(IMPORTANT A/N) Hey guys. This is kind of a long chapter. Also, please don't abandon me. I'm writing this as it comes in my mind. I promise that there will only be two or three more chapters until the sexual tension explodes. I had to make it at the right time. If you stay with me (Which I'm BEGGING you to do!) then you'll understand and know why I waited until that specific moment. I love all of you guys too much to leave you hanging like that, so if all goes as planned then only two or three more chapters till the smut. ;D Also, Microsoft word decided to pull a douche bag move on me, so if you see any misspellings that's what happened. I'm currently resetting my spell check stuff, so it should be fine for my next chapters.
P.S. Please Review! Your reviews make my day! ^.^
~Read, Review, Be Merry!~
~Dora~
Chapter 21
Much Needed "Me" Time
"Get up you two!" came a very agitated and familiar voice. Oh shit. Malik.
"What?" I asked groggily.
"Get up. You have to leave for Masyaf and inform the master of your accomplishment." I opened my eyes and was met with blinding sunlight. How long have we been asleep? I rubbed my eyes and felt Altaïr still behind me.
"How long were we asleep Malik?" he said, voicing my thoughts. I felt his chest still against me and I had to bite back a smile.
"Well, its morning if that tells you anything." He growled. "I didn't find you two like this until just a few minutes ago." I felt Altaïr roll over and I sat up and popped my back and stretched. My eyes were slightly blurry so I rubbed them again. Problem solved. I looked up at Malik and I could have sworn a slight smile tugged at his lips, but he shook his head so I couldn't tell very well. He walked back into the next room and sat behind his desk. Altaïr then rose up and ran his fingers through his short black hair. He looked over at me and smiled.
"So, Alera, how did you sleep?" I smiled back.
"Very good. I haven't slept that good and that long in a while. It was..." I stretched and arched my back. "Amazing…"
"Well, I'm glad it was as good for you as it was for me." he smirked and I rolled my eyes and laughed.
"Shut up." I hit him in the arm lightly and he laughed a little. I got up and went into the next room. My clothes were where I had left them and they were dry and so were my weapons. I began the process of throwing all my garb on and Malik came up beside me as I tied my cloth belt on.
"So, how'd you sleep last night Alera?" I glanced over at him and he was smirking. I tied my cloth belt and turned towards him.
"Absolutely amazing. Best night's sleep I've had in a long while. Thanks for asking." I smirked at him and began to put my weapons on. After a few minutes I was ready. I turned around and saw Altaïr leaning against the wall.
"Ready?" he smirked from under his hood.
"Ready." I smiled and looked at Malik. "See you later Malik. I have no doubt will probably be back to assassinate someone." He nodded and smiled.
"Take care Alera." I smiled and saw Alario fly up through the roof. I bolted past Altaïr and scaled the wall out onto the roof.
"Àlkimos!" I yelled and put my fingers in my mouth and whistled and ear splitting whistle. I heard another guard run up behind me and I swung my sword around and cut his stomach open. Blood slung off my sword and blood splattered on the ground. Fast hoof beats approached me. Two sets of hoof beats. I turned around and saw Àlkimos and Antar. I grabbed Àlkimos' saddle and swung myself up on him. "Altaïr! Lets go!" I yelled. I saw him slice one more guys throat and then he started to run for his horse, but more guards followed him.
"Where are they all coming from?" yelled Altaïr. I kicked Àlkimos and took hold of Antar's bridle. We rushed forward to meet Altaïr. Altaïr grabbed Antar's saddle and swung himself on.
"Lets get the hell outta here!" I yelled. "Ya!" I kicked Àlkimos and he shot forward with Altaïr right behind us. I heard the guards yelling orders, but we were too fast for them. We ran up the hill and I glanced behind us to see if any were following, and they weren't. They gave up. Jerusalem was getting smaller and smaller. I looked back ahead and Altaïr and I turned a corner and left.
We arrived at Masyaf in the evening. The sun was sinking low over the mountains as we walked down the mountain trail heading towards the stables. The wind blew around me and rustled the leaves in the fig trees. I know I wasn't supposed to, but I couldn't help it. The evening breeze called to me. I threw back my hood and closed my eyes and breathed in the cool, clean air. I opened my eyes and looked around, drinking in the view. The evening sunlight glistened off of the water in the gorges below us. The mountains loomed overhead like they were reaching up to kiss the sky. The wind made the fig trees rustle, as if they were whispering to each other. This place is beautiful. It's…Paradise to me.
"This is my home." I whispered to myself and smiled. My gaze traveled over to Altaïr. He was walking to the left of me. His hood covered his face and he kept his gaze straight ahead. I smiled to myself and laid my torso down on Àlkimos' neck.
