Sorry it's been a while, writer's block is a pain in the butt. Anyway, hope you forgive me for the late update, here it is!
Adira awoke when Naim stopped walking, making her lift her head with a deep inhale. Altair touched her arm, reassuring her gently before leaning forwards and dismounting. He turned back to Adira who was still half asleep then gently lowered her down, hands carefully handling her waist to make sure he didn't irritate any of the bruises or cuts.
Without meaning to Adira stepped into Altair's space, leaning her head against his broad chest as she continued to struggle to wake herself up. A gentle finger touched her cheek, drawing her attention away from the realm of sleep which she was not too eager to leave. The woman blinked, turning her eyes down to the hand which was brushing against her face, trying to wake her up.
Surprised and embarrassed with herself, Adira looked up to apologise but no words formed. All she could do was stare up into the hood that shielded his eyes from her. She wanted to look at him. Really look at him. See the colour of his eyes and their shape. Slowly her hands reached up to take his hood. He did not stop her.
Then someone else entered the stables and shut the door behind them. "Well, well, well, what have we here?" The voice questioned rhetorically, smirking to his five companions. Instantly Altair pushed Adira behind him, placing one foot forwards in a defensive stance.
"Open the door." He commanded in a low tone as Adira gripped onto his sleeve, staring in fear at the six men who stood before them.
"You'll give us your money, your weapons and the girl first." The ringleader bargained, stepping around slightly to get another look at Adira who dropped her eyes. "Pretty little thing, isn't she?"
"You can have my gold. My weapons and the girl stay with me." The ratty faced man squinted, frowning at Altair as his companions all lifted their crude weapons. Some were broad and muscular, the others thin as reeds as they all snarled and clenched their fists tightly.
"You look familiar. Have I seen you somewhere before?"
"No." Adira admired how calm Altair remained as his eyes glanced to each individual. They were outnumbered but Altair was confident he would be able to take them on and frighten them away. The rat faced leader suddenly clicked his fingers, watery eyes widening with recognition.
"You're on a wanted poster! One of them assassin's." The leader drew his curved blade, shifting his weight as he bounced with ardent anticipation. "Here that boys? We're gonna get ourselves a bounty and a good roll in the hay today." Altair's temper snapped. How dare they presume he would allow them to hurt Adira?
When one of them ran towards them Altair grabbed Adira and put her onto Naim's back, who instantly picked up his head and backed up, snorting and pounding his hoof against the ground to protect his rider. Altair slammed a fist into the broad muscled bandit's nose, crushing the cartilage completely with a gush of blood.
As he howled in pain Altair turned with a step, sweeping up his leg to kick another bandit back then grabbed a skinnier one, pushing him into one of his brethren whilst ducking under the swing of a sword.
Adira watched with open mouth as Altair moved with utter grace and timeless skill. One movement seemed to roll effortless into the other like a dangerous dance which left the loser bleeding and hurt. Altair did not draw a blade as he could not kill an innocent. It did not mean he couldn't throw in as much hurt as he could.
When he heard Naim gave a loud call of warning then rear up, he looked over to Adira. She leaned forwards in the saddle, fingers gripping onto Naim's long flowing mane to maintain a better hold on him as his hooves lashed out at the one who had tried to grab her. She looked magnificent.
Drawing his attention away from the woman and back to the fight he ducked several times, allowing the three remaining bandits to swing, miss and tire. Once one was out of breath he kicked him to the floor then swung a punch, landing it on the second's face but the other used this moment to leap up and slam both feet into Altair's chest, throwing him back onto a mound of hay.
Seeing the assassin down, four of the bandits picked themselves and made to rush at him but Adira got there first. With a dark look on her face she guided Naim's head around, turning him in a tight circle so that they stood between Altair and the bandits. Without so much as a word she tapped Naim forwards, the horse snorting and rearing up repeatedly. Kicking out to keep the bandits back as Adira herded them back to the door. Then she drew her knife.
She allowed the light to gleam off the polished blade, shining it in their eyes slowly so that they all cowered back and stared in fear of the great horse who stamped both feet into the ground then threatened to bite them, snapping his teeth.
"Get the door open! Let's get out of here!" The rat faced bandit yelled, turning and practically ripping the door apart to escape. "Guards! Guards! Assassin! Assassin!" Altair leaped up over Naim's rump, settling himself quickly behind Adira who leaned closer to Naim's neck and whispered soft words of encouragement, reins in her hand before moving him into a trot, moving around the back of the stables to move out of sight whilst the guards rushed forwards to search the stables.
She waited whilst they all ran forwards before slowly moving out, swallowing nervously as she fought to refrain from pushing Naim into the fastest gallop he could achieve. Once they were further away from the village, then she urged him into a gallop.
They continued forwards until it became too dark to see, where Altair stopped Naim beside a single tree and tied him up and took off his saddle. Adira stood there, facing the dark sky where the stars all gleamed down at her, promising her hope for the one she wanted by her side. The precious life she was fighting to save.
Though when Altair gently touched her shoulder, she inhaled quietly, a jolt running up her spine as her stomach clenched. She turned around slowly, looking up into the hood which shadowed his face. "You did well today." He commented softly, his hand remaining at her shoulder. "How did you know not to run away from the guards?"
