Disclaimer: I own nothing save for the characters of my own creation, this is for the sole purpose of entertainment only and I receive no financial benefit from this. All I own is the story plot and the characters of my own creation.

Thanks for the reviews guys, glad you're enjoying the story!

A heavy weapon hit Adira in the side, causing her to grunt when she woke. When the pain hit her, she cried aloud from it, even after the blow had landed. She ached everywhere, especially in her arms and shoulders, which were chained to a hook in the ceiling of her cell.

"Where am I?" She mumbled as the pain became tolerable and she tried to open her eyes. No one answered. There was blood dripping from her nose and there were various cuts in her torso, back and on her legs. She could tell they hadn't sunken so low as to rape her, they must have been warned against that.

"Is that really necessary?"

"It has to be believable. His orders." His orders? Her employer?

The stabbing pain in her head became more insistent the more Adira awoke, telling her that she was dehydrated. "Water. Please, I need water." The blunt instrument hit her again on the back of her legs, causing her to hiss but then fall silent.

"We are to keep you here until you confess."

"Confess to what?"

"Being a sorcerer." Was that the best her employers could come up with? Branding her a witch? They could have at least made her out to be some sort of criminal mastermind.

"I need water."

"No water until you confess."

"I am no witch." The weapon hit her again, this time harder and on her back. Electing for silence, Adira hung her head, closing her eyes to sink back into the darkest part of her mind, where she created a shield. Soon she could no longer feel the pain they inflicted upon her.

The heat burned into her cell every day at noon, when the sun would beam down its rays and she would sweat, burn and become even more dehydrated. She could not last long like this, there was little chance of her survival. They had moved forwards with the plan too soon. There was now not enough time for everything to work as she had planned it.

She and her love were doomed.

When the night rolled in and the guards left her alone, Adira would lift her head up to the sky and gaze at the stars and bright moon through the chequered grate of her cell ceiling. It was cooling, and Adira would relax slightly from the beauty of a thousand angels watching over her, twinkling their hopeful smiles until she would fall asleep, her neck aching from looking up so long.

Two days passed and by then, Adira was putting all her weight onto her wrists, not having the strength to stand up any longer. It would not be long, soon she would die and she would wait at the gate of heaven for her loved one to join her, where she would hold him tight and never let go.

She was so deeply wrapped by her own shell that it took her a while to realise that someone was gently pouring sips of water into her mouth. Instantly she swallowed, whimpering as she pushed her tongue passed her chapped lips and searched for more. A strong arm curled carefully around her waist, lifting her up as her head rolled back onto a shoulder.

"Quietly now, drink this." Altair's voice penetrated her mind and Adira almost cried aloud with joy, though her throat was so dry it was like a desert. He continued to support her weight, taking it from her wrists as he revived her with the fresh, cold water that froze her tongue and teeth but she lapped it up greedily, wanting an ever rushing fountain to pour down her throat.

Beads of escaped water dripped down her chin and neck, sliding across her bruised, bloody and broken skin, cooling it gently. Altair continued to stand behind her, head resting against his shoulder as he reached around and began to pick the locks of her shackles, listening intently until he heard the soft click.

The moment she was free, she collapsed to the ground. Altair caught her awkwardly, carefully bringing her back up into his arms as he did not know the extent of her wounds. She looked a mess, a broken form of the confident, strong woman he had seen not a month before. Rage flew up in his chest. If this damage was permanent, he would kill every guard in this city to ensure he had taken down whoever had done this to her.

Quietly he slipped through the open cell door and carried her up the stairs, never making a sound as he remained in the shadows, carrying Adira away from that hell hole. She was breathing shakily and he feared she had broken ribs, which might puncture a lung.

When a pair of guards came around the corner, Altair slipped into a doorway, remaining hidden as they passed. Once they were gone he continued. It would be difficult to escape with the woman in his arms, he needed to climb. Settling her on his shoulder, careful of her ribs, he began to run.

Altair stopped at every corner to listen before making his way out a wide opening which was a window, looking down into the prison's courtyard. He climbed around, lifting himself higher and higher. When he heard voices on the roof he stopped, pulling back and remaining still.

