As the cold wind swept through the mountain pass, Amelia struggled to remain conscious in the back of Leonardo's cart, her hand pressed against the wound in her side. The blood-soaked bandages had long since given up their fight, and each bump had sent fresh agony through her body. She tried to focus on the birds singing in the tress, using it as a tether to the waking world. But the pain was overwhelming, threatening to pull her under again. They had been stuck for a little while with Leo struggling to get the wheel fixed. He had changed her bandages but he didn't have what he needed to restitch her up at the moment.
She barely registered the sound of hooves approaching until the familiar voice cut through the haze of pain.
"Leonardo!" Ezio's voice rang out, sharp with urgency. She blinked, trying to bring his face into focus as he hurried toward them. His eyes darted from Leonardo's frazzled expression to the blood staining the boards of the cart. His breath caught, and for a moment, panic flashed across his usually steady features. "Amelia! Are you all right?" he asked, his voice tight, rushing to her side before she could muster a reply.
She managed a faint smile, though the effort sent a wave of dizziness crashing over her. "I've... been better, Ezio," she whispered, her voice barely more than a rasp. "It's just a scratch." She tried to sound brave, but her attempt fell flat, her voice breaking on the last word.
Ezio's expression softened, but his eyes remained stormy with worry. Without a word, he reached out, gently brushing a strand of sweat-dampened hair from her face. His thumb grazed the cut on her cheek, a tender gesture amidst the chaos. He leaned closer, pressing his forehead to hers, his breath warm against her skin. She felt the tension in his frame, the barely contained fear as he whispered, "I thought I'd lost you. Dio, you're tougher than I give you credit for."
Amelia closed her eyes, leaning into the touch despite the pain lancing through her side. For a brief moment, the world fell away—the throbbing pain, the threats of Borgia's men, even the biting cold. All that remained was the warmth of his touch and the sound of his breathing, steady and grounding. "I'm not going anywhere, Ezio," she managed, a flicker of her usual teasing grin tugging at her lips. "You're stuck with me."
A strained chuckle escaped him, but the worry in his eyes didn't entirely disappear. He pulled back slightly, cupping her face in his hands, his gaze searching hers for reassurance. "Just hold on for me, okay? I'll get you out of this," he said, his voice low and fervent, carrying the weight of a promise.
Leonardo cleared his throat gently, drawing their attention back to the immediate crisis. "Ezio... the wheel, it's broken. I can fix it, but I need your help," he explained, gesturing to the damaged axle.
Ezio tore his gaze away from Amelia, focusing on the task at hand, though his hand lingered on her shoulder for a moment longer, giving it a comforting squeeze. "I'm on it, Leo," he replied, glancing back at Amelia with a look that promised he wouldn't be far.
He hurried to the side of the cart, using his strength to lift it while Leonardo worked quickly on the repair. As they struggled with the repairs, Amelia tried to breathe through the pain, watching their frantic movements with a fading sense of awareness. But even as darkness crept at the edges of her vision, she clung to the memory of Ezio's touch, the warmth of his breath against her skin.
Leonardo finished his work with a relieved sigh, and as she drifted in and out of consciousness she could hear them talking about the weird contraption in the back of the cart. She was still focusing on the birds singing in the tress, but they had gone quiet.
"Ezio...the birds.." she moaned, looking at him and then to the trees.
"Shhh," he whispered sharply, his eyes scanning the horizon.
Leonardo, sensing the shift, glanced between them, his expression puzzled. "What's wrong?" he asked, his voice barely audible over the creaking wheels.
"We're not alone," Ezio muttered, his tone hardening as he caught sight of shadowy figures trailing them on horseback. A chill ran through Amelia despite the warmth of the sun overhead. She forced herself to sit up straighter, ignoring the fresh wave of agony that lanced through her side. If she was going to be a burden, she'd do everything she could to fight against it.
Leonardo's eyes widened as he saw the riders gaining on them. "What's happening!? Who are they?" he demanded, his hands clutching the edge of the cart as if it might steady his racing thoughts.
