Master."
"Excuse me?"
"You eat dinner with Master tonight."
Maria's laugh was accompanied by a dubious look. "You expect me to comply to such a request? I will not eat in the presence of your pitiful master. Now, be a good dog and go back to him to tell him that."
Asiya slowly shook her head. "You eat with him, or you eat nothing."
"I prefer nothin—"
"And you dance the way of our people, wearing nothing but shift, in front of Master. Privately."
Maria's face paled as Asiya continued. "And you offer him wine and food, but not from fork or hand. You place food on you and he eats, with blindfold on you."
Maria absorbed this threat, as it obviously was, and slowly swallowed. "You jest, correct?"
"No."
She slowly nodded, then whispered, "Take me to dinner, then." There was no way she was pleasuring that man. No, no, and no. Not in a thousand years, or thereafter. And she most certainly would not belly-dance in her undergarments, locked in a room with his eyes gazing on exposed flesh! She wouldn't display herself and feed the man with her body being the plate!
She'd have to endure dinner.
Mashhur groaned to himself as he rubbed his forehead. It was all going so well until she decided to come back to Masyaf. By God, why did the woman have to be so fickle? He'd have to write yet another letter to Clarence and annoy the man further. And Clarence's annoyance would probably reach Tagvoryan, and then Tagvoryan would never allow him to leave Syria. He'd be stationed in this outpost forever!
Not to mention, Benjamin was here as well. That wasn't good—it was far from good. He was a threat, and the Assassin's quickly accepted him. Weren't these people supposed to be suspicious of everything? Just because he was a part of Maria's faction, that gives him leave to waltz right in here? These Assassin's made no sense!
And then there were those three novice boys: Mustafa, Rakin, and Nabil. They weren't demoted, but they were temporarily suspended from their training, meaning they'd be around him more than necessary. He didn't need any more Assassin's poking their noses into his business. The men at the outpost already were suspicious of him. So what if he appeared to be a wet washcloth. It was all an act, couldn't they see that?
They probably did, but chose to ignore it and not admit that one of their Brothers was so weak.
Mashhur hastily wrote his letter. The others were dining. He could hear them laugh and yell with one another. They were all so closely knitted whenever he wasn't around. He knew that once he joined them, it'd grow silent and they'd content themselves with small talk.
'Their loss in the end,' he thought smugly. Soon Clarence would raid the place, as he already supplied the man with a map of the fortress inside and out, along with any hidden routes underground. Assassin's were clever with their architecture. There were three tunnels that ran beneath the water surrounding Masyaf that eventually led to the Bureaus in Jerusalem, Damascus, and Acre, but were only to be used during emergencies. Well, an emergency would happen soon, but the tunnels would be set ablaze. Such a pity.
He puckered his lips as he read his letter. All he had said was that Maria was in Masyaf again. Should he concern Clarence with Benjamin's presence? Would it please Clarence to know of this? He didn't want to risk upsetting him; he could be a dangerous man if irritated. After all, what could one person even do? Benjamin wouldn't even tip the scale, he had nothing to worry about.
He watched as the eagle flew in the sky, carrying his report. He'd have to lie low for a while until his comrades arrived. He could picture the army proudly marching in and bringing down Masyaf, the Templar banner waving gloriously in the sky, the screams from the Assassin's as they were mercilessly slaughtered. It'd be a victorious day for the Templar's, and a day Mashhur hoped would be within the next month, if not sooner.
To DimitrilovesRosalovesdimitri: Hmm, will Altair and Maria have a happy ending? Well, they'll certainly be happy, but will the ending of this be happy? It's... complicated. You'll see, sooner or later :)
To EmilieCW-DXfan0119: That means a lot to me for you to say that, it really does. I know that there are a handful of Altair/Maria fics on this site, some of them that I enjoy a lot. Thank you :)
To Panda: lol I know this may sound awful, but I enjoy leading my readers on and then CRUSHING THEM LIKE GRAPE! :D!
To Hyarou: I'll keep that in mind whenever I write from an animal's perspective, thanks for the heads-up!
To Bloutjie and Shinigamivc: Thank you both for staying with this story, and I hope you two didn't fall off of your seats while waiting for this chapter XD
To Arkbird7: I personally love to manipulate a story. I know it seems that they aren't going to end up together, but hey, it's Altair and Maria. Trust me, they be endin' up together in hot and steamy ways.