Maria exited the bedroom and went to look for Aisha. She was informed that Aisha was by the stream.
While walking outside, she saw the men practicing fight or exercising themselves and she met eyes with Altaïr, who smiled a little at her. Maria felt her face became reddish as she smiled back.
Then, she resumed walking to the stream, where she found Aisha washing some clothes.
"Hi…" She said.
Aisha looked at her.
"Hi…" the other woman said as she picked up another clothe. "Can you help me out, Maria?"
Maria nodded and knelt beside her.
"Thanks…"Aisha said.
"What I have to do?" Maria asked.
"Just do as I do…" Aisha said.
Maria did what she was told.
"What's bothering you?" Aisha asked after teaching her what to do.
"Well…" Maria started. "I don't know how to say…"
"What did Altaïr do this time?" Aisha asked.
"Nothing… just asked me to marry him…" Maria said.
Aisha looked at her, surprised.
"When?" Aisha asked after a while.
"This morning…" Maria said. "When we woke up…"
"Oh… and what did you say?" Aisha asked, curious now.
"Nothing… he just said to me to think about it…" Maria said.
They staid quiet for a moment.
"Are you going to accept it?" Aisha asked, returning her duty with the clothes.
"I want to, but…." Maria said.
"What?" Aisha asked.
"When I was in England I was so much of a good wife that my ex – husband annulled our marriage and give me back to my family…" Maria explained. "I don't know if I was born to be married…"
"Maria… you'll be an excellent wife…" Aisha said. "I'll teach you…"
Maria nodded.
"But I don't know if I can give him children…" Maria said, looking in front of her.
"Why?" Aisha asked. "Are you…?"
Maria looked at her.
"Barren? No…" Maria said. "But it's irregular and sometimes come, sometimes not…."
Aisha nodded.
"You can talk to him after…" the other woman said.
"But… he can have another wife, right?" Maria asked. "Our marriage is monogamous… and I don't think I can see him with other women…"
"I think he understand and respect it…." Aisha said. "His mother was a Christian also…"
"She was?" Maria asked. "What happened with her?"
"She died right after he was born…" Aisha said sadly.
Maria nodded.
"So, you think…" Maria tried to ask.
"No…." Aisha said. "He will be loyal…"
Maria nodded.
"Think about what I said before you make a decision…" Aisha said. "But if you accept it, you have to know what you are going to enter…"
Maria nodded and they finish their work quiet.
X ~ X ~ X
When Aisha and Maria got back, the men were finishing their exercise. Aisha said something in Maria's ear and then entered the house, leaving her outside…
Maria sighed and looked at them, mainly Altaïr, before entering the house also… she had many things to do before they started their journey back to Masyaf….
X ~ X ~ X
In the middle of afternoon, Altaïr decided it was time to go. Raouf and Aisha went in the cart, as the others Assassins got up in their horses.
Brian was trying not to fall from his horse as it was moving around. Maria was laughing because of it.
"Careful Brian…" She said.
Altaïr thanked Kahlil and the people of the village for their hospitality and walked over to Maria. Then looked at Brian, who was battling with his horse.
"it isn't the first time he mount, is it?" He asked Maria.
"No… we mounted a lot in England…" Maria said.
He look at Brian again.
"It doesn't look like…" He said. "You're squeezing the reins, Brian…"
Brian looked at Altaïr, then at the reins in his hands. He was indeed holding too tight them. He released it a little and the horse stopped.
"It worked…" Brian announced happy.
"Of course it worked…"Abbas said beside him, then grumbled something in Arab.
Altaïr, Maria and the others laughed at Brian's face.
A little boy approached Maria and touched her arm, calling her attention. She looked at him. He was holding the reins of the mare she was with a few days ago. He gave it to her.
Maria was grateful… she didn't want to accept, but one look at Altaïr and she knew it wouldn't be right to say no.
"Thank you…" She said, picking up the reins of Blossom.
"He's giving her to you because they're grateful…" Altaïr said. "And because they know you like her…"
Maria nodded.
"Well it's time to go…" Altaïr said, getting up his horse.
Maria did the same.
Altaïr thanked his friend again and they started the journey back to Masyaf…
X ~ X ~ X