"Rodrigo Borgia's men," Ezio growled, snapping the reins to spur the horses faster. The cart lurched forward, nearly tossing Amelia back, but she held on tightly, gritting her teeth against the pain.
Leonardo ducked down into the cart without hesitation, pulling a tarp over himself for cover. "Why? What do they want with us?" he called out from beneath the cover, his voice muffled.
Ezio's jaw clenched as he urged the horses onward, his knuckles white against the reins. "I think they want us dead. Leonardo, hide!"
Amelia's pulse quickened, her mind racing through the possibilities. If they were here for her and Ezio, then Leonardo was simply collateral damage. She bit back the panic that welled up in her chest, reminding herself that she had survived worse. She glanced at Ezio, catching the fierce determination in his expression, and it gave her a flicker of hope. He wouldn't let anything happen to them. Not if he could help it.
But as the first of Borgia's men swung themselves onto the cart's edge, Amelia knew their safety wasn't guaranteed. She shifted, her body protesting every movement, but she reached for the knife tucked into her boot. "Ezio!" she shouted, throwing the blade to him. "Use it!"
Ezio caught the knife with a nod of gratitude, twisting to meet the approaching attackers. "Hold on tight, Amelia," he warned, his voice rough with urgency. "This is going to be a little rough!"
Amelia braced herself as the cart veered sharply to the right, nearly tipping over. She clung to the edge, her vision swimming with the effort, but she forced herself to stay conscious. She could hear the thuds of bodies hitting the ground as Ezio swung the cart back and forth, throwing the attackers off balance. The sound of steel clashing rang through the air, followed by the shouts of men tumbling from the cart.
But it wasn't over yet. Borgia's men unleashed a new wave of attacks, launching bombs that exploded into bursts of flame on the path ahead. The air filled with the acrid smell of smoke as the horses reared, narrowly avoiding the fiery pits that appeared around them. Amelia felt the heat sear her skin, the flames licking dangerously close to the cart.
Leonardo emerged from his hiding spot, his eyes wide with panic as he saw the blood pooling under her. "Amelia, stay with me," he urged, pressing his hands against her wound to try and stem the bleeding. His touch was gentle but desperate, his face pale as he realized how dire her condition had become.
"I'm... I'm trying," Amelia managed, her voice barely more than a whisper as the edges of her vision darkened. She fought to focus on Leonardo's face, the worry etched into his features. "Just... don't let him get hurt," she gasped, glancing toward Ezio as he battled to keep the cart on course.
Leonardo's expression tightened, but he nodded, his hands working quickly to apply pressure to the wound. "You'll be all right, Amelia. You have to be."
Ahead of them, Ezio guided the horses through the flaming obstacles, his focus unwavering despite the chaos. But when he glanced back at Amelia, something flickered in his eyes—fear, and something deeper that made her heart clench even through the haze of pain. "Hold on, we're almost there!" he shouted over the roar of the wind and the pounding hooves.
The cart lurched again as Ezio swerved to avoid another blast, and Amelia's vision went black for a moment. She could feel Leonardo's hands trembling as he tried to keep her wound closed, the warmth of her blood slipping between his fingers. It felt like the world was slipping away from her, but she clung to the memory of Ezio's touch, the promise in his voice. She had to hold on. For him, if nothing else.
After what felt like an eternity, the sound of hooves began to fade, the attackers falling behind. Leonardo glanced up, his expression filled with desperate relief. "We're almost there, Ezio! Just a little further!"
Ezio's jaw was set, but he nodded, guiding the horses toward a safer path. "Go, Leonardo!" he ordered, his voice fierce. "Get her to Forlì. I'll deal with the rest."
Leonardo hesitated for a moment, but the sight of Amelia's pale face spurred him into action. He gave Ezio a grim nod, then turned back to Amelia, his voice softening. "Hang on, my friend. I won't let you slip away."
As the cart rumbled on, Ezio leapt off to face the remaining attackers, his figure disappearing into the shadows behind them. Amelia fought to keep her eyes open, to focus on the steady rhythm of Leonardo's voice as he urged the horses onward. But the pain was too much, and the world around her faded into darkness, leaving only the hope that Ezio would find his way back to them.