AHHH! Just got off of being grounded! And that's the first time in like…years. First time ever maybe… I can't remember… Oh well, gonna have to work fast because I have two chapters to type in four hours and authors out there know that it takes time to create a quality chapter, so speedy fingers away!

Chapter 20: Link

I sat on the grass and casually pulled my hood further down my face. These women had no boundaries.

Aneesa was still latched on to my neck but had placed herself in my lap, putting her…ample bosom quite close to my face. I could literally feel my face turning a deeper red. Three other women were draped over me as well: one was leaning her front against my back with her arms wrapped around my shoulders, another was using my thigh as a pillow, and another had her back pressed to my front as he sat in my lap with Aneesa. Mortifying.

My embarrassment was not helped at all by the knowing smirk on Altair's face. He had women using him as a cushion like me, but he seemed much more at ease, which made sense since he was a man. He even held one woman's hips as she balanced on his thigh. My anger flared as I glared at my friend under my hood. Altair was enjoying this too much.

"So, tell us how your mission went," Ablaa said as she sat next to me. Her, Saabira, and Lateefa were the only ones who weren't laying on either Altair or myself and for that I was grateful.

Saabira looked up from her flower weaving and smiled serenely, "Yes. Please entertain us with stories. We love them."

Altair and I shared a look as the other women agreed and bugged us to tell them a story. We had another silent conversation before Altair sighed and lolled his head to rest on a woman's shoulder. "But it was so boring," he bemoaned a little dramatically. The woman giggled and held his head closer, resting it above her chest.

I pushed down a flare of jealousy as I picked up where my partner left off. "And I'm sure you delicate women don't want to hear about all the blood and fighting," I softly spoke, carefully resting my hands to my sides. It would be very strange if I held on to one of the woman's hips like Altair.

"But we're bored!" Aneesa complained as she clutched my neck closer to her. I glared daggers at Altair as he lightly coughed, covering up a chuckle.

"Please tell us," Lateefa begged from where she was laying on her front next to Altair. She stopped plucking grass long enough to give us big shiny eyes. "What can a little battle do to us?"

"A lot," I muttered quietly as Altair shook his head slightly. I sighed in defeat and pulled lightly at Aneesa's almost death grip. "I suppose we can tell you a bit, but it is a tad bit boring. Nothing of interest happened." The women eagerly settled down and looked at us with expectant eyes. My eyes met Altair's and I could tell he was as amused by this as I was.

We told the harem women about our trip, leaving out quite a bit, such as Altair snapping at me, Altair's ability showing for the first time, our wings, my gender, and the bandits. The rest of the story we just skimmed over or created events out of thin air to entertain the women. My friend and I would take turns trading off. It was kind of eerie because Altair would be in the middle of a sentence and he would stop and I would pick up where he left of and continue without a single pause as if Altair had neverstopped talking. We didn't even have to look at each other to signal the other to take over, we just did. Peculiar, but right. No one remarked on it so it went almost unnoticed because Altairand I didn't really realize we were doing it.

When we were done I glanced up at the sky and saw that the sun was beginning to set. "Looks like we have to go, Altair," I stated and he glanced up as well before nodding in agreement. The women made sounds of disappointment, but got off of us nonetheless. It was as I was standing up that a possible reason the women had sat all over us came to mind. It was their way of ensuring we didn't leave without them letting us. I smiled at that thought as the women hugged the both of us goodbye and made us promise to come back tomorrow. I was able to restrain a wince when Aneesa hugged my cut arm too hard before we made our escape.

Neither of us spoke a word as we made our way to the dining hall, but I absolutely knew what was going through my friends head.

"Not a word," I hissed to him. He snickered as he turned to look at me. His snicker turned into a snort of laughter when I turned to glare at him and he saw how red my face was.

"You have to admit that it is a bit funny," he needled quietly and I trilled at him, falling back to bird sounds since they got my irritation across much better than words. Altair chitteredin bird laughter and I pushed him lightly as we walked into thedining hall. We picked up our food and went to my table, ignoring the looks everyone was throwing at us. I so badly wanted to smack Altair upside the head, but I didn't dare with everyone looking and the Grand Master watching us with his one sharp eye across the large room.