"Altaïr." I said quietly. He looked over at me and his eyes grew wide and my smile grew wide.
"Alera! What the hell is wrong with you? Throw your hood back on! If anyone sees you…"
"Oh relax Altaïr. There is nobody here. This is a mountain pass and we are close to the gates of Masyaf. I'll throw it back on when I'm ready." I shrugged. I wanted to enjoy my scenery a bit. Is that so bad? Altaïr chuckled.
"You are something else." His eyes roamed me up and down.
"I know. And you like it." I smirked and he returned it. I rose back up and threw my hood on. The gates came into view and we kicked our horses to a trot. We stopped in front of the stable doors and I jumped off Àlkimos and led him to his stable. Altaïr followed behind me with his horse. I couldn't help but glance at him every now and then. Why did my eyes always stop on him? Well, because I liked looking at him. I took the saddle off of Àlkimos and hung it on the rack then I took his bridle off and did the same. I gave him fresh feed and water, then I took a brush and started to brush him.
*Altaïr was un-tacking his horse and he gazed at Alera every now and then, just watching her. The way the afternoon sun shined on her robe making her glow. Her blonde hair that hung below her hood looked like gold as the sun shined on it. Alera's eyes snapped to him and their eyes both met. She was the first to pull away from him.*
"What is wrong with me? I'm acting like a love struck child!" I scolded myself and shook my head. This is ridiculous. I never act like this around anyone else, but him. Its like…my walls come down when I'm around him. I glanced back up at him and his green eyes were still on me. My heart stopped. I went back to brushing Àlkimos. He neighed and turned his head to look at me.
"What?" I whispered to him. He neighed again and twitched his ears toward Altaïr. I rolled my eyes. He neighed deeply and lightly bit my sleeve. "For goodness sake Àlkimos, what is it?" he turned his head back around and pawed at the ground. I set the brush down on the shelf.
"Something wrong?" came Altaïr's voice. He ran his eyes over Àlkimos. My horse kept pawing at the ground and twitching his ears in the direction of Altaïr. I knew what he was doing. Smart horse. I stepped in front of Àlkimos in his open stall door.
"No, he's fine. Àlkimos is just being…Àlkimos." I glanced behind me and he nodded his head towards Altaïr. I lightly smacked him on the nose. I turned back to look at Altaïr. "He can be stubborn sometimes." I heard a snort then I felt something touch my back. It shoved me forwards with such a force that I lost my footing… and fell right into Altaïr's arms. They were wrapped around my waist and mine were wrapped his neck. I heard him laugh. I looked up at him and noticed we were inches from each other. "That horse is gonna get it." I thought. I felt my cheeks turn pink.
"I'm sorry." I managed to breath out.
"Don't be." Altaïr smirked. "He's a smart horse." I smiled at him. Suddenly I heard the flapping of wings and Alario landed on my shoulder.
"Well, there you are!" I stroked his chest feathers. He squawked and chirped. I smiled and laughed.
"Come on. Al Mualim will be waiting for us." Said Altaïr with a smile. I nodded and watched him walk out of the stables. I looked at Àlkimos whose ears were twitched forward at me.
"Your so gonna get it." I whispered to him. He neighed and shook his head as to say, "Your not gonna do anything."
"I'll figure out something." I put my hands on my hips. Àlkimos leaned his head out over the rail and nuzzled my neck. I sighed, totally giving in. I rubbed my horse's neck. He pulled back and looked at me and I planted a kiss on his nose.
*Altaïr realized that Alera wasn't following him. He looked back towards the stables and saw her. He smiled to himself and walked back towards them, but as he got closer, he heard Alera talking.
"Your so gonna get it." She whispered. Àlkimos neighed and shook his head. Altaïr stifled a chuckle. The way Alera and her horse acted always amused him. "I'll figure something out." She said as she put her hands on her hips. Àlkimos leaned over the rail and nuzzled her neck. She sighed in defeat and rubbed her horse's neck. Àlkimos pulled back to look at her and Alera planted a kiss on his nose. "Damn you and Altaïr for always finding my weaknesses and playing on my heart strings." A small smiled graced her lips and Altaïr couldn't help but smile to himself as well.
"Well, now. This is interesting. So I play with her heartstrings. She must not realize that she does the same to me as well."*
"Alera?" I jumped slightly at the sound of his voice. I looked over at the door and there he was, leaning against the doorframe…wait…how long has he been there?… shit.
"Um…I'm coming. You…didn't hear that did you?" Altaïr cocked his head to the side.
