The two of them passed the night galloping before dawn. Raouf saw that Maria was tired because of her ordeal, so he decided they should look for a place to rest.
He started looking and saw in the horizon some ruins…
"We'll stop there…" He said.
She nodded.
When they get there, he saw Maria with difficulty and went to help.
"Thank you…" She said. ""What are we going to do now?"
"I will build the camp then I'll send a note with the falcon?" Raouf said.
"Where do you think we are?" Maria asked.
"It appear to be Tadmor…" Raouf said. "It's Assyrian…"
Maria nodded and started to help Raouf build the camp, but soon she felt herself getting tired.
"Why don't you rest, Maria?" Raouf asked. "I'll finish it here…"
Maria nodded and went to lay down, while Raouf finished the camp.
X ~ X ~ X
Mosul:
Altaïr was in his tent, writing when Rashid entered. He was bringing a note.
"The falcon brought it…" Rashid said, giving the note.
Altaïr opened the note and began read it. Rashid saw his face change and him, getting up. Altaïr exited the tent quickly, leaving Rashid surprised and wondering what have happened.
Outside, Altaïr picked his horse.
"Hassam, I'm going to meet Maria and Raouf in Tadmor…" He said to Hassam. "You're I charge till I get Back…"
"Ok, master…" Hassam said. "Did something happened?"
Altaïr nodded and galloped away.
X~ X ~ X
Tadmor:
Maria woke up scared and crying out before she remembered where she was. She put a hand on her head.
"Are you ok?" Raouf asked from outside.
"Yeah…" Maria said, before remember what happened. "Raouf, is there a way for me to take a bath? I want to get that man's smell from me…"
"I will provide it…" He said. "There is some food for you here…"
"Thanks…" Maria said.
She waited a few moments and sighing resolve to exit her tent. She imagined that Raouf had already send a note to Altaïr and if she knew him, he would be already on his way to here.
"What am I going to say to him?" Maria said to herself as she picked some food.
While she ate, she didn't saw Raouf approached her.
"Here…" He said and she jumped. He raised his hands.
"You scared me…" She said.
"Sorry…" He said.
"It's ok… Maria said, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry…"
He nodded.
"You were out…"
"Yeah, just thinking what am I going to say to Altaïr…" Maria said.
"Did you figured it out?" He asked.
"No…" Maria said frankly. "He's coming here, isn't here?"
Raouf nodded.
"I figured that much…" Maria said.
"Well, I'll leave you alone…" He said.
"Thanks…" Maria said, looking at the water bucket and cloths.
X ~ X ~ X
Tadmor:
It was night when Altaïr arrived at the ruins of Tadmor at night. He saw Raouf and walked towards him.
"Raouf…" He said.
"Altaïr…" Raouf said, getting up. "I…"
Altaïr raised a hand.
"Where is Maria?" He asked.
"She's inside…" Raouf said.
Altaïr nodded and went to her tent…
Maria was laying on the mattress.
"Maria…" He called.
She sat when she heard his voice.
"Altaïr…" She said smiling and getting up.
He entered the tent and they hugged each other. He kissed her forehead, before looking at her.
"You're hurt…" He said, passing his hand over her lip.
"Yeah, they hit me a little, but I survived…" She said. "Raouf prevented any more damage…"
He nodded.
"I'm like you for a while…" she said, mentioning his scar.
"Yeah…" He said. "Well, Raouf said all of them are dead?"
Maria nodded.
"He killed the most of them and I killed Sir Thomas when he was with me…" She said.
"Oh, yeah?" Altaïr asked.
"Like a true Assassin…" She said.
"I'm proud…" He said.
"There's more…" Maria said. "Raouf?"
Raouf appeared on the entrance.
"Where are the plans?" She asked.
"I'll go get it…" Raouf said.
Maria turned to Altaïr.
"Before I left Kahlil's house, he told that the Templars had plans to build a weapon they could use against you…" Maria explained. "We discovered them…"
Altaïr raised an eyebrow.
"Why didn't he tell me?" He asked.
"The Templars threatened them…" She said. "They didn't know what to do…"
Altaïr nodded as they exited the tent.
Raouf came back with the plans and gave then to Altaïr. He opened them near the fire and they saw some sketches.
"What do you think they are?" Raouf asked.
"It's a type of catapult…" Maria said. "In England they used it a lot…"
"They can use anything against us…" Altaïr said, closing the plans. "Well done, Maria…"
He kissed her and she smiled.
"Come on, the sooner we finish them, the sooner we can go home…"
Maria nodded, trying to hide her feelings, because she knew what would happen when they got there…
X ~ X ~ X
Tadmor: It is an Assyrian city, in the surrounds of Mosul (well, shor of... at least I think it's close when I saw on the map... ;) )