Music Inspiration: Jeff Beal- "Coming Home"
The Coast of Madagascar
Altaïr enjoyed the night rather than the day as it gave less visibility to aggravate his motion sickness and the lack of noise from conversations brought him peace. Well, until nighttime, since his bed rolled wilder than bales of wheat during harvest whenever the currents decided to put up a fight against the boat. Having Malik pin him to the wall by his blankets with knives wasn't comfortable either. Actually, now that he thought about it, many of Malik's methods were not very therapeutic but they were effective.
He watched the calm black waves from the deck since they provided a false sense of security to the abyss hidden beneath the surface. Looking into the darkness brought him a brief feeling of home as he often gazed into the dark cliffs at night for peace. Unfortunately, the ground under his feet was not earth and the night sky surrounding him was endless to the dangerous sea that could swallow him whole. If he perished, nobody would ever know where his body lay for proper funeral arrangements. Hmm, did he even care about having a funeral? Well, the choice was nice but the point of the matter was that he didn't want to die by water. Anything but that. Why couldn't the earth be composed of earth and freshwater only? If he knew the mechanism for Vivian's arrival, he would've used it to travel to the past or another parallel reality (preferably Vivian's) to kick those mysterious beings in the ass and make them do something about it.
The fact that he not only had to travel by boat to Madagascar but also return to the continent of Africa. . .it was enough to call it quits. He knew that Malik had taken the quickest routes by sea but they had other routes on the western continent of Africa to account for as well. The fact that they had to loop over the northern tip of Madagascar to avoid the southeastern winds had irritated him as well as it added days to the trip. He clenched his fists against the cold wooden railing to betray a small amount of the misery and agony the trip was producing.
"Fancy finding you out here" Vivian's voice spoke up from behind and the familiar tone soothed his inner turmoil with lightning speed. Her mere presence alone relaxed the tense muscles in his body as she approached him quietly. The woman could transform him into a tame eagle when his mind was clouded with anger and he sought that.
Vivian had come to stargaze at the endless dome overhead that glittered since the sea was shrouded for the night. Sometimes, the two crossed paths for the familiar pastime but it increased as the days passed and Altaïr grew weary of being bound to the ship. He didn't turn around in order to keep nausea at bay and answered simply, "It's better than staying below in that tightly sealed tomb."
"We're in calm waters so we're safe for now" she reassured gently and heard a skeptical snort from his end. No argument would ever convince him that open water was safe, not even for a split second, and he shook his head. Her next words were meant as reassurance to his safety but they were anything but that, "And if the ship springs a leak, we have a row boat-"
"A row boat in the middle of nowhere is so much better than drowning since the only danger there is dehydration, starvation, heatstroke, slaughter by sharks-" he ranted matter-of-factly to the numerous dangers stacked against them. What was a tiny boat made of wood going to do against all of that? He plopped down on a nearby wooden crate to stabilize himself, scuffing the floorboard with the heel of his boot with frustration. Vivian moved to his left side to stroke his back in circles to calm him as she shushed his rambles, hoping to soothe him. He sent her a deadpan expression to assert his opinion on the matter and stated flatly, "Nothing will change my mind on that, Vivian, but I appreciate your trying."
"Yes, you are rather stuck in your old man ways" she humored him with a light chuckle and settled down next to him to keep him company. He uttered a manly grunt to neither agree nor disagree with that statement, leading her to gently nudge his elbow with hers. He hit the crate with the heel of his right shoe this time to settle his worries about the ocean and she assured, "It'll be all right. You can swim now so stop taking your rage out against inanimate wooden objects."
He snorted defiantly since he'd kick, punch, smack, and throw whatever he wanted to whenever he saw fit. . .as long as nobody was around to pin the crime on him. Vivian resisted the temptation to roll her eyes at his little fit and bit her bottom lip to withhold a laugh when he snapped, "Swimming will not protect me from the jaws of a shark."
"No, but your hidden blade will" she reminded matter-of-factly since one precise strike from that weapon could potentially kill you in seconds. She remembered running from that thing many times when the man decided she needed to be chased down and scolded. At the same time, there were instances when she and Malik both slapped his hand away whenever he facepalmed out of fear he'd activate the weapon.