"I'd seen you do it on the road. You slowed down whenever we passed a watchtower or a guarded town. I assumed the principal still applied when trying to escape from them." Her shoulders shrugged uselessly as she lowered her eyes to the ground. Even with her warm cloak around her, Adira shivered against the bare wind that wrapped its icy fingers around her. "I'm glad you were not harmed."
"I've had worse." Altair shrugged. "We should rest." Adira nodded then watched as he went back to the blankets he had rolled out onto the ground to keep them safer from insects and possibly scorpions. Adira looked for her bed in the moonlight. "It will be warmer if we slept close." The assassin explained to her then smirked. "Or are you too afraid to sleep next to an assassin?"
"An assassin saved my honour. Another rescued me from living hell where I was left to die, then he protected me from bandits." Her voice was warm and soft, far warmer than Altair had ever heard her speak before. He was beginning to question the idea of sleeping so close to her. He had no chance to change his words as she had already begun to kneel beside him, biting her lip and Altair noticed a little blush on her cheeks.
"Thank you, for everything."
"You're a good woman, Adira. You deserve a little kindness in your life." He answered, reaching up and pulling her gently down to rest her head before placing the only other blanket around her. She frowned.
"What about you?"
"I shall be warm enough."
"But it will get colder in the night." She argued, feeling guilty that he was sacrificing his comfort just to keep her warmer.
"I am used to it."
"But…" Unable to find an argument, Adira slowly lifted her arm and shifted closer, pulling the blanket out so that it would cover the both of them. Altair stiffened, controlling his breathing as her tender body lay even closer to him, resting her head so that it was level with his.
Adira cursed inwardly. She still could not see his eyes. Perhaps he would let her see tomorrow? He had almost let her earlier, before they were interrupted. Swallowing, Adira's eyes dropped to Altair's mouth and she slowly reached forwards, touching a finger to his scar. "How did you get that?"
"A knife." He answered softly, closing his eyes against her touch and smiling slightly. "When I was younger, less experienced and even more arrogant."
"Is that even possible?" She teased him quietly, stroking the scar once more before pulling her hand back. "So it is true. You really are an assassin." He paused before nodding his head. Adira didn't reply. She wished it wasn't true. She prayed and wished and dreamed that this man was not an assassin, so then she could leave him out of her task. Then he wouldn't be hurt.
"Does that bother you?" A pretty smile touched her lips, their silver folds reflecting the moonlight as it beamed overhead.
"No." Altair relaxed a little. "I guess I've always known what you were. It didn't take much to figure out." She shivered as a breeze caught her back and Altair slid his hand carefully over her waist and pulled her a little closer, closing all space between them. "You move like a shadow, you wear the white robes, the red sash, the concealed blades, the bureau…I guess I just wanted it to remain unbelievable and unconfirmed for as long as I could make it so." Her eyes closed as sleep began to swallow her. "That way, I could pretend everything was normal, that you were all just men and I was just…there."
Listening to her voice he realised that she had fallen asleep whilst talking. His smile lightened a little as she sighed then turned over, still wrapped up in both his arms. His thumb gentle created a circle in her arm, feeling the soft dress's fabric and imagining it to be her skin before lowering his head and forcing himself to rest also.
Sometime in the night Adira jerked awake at the sound of a howl, jolting Altair awake also. Upon pure reflex a blade shot out from his bracer, making a sharp sound as it slid into view, pointed out to protect Adira from whatever had frightened her. "What was that?" She whispered tightly. When the howl rode on the wind again, Altair relaxed.
"Just wild dogs."
"Just wild dogs? They sound pretty close to me." Altair chuckled richly and Adira's head snapped around towards the sound.
"They are at least two leagues from here. Sound carries easily on the wind out here. Go back to sleep, there's nothing to worry about." Satisfied Adira turned into Altair, who lifted his head and frowned at her as she shifted her head onto his chest, making him turn from his side onto his back.
A few seconds later, the woman was asleep again. The arm that still held the weapon aloft slowly relaxed, allowing the blade to fall away before he rested his hand on her head, running his fingers through her thick silky locks. Several times Altair woke up, either because of Adira moving or because of a sound or upon natural instinct. He always had been a light sleeper, habit allowed it to stick.
Whenever he did wake, he would always smile to find the woman sleeping peacefully in his arms, slowly moving closer and closer as warmth drove her towards the main source of heat which was his body. Altair moved his cloak to wrap around them both under the blanket, providing her with a little more insulation before drawing her closer, turning over to make himself more comfortable. He'd never actually slept with a woman in his arms before, usually he did not stay long after visiting whichever whore he desired.
This was slightly new and rather…pleasant. She was small enough to curl easily into his body though warm enough so that together they were well protected against the open wind. And she was soft, so soft. Her hair, her face, her skin, it was almost too much for Altair to handle. He wanted her for his own, more than just a simple lay. He wanted to make her his and his alone.
Affectionately he brushed a lock of hair away from her face then curled around her, closing his eyes where a warm sleep soon found him once again.