The sight of the old man brought up a thought to me and I turned to my partner as I peeled my orange. "How do you feel about the Grand Master?"

Altair was silent for a moment before saying, "I feel nothing."

"Liar," I murmured.

He glanced up at me as he stabbed a piece of fish with a knife. I patiently waited for him to answer, for I could almost see him thinking. It was only a little while later when I had eaten my orange and apple and was starting on my fish that he answered. "I don't know what to feel."

"How do you mean?" I asked. I knew that anyone who was watching the two of us that they wouldn't be quite certain if we were talking or not. I wondered briefly what people thought when they saw such a thin and bony Master Assassin like me next to a big, muscular Master Assassin like Altair before he replied.

"I am angry that he is punishing me like this, humiliating me in front of all the Brotherhood and making me do the degrading work of a Novice. I am confused about why Al Mualim is punishing me. He practically raised me as his son, so I don't understand why he would so harsh because I thought that he…" Altair shook his head slightly before continuing. "And then I am… grateful, you could say."

Grateful? I thought in surprise. Why would Altair be grateful for this punishment? "Why?" I questioned, very confused, but he remained silent. I bumped my shoulder to his after a moment as I finished my food. Most of the dining hall was empty now. "You can tell me anything you want to, Altair. I'm good at keeping secrets," I joked lightly before standing up. I knew he wasn't going to tell me anything now, but I would bug him later when we were on the road again.

"I'm going to bed," he announced gruffly as we left the dining hall.

I watched silently as my friend turned and walked—no, stalked—down the hall without another word. Whatever he had been about to say in the dining hall was obviously bothering him. May be I shouldn't have asked, I thought faintly. "Good night, Altair," I called quietly before he disappeared from sight. I stood there, staring at the place where Altair had been, my mind blank. I don't know how long I stood there before I began walking to my room as well.

I locked my door and lit my candle before pulling my robes off and stripping down to my chest bandages and pants. As I unbraided my hair and kneaded it to try and relieve some stress I rethought my goal to ask Altair while on the road. It was as I was lying down in my nest that I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't ask. Altair would tell me on his own time and not a second sooner.

"I missed my nest," I whispered as I stretched across my pillows, blankets, and trinkets. I touched my necklace and thought back to the deceptively comfortable looking pillows in the Damascus Bureau. They weren't comfortable in the least, but they were better than sleeping on cold, unforgiving stone.

I closed my eyes and waited for sleep to claim me. All I could here was the sound of my breathing and the slight wind outside. Time passed and I was just beginning to drift off when there was a knock on my door. I jumped so badly and scooped up a knife holding it in a defensive position before setting it down and calling out, "Who is it?" as I quickly got dressed.

"It's me," Altair's quiet voice came through my door and I paused, wondering why this man would be coming to my room in the middle of the night. My cheeks warmed at the thoughts that came to mind before I pushed them aside and unlatched my lock and opening my door to the waiting form of Altair. The torch light behind Altair made him seem much more imposing and large with his arms crossed and his face hidden in shadows. "Come on," he gruffly ordered as he grabbed my wrist and tugged me out of my room. I barely had time enough to lock my door behind me before I was yanked away.

"What is it?" I asked, a bit worried. "What's wrong, Altair?" I didn't get an answer and I scowled a little before tugging my hand slightly, telling him I wished to be let go. I wasn't. I huffed indignantly before forcefully pulling my arm away and growling, "Do not think you can pull me around, Altair," I hissed.

"Let's go," he repeated as he turned and began to lead me. I bristled at the command and lack of apology as I followed silently.

We exited through the gardens, which were empty at this time of night with no guards, and Altair walked to the very back of the garden where it overlooked the wide, lazily flowing river below. I blushed and realized what Altair wanted to do as he looked around once and took off his robes and tunics. I sighed as I took off my cape and folded it into one of my many pouches. I struggled not to let my eyes stray to the broad, muscled expanse of Altair's chest, but failed slightly as I watched him out of the corner of my eye. The mere sight sent my heart beating faster and my body heating up. Altair stretched the skin on his back and I watched with awe as his skin spilt in two slits and the top of his wings slid out.