"Hear what?" hmm…he's lying. He had the slightest traces of a smile pulling on the corners of his mouth. Yep, he's lying. He heard it. Damn it! I felt my cheeks turn red.
"Nothing. Never mind." I offered him a smile. "Lead the way." He smiled back and turned around and walked out of the stables with me following behind.
"Go on up to my room Alario. I'll meet you there." He chirped once and then took off from my shoulder. Altaïr and I walked up the path to the fortress. Once we were inside the grounds I saw novices fighting each other in the practice ring and I saw assassin's walking around, some talking to each other, but I didn't spy Kalin anywhere. I kept looking around and spotted Rauf standing over to the side talking to a novice. "Rauf!" I called to him. He looked over at me and waved. I walked up to him.
"Hello Alera! Been a couple days since I've seen you. I heard about your assassination of Talal. I'm glad you finally killed the bastard. You deserved to take his life." I smiled at him.
"Thanks Rauf. I can't tell you how great it felt. He definitely deserved to die. You would believe how many slaves he had in his holding cells, but we freed those too."
"Good. No one deserves to become a slave."
"I agree. But anyways, have you seen Kalin? I'd like to see him before Altaïr and I have to leave on another mission."
"Ah, last I saw him he was in the courtyards in the back. He was practicing with one of the initiates." I nodded.
"Thanks Rauf. Safety and Peace." He smiled.
"To you as well, my dear." I turned back around and caught up with Altaïr.
"Sorry. I had to ask him where Kalin was." Altaïr looked at me with an eyebrow raised. We started to ascend the staircases.
"That's alright sweetheart. I didn't even know you were gone." He smirked and I lightly hit him in the arm.
"Don't mock me sweetheart."
"Ah. Altaïr, Alera. Come in." we looked up and saw Al Mualim standing behind his desk. We stepped up in front of him and stood side by side. Al Mualim eyed me. "Well done, Alera. I'm quite proud of you. You have successfully killed Talal and all is as it should be. You deserved to take his life." I smiled.
"Thank you master. If you don't mind my saying I am quite proud of myself as well. Talal is a coward and he deserved to die for the way he treated me and those slaves."
"You father would be proud." He offered me a warm smile and I returned it.
"Thank you master." He began to pace.
"Malik did not fail to leave out how your assassination was a subtle one. The warning bell didn't even go off so I'm told." I nodded.
"Yes master. Thanks to Altaïr and a thunderstorm, I was quick to kill and we were quick to escape. Talal surrounded us with guards, but Altaïr killed them all as I ran for Talal. I killed him and it started to rain and the streets were deserted. We made it back to the bureau with no problem. I'm quite proud of Altaïr. He helped me a lot." I glanced over and smiled at him and he smiled back. Al Mualim nodded in understanding.
"Yes you have both done well and I am proud of you Altaïr. Three of the nine lay dead and for this you have my thanks. But do not think to rest upon your laurels. Your work has just begun."
"I am yours to command, master." Oh my god… What kind of tone of voice was that? Ooh that was torture. I bet he did that on purpose. Shivers shot up my spine and I had to keep my knees from going weak. That voice. That tone. So cool and smooth and deep… Keep it together Alera…
"Alera? Are you alright?" Al Mualim's voice knocked me out of the spell. My mouth opened to say something…
"Yes! Oh, yes sir. I'm fine…Just a little tired." I dished out a fake yawn. He nodded. I glanced at Altaïr and…what the hell… Oh he is sooo gonna get it… That smirk… Damn it… I knew he did that on purpose… I'll get him back good… I will kiss that damn smirk off his face if I have to.
"Now, as I was saying. King Richard, emboldened by his victory at Acre, prepares to move south towards Jerusalem. Salah Al'din is surely aware of this. And so he gathers his men before the broken citadel of Arsuf."
"Would you have us kill them both then?" Altaïr and I exchanged a glance. "End their war before it begins in earnest?"
"No. To do so would scatter their forces and subject their realm to the bloodlust of ten thousand aimless warriors. It will be many days before they meet, and while they march, they do not fight. You must concern yourself with a more immediate threat: the men who pretend to govern in their abscense." Now its my turn.
"Give us names, and we'll give you blood." I cut my eyes to Altaïr who shifted slightly, giving me the signal that I had sucessfully affected him. I couldn't help but smirk to myself. Mission accomplished.
"So I will." Said Al Mualim, once again breaking me from thought…I should probably pay attention more. "Abu'l Nuquod, the wealthiest man in Damas'," I snapped to attention at that. The wealthiest man in Damas…That means we're gonna be in the rich district. This is perfect! That allows me to look for the killer in the high guards! I was ecstatic now. I couldn't wait till tomorrow. We're killing him first. "Majd Addin, regent of Jerusalem, William of Montferrat, liegelord of Acre."