They came closer, their speech disturbed by the wind so he could not hear what they were saying. He stayed his blade, as was their way, and continued to wait. The woman made a sound and he instantly tensed. The speaking stopped and steps approached.

"What was that?" Swords were drawn and Altair cursed, shooting a glare at the woman as he climbed around the corner of the building to the other length of the prison rooftop. Suddenly a flock of pigeons shot out from below, all cooing as they flew away into the night. "Just some dumb pigeons." Altair climbed up then swung himself around, the woman still limp on his shoulder as he crouched low then ran behind the guards, making him smirk. Guards were so stupid. They were always watching, never listening.

Without another thought Altair threw himself from the roof, gliding down through the air to land on the next, his boots clicking slightly but he continued to run, not allowing himself to be seen. He ran all the way back to the bureau, where Malik would be waiting. It had been Malik who had sent him the message, telling him what had happened to Adira. He had left as soon as he could to retrieve her.

Hassam had been a good ally to the Creed, it was the least they could do to protect his wife, though Altair feared he may already be too late. Suddenly bells began to toil at the prison and Altair stopped to look back. Guards alerted one another with loud calls, proclaiming the escape of the witch. Witch? They thought her a witch? The thought made him smirk further before hurrying forwards again.

The moment he dropped down into the bureau, he carefully lay Adira down, one hand gripping the back of her head. Her breaths were shallow. "You did it. Well done." Malik breathed a sigh of relief, quickly coming forwards with healing herbs which Altair took and began to work.

Together they cleaned and dressed her wounds, though Altair was reluctant to remove her clothes. "We need to see the extent of her wounds and see to them."

"Her pride has been hurt enough." Altair argued quietly, scowling. "I have no wish to explain to her when she wakes how she was undressed by two men."

"We have no other choice, Altair, she could die." Malik scowled back then leaned away, showing his one hand. "And since I'm not entirely suited the job, you're going to have to do it." Knowing that his friend was right, Altair sighed. He reached forwards and pulled at the strings that tied the nightdress together at the front, clenching his jaw.

Suddenly two hands gripped his wrists, though the hold was weak, it made him blink in surprise. Adira's breathing increased, becoming fast and fearful as she stared up at him, eyes suddenly having snapped open. "Get away from me!"

"I'm trying to help." He informed her in a passive tone but she struggled beneath him, obviously fearing the worse.

"Get away! Don't touch me!"

"Adira, you're alright. You're in the bureau." Malik soothed, touching her brow and she instantly calmed down, turning towards the familiar voice. Altair frowned. Since when did they become so close? "You're safe here."

"Malik." She sighed with relief, relaxing her shoulders then whined in pain. "I hurt all over."

"I know. You're going to have to let us treat your wounds. Which means taking off your dress." She arched an eyebrow then glanced to Altair who had stood up by this point. The moonlight gleamed off his white robes, casting a mysterious glow around his form, darkening every shadow until not even the scar on his upper lip could be seen.

"No."

"Adira, there's little choice." Malik tried to explain to her. "You may die if we do not help you."

"I will do it." Both men blinked at her. Altair's eyes widened as Adira struggled to sit up, gasping and wincing with every tiny movement before slowly, gripping onto the wall for support, she stood on shaking legs. His admiration and respect for this woman deepened as she slowly brought her hand away from the wall and took a step. Instantly her legs gave out beneath her and Altair held out a hand, pressing it into what looked like an unwounded shoulder to help keep her upright.

Her fingers instinctively wrapped into his sleeve, gripping onto him as she clenched her eyes shut then tried again, this time managing to stay on her feet, though she wobbled with every step. "I will see to myself. Thank you, both of you, for rescuing me. I did not expect it."

Neither said anything as Adira carefully knelt down to the small fountain, which had been her target destination, then slowly began to wash herself. She splashed her face with the cooling water before cupping it to her lips then swallowing all that she desired.

Several mouthfuls later, Adira ripped up the cleanest part of her skirt she could find then used it to wash down her arms and legs, pulling back the skirts to tentatively touch the bruises there. They were all tender but they would all heal. Adira just needed time. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Malik and Altair were gone, which they were, before completely discarding her dress and wrapping a blanket around her to check over her wounds. Nothing was broken, which was a miracle.