I did the same, but never took my eyes from where his wings slowly raised themselves up and over Altair's head so that ever feather could emerge. When he was done he looked at me and I could almost see his eyes glow with fervor, with the need to fly. I smiled in understanding before turning and stepping up on to the stone rail and throwing myself off the cliff. I enjoyed the rush of air for a moment before I fanned out my wings and pulled out of my fall just over the water. I laughed with excitement as my hood fell back and my hair pulled itself out of my robes. I reached down and skimmed my fingers over the water's surface and felt a gust of wind come over me as Altair joined me.

I turned and saw him watching me, his lips curling up slightly in a smile, and I grinned as he tilted up suddenly and began a straight up ascension. Following, I flew only with a few feet between us and we fell into a spirally flight, spinning around each other, not looking at each other, only focused on how high we could fly. My breath began to fog after a minute, but I wasn't cold as all the movement of flying was keeping my body war. It was another minute before I realized I was breathing harder and faster and still not getting enough air. I would've frowned if I wasn't fighting for each breath, but still we kept flying. A few seconds later my head began to hurt and I had to blink away black spots. I glanced at Altair, taking my eyes off the moon and stars, to see him glancing at me with worry too. Apparently he had to fight to keep flying too.

But I wanted to push myself. "Just a little further!" I shouted as we passed through a cloud, making my headache flare in pain and my head spin. Altair looked like he wanted to protest, but nodded anyway. I shivered as the cold quickly got to me and it was as my vision was half black that Altair reached out and grabbed my shoulder. We both stopped flapping and we were suspended in the air for a moment. We looked in awe across the air and saw something incredibly strange.

We were both so high up that we could see the landscape for miles on end instead of being flat and going on forever, it seemed to…curve. Gravity finally caught up with us and we began to fall. I turned to face the ground and saw that it was incredibly far away. I could barely make out the castle and village: they were just a dark grey speck in a land of black. Even with my eagle eyes I could barely see them. I tucked my wings against my back and watched as Altair slowly flipped and tumbled through the air. He seemed to be so relaxed and at ease as he twisted this way and that with his eyes closed. Altair almost seemed… at peace as we plummeted towards the ground and certain death if we did nothing to stop our fall.

It was an amazingly long time before I thought that we should start flying again with my head ache fading into nothingness and opened my wings, brushing Altair's limp body with a feather to bring him out of his deep thoughts. He jolted and I laughed as he violently opened his wings, having to dodge said wings, and I knew that he had caught the air hard by his wince. I chuckled and leveled out before doing barrel rolls and loops, entertaining myself.

We flew in silence for a good length of time, hundreds of feet above anyone, before I felt that familiar swelling in my chest. I couldn't have stopped the notes from coming from my throat if I tried. It was just notes that seemed to rip themselves from my chest, both painful and relieving at the same time. It was a few seconds before I was startled by a deeper male voice joining my own. I looked over my shoulder, keeping my singing going, and saw Altair looking at me sheepishly. I grinned, knowing that he couldn't help but join in the singing. And he had such a beautiful voice, deep and resonating, almost ringing in one's very bones.

My notes morphed into words and Altair paused as he listened to my lyrics, trying to determine if he knew the song I was singing.

When cold winds are calling,
And the sky is clear and bright,
Misty mountains sing and beckon,
Lead me out into the light.

I smiled as a look of recognition crossed Altair's face and he opened his mouth, joining me in song. My heart nearly exploded at the pleasing sound of both our voices together and I sang louder, rolling through aerial maneuvers almost unconsciously in my joy.

I will ride, I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky,
I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky.

Where dark woods hide secrets,
And mountains are fierce and bold,
Deep waters hold reflections,
Of times lost long ago.

I absolutely loved how Altair switched on and off in these lines. I would sing about the dark woods, he the mountains, I the reflections, and he of time.

I will hear their every story,
Take hold of my own dream,
Be as strong as the seas are stormy,
And proud as an eagle's scream.

We continued switching, Altair starting this time with the 'story' line, until I sang out "As proud as an eagle's scream" where Altair let out a perfect imitation of an eagle's scream and we began to sing together again, grinning at each other as we flew closer, almost without thinking.