"What are their crimes?" asked Altaïr.
"Greed, Arrogance, the slaughter of innocents. Walk amongst the people of their cities. You'll learn the secrets of their sin. Do not doubt that these men are obstacles to the peace we seek."
"Then they will die." I said quietly. Al Mualim nodded to us, then he looked back at Altaïr.
"Another of your items is restored, Altaïr. Take it and see that it is put to good use. Return to me as each man falls, that way we may better understand their intentions." Al Mualim turned to the birdcage and let lose three more pigeons. I watched them as they flew out of the window and realized that the sun had gotten lower and it was now dusk and getting dark. "And the both of you," continued Al Mualim. We looked at him. "Take care. Your recent work has likely attracted the attention of the city guard. They'll be more suspicious than they have in the past."
Al Mualim was done talking. He proceeded to light some candles and the torches that hung above us. Altaïr grabbed what equipment was given back to him. I turned around and made my way back down the stairs. There were only three things on my mind right now… Bath, Food, Sleep. And in that order…and I guess I could squeeze in a visit with Kalin a little while. I nodded to myself. My night was set. I had to have some much needed "me" time. I got to my door and stopped. I looked up to my left and saw Altaïr walking towards his room, which in fact was on the right side of mine. He passed by me and smiled. I smiled back and looked to my right.
"Goodnight Alera." He said before walking into his room.
"Goodnight Altaïr." I bit my lip but a smile still crept out. I just opened my door and walked into my room. I let my smile lose then and I couldn't help it. I slid down my door and laughed. I heard Alario chirp over by the window. "Ugh, Alario. I don't know what's wrong with me. Whatever it is…I like it." I felt like I could squeal, but I certainly wasn't going to do that. I got up and lit the torch on the wall next to my window, then I lit all of the candles in my room, which gave me a generous amount of light. There was a crescent moon out and that helped me out somewhat with the light too.
I opened the door to my washroom and lit up all the candles in there. I went to my dresser and pulled out some comfortable long cotton pants that dragged on the ground and I pulled out an old white half-sleeve shirt that was my dad's. It still smelled like him too. I took a moment to hug the shirt and breath it in. The smell of hay and barley mixed in with incense and earth. It was a one of a kind smell that belonged to my one of a kind father. Alario flew over onto my shoulder. I looked at him and he looked at me and then looked at the shirt.
"Can you smell him Alario?" I held the shirt up to him. He rubbed his head on it and chirped quietly. "That's my boy. My good eagle. I love you Alario." I smiled at him. His golden eyes searched my face and then he rubbed his head on my neck. I stroked his feathers. "Come on. I need somebody to listen to my ramblings while I'm relaxing." I pulled out some underclothes and then went into my bathroom.
I filled the tub up with warm water and got out some of my favorite soaps. The purple liquid is my favorite: Rose and Jasmine. The one I use on my hair is a golden color: Honey and Jasmine. The one I use as conditioner for my hair is a pure silky white: strictly lilies. I placed them on the floor beside the tub and I draped my clothes over the rack next to my towels. I let Alario perch on the rack too. I quickly shed off my weapons and threw them on the bed, and also made sure my door was locked. I went back into the bathroom and lit some incense, then I shed my clothes and my robe. I eased into the steaming water, which was quite hot at first, but then my skin got used to it.
I wetted my hair and washed it with my honey jasmine soap, then conditioned it with my lily soap. I rinsed it out and then I just leaned my head back and relaxed.
"Man, Alario. You know what would be awesome?" he chirped to me. "I wish I had a few more of those little tiny, square things that dad brought back home that one time. When he went off for like a week. He said that he had met a merchant who had been all over the world and nearly fell off the face of it. Do you remember?" Alario chirped and flapped his wings slightly.
"Personally, I don't really think that the earth's flat but that's just my opinion…" I played with the little bubbles in the water for a few minutes. "I wonder where the merchant had gotten those squares from… I know they had a name too… Damn… It was a strange name, but the little dark squares were so good and sweet. Unlike anything I had ever eaten. I remember dad telling me he had saved the merchant's life and in return the merchant gave my dad a box of those things. Said they were extremely rare and valuable…But damn what was the name?" crap, this is going to bug me now.
I picked up my Rose Jasmine soap and begin to wash myself, when it hit me like a ton of bricks. "Chocolate! That was the name of it! Chocolate. I knew it was a weird name. But it was so good." I smiled, remembering the fond memory and the amazing taste of the little dark square known as chocolate. "That would be so perfect right now. I have candles and incense. I'm relaxing in a warm bath. All I need is some chocolate… I bet Altaïr would like it too. What do you think Alario?" he just gave me another chirp and a slight wing flap in response. I smiled and sighed.