"You're awful at consoling today" Altaïr mumbled listlessly since he needed sympathy to soothe his bruised ego. Where was the woman that caressed his worries into a tiny insignificant dot?
She chuckled softly to his pouty mood as the candlelight from the lanterns illuminated his stern features and justified, "I never said I was a master of it but you've escaped plenty of wildlife before without a scratch. You remember that little hippo that tried to take a bite out of you?"
He smiled under the hood and felt a little better since he'd tangled with wildlife in the water and survived as the supreme predator. How long ago had that been? He and Vivian had heckled each other incessantly then and now- well, they still henpecked each other- he had to anticipate losing his better half. Her shoulders shook for a moment to the most frightful memory and she looked to him to remind, "The fact that you survived sleeping next to a crocodile is a feat in itself. How many people can say that?"
Her fingers squeezed his shoulder gently to offer the kindness he secretly basked in and she stated softly, "You're an indomitable force to be reckoned with and that's why you will always survive your tangles."
His lips thinned in disappointment when she removed her hand but he perked up when she requested, "Stargaze with me? In my time, it's hard to have such fortunate views. Everything is lit up in cities and due to their large sizes, the beautiful universe around us is shrouded."
He returned his gaze to the starry veil and the hints of loneliness faded with her by his side. He had to admit the sheer number of stars was beautiful alone but he rarely glanced at the sky in the past. The only reasons worth looking were for estimating sundown to make camp and directional guidance with the stars. His mind was always focused on a mission and completing a task for his order that everything else came in second. Being stuck on a boat didn't give him much to do so this was the first time he could actually relax since being below deck was dreary. Usually, he could stay in his tent or rented room without peering at the night sky but it was hard to ignore it now in the middle of the ocean.
"Is this why you enjoy it so much?" he asked curiously since she often gazed at the sky at camp for hours. During her first months, she occupied herself with stargazing to stay out of his way but he'd slowly adapted the habit after leaving Lake Victoria. He didn't allow his senses to dull while doing so but he did lock away all of his daily worries for at least half an hour for a peace of mind.
She turned to him with a perky smile and replied, "Of course, it's nice to enjoy the simple things in life. Otherwise, we'd be miserable without them."
"I'm afraid I've never really had that option until now" he admitted since they often spoke of the missed opportunities in his life. A normal childhood and adolescence were skipped in his life as he was thrust into adulthood prematurely which added to his awkwardness in certain social situations. His reasoning was that he was simply too busy to care about anything but the order except he was now their leader and set the missions. His company with Malik and Vivian enlightened him as they molded him into a better person that he was comfortable in becoming. He smiled faintly to his current position, figuratively and literally, and commented, "You've led me on quite the odd adventure."
"Better than it being a boring one, right?" she smiled cheekily since he'd yelled, ranted, and whined through parts of it until he'd gotten his way. Half of the time, her meddling or comments heralded said yelling bouts. He grunted noncommittally to his less than favorable traits and she admitted earnestly, "You've given me a life's worth of memories and I don't regret a single decision I've made so far."
He raised one eyebrow to test her honesty and asked skeptically, "Not a single one? We've made many questionable decisions in one year alone and we're going for two."
"Well, I do regret acting like a madwoman the first few weeks" she chuckled with embarrassment to the things she'd uttered when fear had clashed with his brusque demeanor. The corners of his lips lifted since she'd driven him to the brink of madness but their communication skills had been horrid back then. Many hay bales had been stabbed in her stead and he'd probably given the others ear damage from his yelling.
She pinched the start of her hood to prevent a draft when a cool breeze flew through and smiled warmly, "But not your decisions. You pushed it in Lake Victoria but thankfully, you compromised."
"I'm not a man without reason, Vivian" he pointed out since he did tend to have a stubborn streak but he wasn't going to throw logic out the window. The old Altaïr would have but he didn't have an ego to feed nor was he willing to risk losing what he had. He would not ignore objections to his behavior anymore and aimed a knowing look at his partner in crime.
"I never said you weren't, grand master" she replied nonchalantly with a hidden smile of mirth as she used his true title for the first time. Their clashing temperaments had led her to distort his profession to poke his ire but as time passed, she'd shown him the respect he deserved as he matured. Now that they were nearing the answers she sought, it was only right that she bestowed the rank he deserved. She flicked the top of his hood with a playful smile and doted caringly, "Although you wanted to cast me into the streets, you still allowed me to follow you on this journey and that speaks volumes for you. You're my leader and I'll be looking out for you on this final step . . . besides, you're spectacular at crushing fat bugs."