She was merely bruised, battered and bloody but once the blood was washed away and Adira had applied salves to the cuts to keep away infection then another for every bruise to ease the swelling and assist with their recovery. The only problem was, she could not reach the wounds on her back, since she could not see them and it hurt to try and reach.

"Malik?" She called softly, wrapping the blanket around before her then held it together at the back with one hand whilst pinning the front to her chest. "Malik?"

"What is it?" Altair growled but not unkindly. "Malik is busy at the moment."

"I need his help."

"What do you need?"

"Not you." She glared at him, turning her body to face him. "I need Malik."

"Don't you trust me?"

"Not one bit." He smirked at her from under his hood. She was definitely smart. He was glad to see her bright eyes, lightened by the moon's gaze, had not lost their defiant gleam. They had not broken her. Lucky for them. "I can't reach the bruises and cuts on my back."

"I can tend to them."

"I do not want you to." Altair smirked then knelt down behind her, watching as she shifted away from him, leaning against the cool fountain but when the hard basin dug into her side, she yelped quietly and jerked away. Adira shot it an agonised look before turning back to Altair. He waited for her. Finally she nodded her head then turned, kneeling back on her legs then carefully lowered the blanket to expose as much as her back as she dared.

Altair looked to the salves then selected one, rubbing the ointment onto his skin before gently touching her back. She did not even flinch. A soft smile of admiration touched his mouth as he began to work the salve into her cuts and bruises. Underneath the wounds, her skin was soft and damp from her wash.

Though he did his best not to hurt her, his touch did linger slightly at every moment he saw the chance to touch her softer skin. He reached for her shoulder after he was done, which made her jerk it away. "I'm not hurt there."

"I was signalling that I was finished." He answered back in a similarly sharp tone. "Malik is searching for some clothes to fit you. I will dispose of your gown."

"If you must." She shifted away, tucking herself into a corner whilst shifting the blanket around, making sure that everything up to her neck remained hidden from his sight. She looked remorsefully down at the ground, unable to meet his eyes.

He watched her for a few moments before snatching the nightgown up then brought into the scribe's room, tossing it onto the flames. "Malik?"

"Here, give her this." Malik appeared with an old robe. "It will not fit but it will do until we can find something more suitable. Altair scowled.

"I'm not going to go shopping for a dress."

"If you are so fearful for your respectable image, I'll do it." Malik chuckled then shook his head, sighing sadly. "It's not right what they did to her."

"You seem very protective of her. What's happened between you two since I left?" Altair asked carefully, not giving anything away. Malik smirked.

"And you seem very possessive of her." Altair's face remained the same. "She's a good friend. A kind and cheerful one. That is all, Altair. Nothing has happened between us and nothing ever shall. I can have easy, intelligent conversations with her, ones that I never speak to with others as their minds do not process the importance of things like outer world occurrences or individual opinions." Malik gripped Altair's shoulder. "You best be careful with her. She's suffered much and I'd hate to see her abandoned. I don't want you anywhere near her if you're thinking about what I think you may be thinking."

"I can assure you, Malik, that I think nothing of the sort. She's headstrong and wild."

"The way you like your women, though you've never met one quite your match." He pointed out the door. "I think you may have now." With that said, Malik turned and went back to his place at the counter, beginning to scribe documents by the light of a single candle.

Altair strode back out to the woman who was dozing quietly still tucked up in her corner. "You may wear this until we find you something that fits better." He tossed her the robe, making her jerk awake. "Then we'll see what to do with you."

"Leave me alone." She mumbled through a yawn. "I'm too tired to deal with your arrogance at the moment."

"My arrogance? You think you can order me to do what you wish, woman?" Her hand slid out and pulled the robe to her as he spoke and he watched the movement from the safety of his shadowed hood.

"No, but you seem to do it anyway." She smirked at him smugly. "And me being a woman only makes it far more entertaining to watch." Unable to find an answer, Altair ran forwards. She never flinched but watched him approach with a cool eye. At the last second Altair jumped up then climbed out of the bureau and into the night.

Now alone Adira changed into the robe, tying the belt tightly around her waist before settling back down to sleep, comfortable on the numerous pillows.