"He really is something though isn't he Alario? I could think about him all day…Well, I do think about him all day. He's on my mind a lot. Especially since we're Assassinating together." I finished washing myself and then rinsed myself off and laid back in the tub again. "He's saved my life three times. He's healed my wounds…" I lifted my leg up and looked at the long, red scar that stretched across my thigh. I ran my hand down it and remembered his touch…as if it were yesterday. "Oh, the way he touches me. He's so…gentle and sweet. Yet it holds an air of dominance and possessiveness about it… He's firm, but gentle. And I love the way he holds me, as if I'm his and nobody else's."
I smiled widely at that. I felt myself blush a little as I thought of him… Or maybe it's just the hot water… I took another contented sigh and got lost in my ramblings again. "He's the only real man my walls have ever came down around." Alario chirped and cocked his head at me. "Well, Kalin and Malik are like my brothers. And Al Mualim doesn't count since he's like a guardian." Alario raised his head back up and blinked.
"But, Altaïr… He actually broke my walls down… He went through the thorns to get to the rose. Every time I'm alone with him or around him, my walls go down and I'm vulnerable to him. My heart stops when he looks at me. When he touches me…Even if it's the slightest touch, it sends warm shocks and goosebumps all over me. Being hot and cold at the same time…" I laughed to myself. "I guess it is possible…" Alario chirped loudly and flapped his wings.
"What is it, Alario?" he chirped and then stretched his wings out, like he was warning me of something. I stayed quiet and listened… There was a faint knock coming from the door. "Shit!" I said quietly. I jumped out of the tub and near bout slipped and busted my ass. I grabbed a big white towel and wrapped it around me and I put my half dry hair into a messy bun. I poked my head out of the bathroom door. "Who is it?" I called quietly.
"It's me Alera." Said the one of a kind voice. Luck and Fate must be laughing their asses off right now.
"Hold on Altaïr." Shit… I have no time to put clothes on if it's urgent… I wrapped the towel tightly around me and wiped my wet slippery feet off on the rug. "I'm coming." I said as I made my way to the door. I unlocked it and opened it half way and poked my head out. "Somebody better be fucking dying." I growled. Altaïr stood in front of me with his weapons off and his boots off. He was bare footed and wore his pants, shirt and robe with the hood thrown up. He laughed, crossed his arms and looked at me.
"Well, what are you up to?" he said with a smirk.
"I was in the middle of taking a bath, but it seems as if I'm done now." I growled again. I was pissed. He ruined my relaxing "me" time. He kept smirking at me.
"Well, I was hoping we could discuss on where we're heading first tomorrow." Really? Is he fucking serious? Fuck it. Screw it. I'm throwing caution to the wind. Let luck and fate keep laughing their asses off, because it's gonna get funnier. I opened the door completely to reveal the state I was in. I put my hand on my hip and held the towel together with my other.
"Do I look like I'm in the right state of mind to discuss this right now?" he walked closer to me and leaned on the doorframe. Arms still crossed, and that damn charming smirk still on his lips. His eyes ravenously ran over me and I felt extremely vulnerable.
"Well, let me put it this way. You look in the right state of mind for…something." I scoffed and rolled my eyes.
"Get your ass in here before somebody sees and starts making assumptions."
"As you wish. I am yours to command, Alera." He walked past me with a smile.
"Bastard." I said as I shut the door. I heard the flapping of wings and turned around to see Alario… Perched on Altaïr's shoulder.
"Well, at least somebody's happy to see me." he said as he stroked my eagle.
"Well, while you two are busy bonding, I'm going to get dressed. I'm feeling a tad bit vulnerable considering the fact that I'm wearing nothing but a towel."
"You're looking a little vulnerable too." his eyes shined with amusement.
"Shut up. Don't say anything until I get my clothes on. I don't trust myself around you." Wait…. Oh shit…did I really just say that?…Oh hell no! That was not supposed to come out. I looked at Altaïr. His smirk grew wider and his eyes shined.
"Really now? What's that supposed to mean Alera? Why do you not trust yourself around me?" he took two steps forward and I bolted for the bathroom door and shut it and locked it behind me. I heard him laughing on the other side.
Yep, Luck and Fate are really having a blast laughing their asses off now.
Sneak Peek of next chapter- Tension ensues, and our favorite lovers get into a fight, which results in a stupid, rage induced decision of one of them running off…What will happen? Who will run off? I'll type the next chapter up as quickly as possible so none of you abandon me. Cause that would make me extremely sad.