Altaïr watched the candlelight bounce off her head as she muffled her laughter behind her hands. True, he did perform a fabulous job whenever she screeched in terror to whatever critter crawled into her tent. Pulling her hands away to intertwine them with his, he drew her into a soft kiss as she faced him to return his own sentiments. They had shared numerous memories since meeting and he wanted to keep building onto that foundation for as long as he could. He didn't want to spare a single minute when she was destined to leave him and wished to tell it to scram. She belonged with him, down in his heart he knew this after everything they'd encountered . . . but he couldn't force his thoughts onto her.
He broke off the kiss to peer at his bashful partner as her lips thinned and admitted faintly, "I've missed that."
Despite the night shrouded most of their activity, her cheeks darkened to the public act. When had he decided to be this bold in such a small area? She'd become incredibly modest after adapting to the norms of his time and chided gently, "You don't take no for an answer, do you?"
"If you truly wanted nothing, little badger, you would've poked me in the eye immediately and scampered off" he rebutted easily to rile her since she hid her feelings from him under sarcasm and cupped her right cheek. Touching another had been rare for him unless it was an assassination but she stirred that longing with every passing day. She chuckled softly to his affectionate joke and grazed his bottom lip with hers, regretful for the longing he instilled when he whispered, "We're just two travelers to Madagascar, together on a small ship where nobody needs to know about our private lives. I can be yours and you can be mine just like in Quelimane."
He was possibly the most dangerous man on any continent he stepped foot on but he had a kind heart underneath all of that. It was how he kept luring her to grow the love she harbored with his simple but meaningful statements. She pressed her forehead against his, her fingers wringing his with worry as she sighed softly, "We can't, Altaïr. It's just not destined to be that way."
He shook his head because defeat wasn't in his vocabulary, meeting her gaze to state firmly, "We have a right to choose for ourselves, my lineage is secured-"
"You need another child to ensure it because if anything happens to your son, you're severing your line and all hope entirely" she pointed out grimly to the echoing repercussions because little Altaïr needed a baby brother to play with. He was destined for two sons and by gum, she'd make sure he got them.
Altaïr, however, brought a new card to the playing field by simply proposing. . .
"What's wrong with making a life with me for the time being? Who knows, you could bear my second child and make me a moderately happy man?" he attempted to joke gently to lighten the tense situation but his bearings with humor were never great. He thought enough time at Quelimane would remove his 'silent and broody' trademark but it was a slow work in progress. Still, he had never been one to skirt around feelings and spoke his mind openly to get what he wanted. He was subtle with his tenacity and he needed to explore the 'what if' questions that often floated through his head at night.
Vivian chuckled to his timing with humor but smiled apologetically because she couldn't. Even with the worrying fact that her monthly friend failed to arrive as scheduled was filling her mind with fear because it would open doors that she wasn't ready to peer through. Becoming pregnant would either be a huge mistake due to their dangerous lifestyles (not to mention saying 'screw you' to the time continuum) or a blessing where her future opened their child hope compared to current archaic medical care. Her second monthly visitor would be due soon and if it didn't arrive, her worries would be cemented with a confirmation that she would indeed be carrying his child. Returning home had been her main priority since day one but strings had been wrapping around her new role in his time to the point that she was becoming grounded to it.
"It could throw time into disarray, not to mention crush our hearts when I do leave" she answered simply with regret because everything involving an entanglement brought them back to square one. It wasn't simply their emotions that came into play but what could result from creating a life lasting bond from that. Her brows furrowed as she tried to suppress the sadness threatening to tighten her chest and stated quietly, "It would be so easy to live in a false world where my being here didn't affect anything and I could run off with you to help save the world . . . but I can't. As much as every fiber of my being wishes it, I can't."
Altaïr's voice was barely audible as her admission led him to ask with hope, "You would . . . stay with me?"