I will ride, I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky,
I will fly,
Chase the wind and touch the sky.

And touch the sky.

Chase the wind, chase the wind.

Touch the sky.

I laughed, nearly incoherent with joy. I'd finally found someone to fly with me! No more lonely flights and longing for someone to join me in the vast skies. I wasn't alone! I felt something in me thrum in resonance and power, but I ignored it in my joy, putting it down as my heart beating hard. I dimly felt that resonance reaching for something as it felt its presence nearby, so close, and was just about to link with it, when something struck it.

And struck it hard.

My grin and happiness melted at the agony that came from my chest. My mind froze at the agony and I wasn't able to think of anything but that agony. It was as if…someone had cut something open in my chest with a dull knife. Something was hurt and bleeding out. I faintly heard Altair crying out "Shahin!"as the feeling of air rushing past me barely registered. A part of me realized I was falling, but I couldn't care less: I just wanted the pain to stop, and even as I curled up and pressed a hand to my chest it wouldn't. It went on. And on. And on.

My unseeing eyes were wide with shock, spilling tears of pain and saw the ground swiftly rushing up to greet me. My deaf ears picked up the fearful shout of my name, but I just wanted it to stop.

Stop.

Stop it.

Stop!

STOP!

—Al Mualim's POV—

The Grand Master looked out of the window in his room blankly. For once, he wasn't worried. Altair would do his job and eliminate all the threats to his plan with the help of Shahin, and soon he would be the ruler of the Holy Lands.

The aged man wondered if putting those two together was the right thing. The report the Damascus Bureau leader had sent to him was troubling to say the least. He didn't realize how close Shahin was to his prodigy if he was able to 'tease and scold'Altair as the Bureau leader had put it.

Al Mualim didn't like that. He didn't like the thought that someone had influence over his prodigy, his weapon and his creation. And Altair was his creation: the young man wouldn't be the legendary Assassin he was today if it wasn't for the Grand Master's training and manipulation. He was Altair's Master and Creator. And he didn't like the fact that the quiet Master Assassin had more of an influence on his creation then he realized. If they two got much closer than he would have to take measures to make sure Shahin didn't become more important in Altair's eyes than himself. He couldn't allow that to happen. He had such plans for his creation. So many wonderful and glorious plans that would bring peace.

He turned from the window and the flying birds he had been watching when he saw a flash of gold out of the corner of his eye. Resting alone in the center of his luxurious bed was the Apple and it began to pulsate bright gold slowly. Curious to see if the Apple wanted to impart more information to him, Al Mualim walked over and picked up the heavy metal sphere. The instant he touched it the whispers filled his head as they always did, but he ignored the whispers and searched for the source to the new behavior.

He found it after a moment and frowned in confusion. It was a…connection of sorts. Or something trying to connect to another. After digging deeper into the infinite depths of the Apple's knowledge and power, he felt the power that the connection would offer to both persons should it be established and how pure and bright it was that he felt a flash of unfamiliar guilt for a moment. He pushed that aside and dug for the persons who were trying to connect through the Apple. He jolted when he realized that one of them was his creation.

The old man hissed angrily and focused on the connection that was so close to forming. Altair was his!

With that, he struck out violently at the reaching connection and was pleased to see when it pulled back quickly, savoring the agonized scream that came from his attack.

Satisfied, he put the Apple down and went back to his window to watch the birds again, but he frowned in confusion when he saw the one was falling from the sky and the other was flying after its falling companion. For a moment, the Grand Master thought he might have heard a shout from Altair, before shaking his head at that silly thought and turning to go to bed.

...Where did this come from? I honestly don't know. The thought came to mind and I just went with it. *shrug*. Oh well. And I want your opinion on the sing scene. Was it okay? Horrible? Should I never do this again? Reviews please. I want to know what you guys think for future references. Oh. And that song is "Touch the Sky" by JulieFowlis. You guys might recognize the song from the Disney movie Brave. I don't own the song or the movie, so don't sue me. But I recommend listening to the song so you can see the mood I was trying to set between the two. Anyway, thanks for reading!

Safety and Peace, Brothers and Sisters.

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