"As much as I wish I could . . . to live in your world, I can't" she breathed softly with melancholy as she glanced at the endless veil of diamond stars to avoid his gaze. It was such a beautifully romantic setting but it brought no enjoyment to the two as they kept their sentiments at bay. She shook her head to the quote she'd used that bore similarity to one of her favorite old Disney films. Her route was similar to that of the poor girl in the real Grimm brothers tale of the Little Mermaid, forced to cast aside the one she loved to let him follow another while she returned to her world to die alone. Sacrifices were not easy but everything they did was to give the future a fighting chance and she grasped his hands to lament softly, "I'm fated to keep you true on your path and be a distant memory decades from now when you're hobbling to get into bed in your old man pajamas."
It took great willpower not to tear up at the image of seeing her two friends in their own separate lives decades from now while she continued on in hers. They had become a part of her, an adoptive family, but she wouldn't see what that future of her loved ones would yield nor would they hers.
"Unless my mind becomes plagued with a disease to remove memory, I don't think you ever will be" he whispered softly with comfort and entwined their hands to dull the aching in their hearts. Her fingers squeezed his tightly as the thought of forgetting his features, his voice, and adventures frightened her. She wanted- needed- to remember what she'd lived through alongside them and hoped it wouldn't be stripped away from both parties when she left.
A fond smile touched her lips when his brushed against her temple and he whispered, "You're a part of me and Vivian Shore is a stubborn one to rub off."
The day finally arrived for their arrival and Altaïr had never been happier to see the beach shore of eastern Madagascar, reminding Vivian of a happy dog as he observed from the bow of the ship. They docked at the only port nearest to their site and with their trip consisting of more than a month and a half with their ancient vessel; they still had quite the distance to travel. Their destination had been deemed impassable by sea travel and although they'd been advised against it in Quelimane, the trip would venture on. Vivian had never been on a ship for very long and could only wonder about settlers that had traveled to the New World from Europe for a new life, enduring long months without contact with the outside world. Letter services did exist in during those days of exploration which made their small group feel even smaller since they had none.
When they docked at the port and the boat lurched to a stop, Altaïr resisted the urge to barf when the land no longer swayed and Vivian looped her arm through his to keep him steady. Their stop was the closest to what the map had depicted but even then, they were far from the northeast region on Malik's map and needed directions. They had landed in current day Atsinanana region but the environment was thick and lush with forest vegetation to prevent exploration, especially towards the northern Analanjirofo region. With Madagascar being a small trade center between Asia and Africa, the shores were the most heavily populated while the rest of the island remained isolated from the world. Similar to the small towns and villages they'd passed through, homes were built from wood, hay, and mud to resist the elements of the coast. The forest was much closer to civilization than the other locations as Vivian eyed it with curiosity while leading Altaïr off the wooden platform towards the sand.
They had retrieved information from the other boat travelers about the government and geography of Madagascar. Malik had gotten the most since Altaïr threatened to barf half of the time he spoke and Vivian's gender left her with nothing. As far as they knew, the coasts were filled with communities of trade as chieftains ruled the areas with distinct territories that were slowly becoming kingdoms. Foreigners were welcome due to commerce that increased wealth and status to the communities so the trio didn't feel threatened as they had in Lake Victoria. Nonetheless, Vivian donned her male garb to prevent any altercations from occurring in the new land.
The moment they set foot on stable earth, Vivian yelped in surprise when Altaïr collapsed onto his knees and pressed his head against the bare earth to rejoice, "Land! Stable land!"
Vivian and Malik could only smile politely to people wandering the village while their friend hugged the earth without a care. This was not how they pictured greeting the inhabitants of Madagascar, especially when a few turned to stare with puzzlement. A few seconds later, Malik nudged his friend's side and ordered through gritted teeth as he smiled at people, "Do not ruin our image minutes after arrival, we have to look sane and trustworthy."
"I think the second he started hugging the earth, our cover was blown" Vivian muttered to his behavior and leaned down to grasp his right arm. The assassin was reluctant to release the sand in his hands after only seeing months of endless water in the horizon. Stable earth was finally under his feet and it wouldn't be leaving him for a while.
"Altaïr, release" Malik snapped quickly to knock him back to his senses and his friend obeyed as he opened his hands to drop the sand. If their situation wasn't serious, Vivian would've been on the ground in hysterics and thanked the stars when he stood up on his own.
Under normal circumstances, Altaïr would be leading their operation but he hadn't been at his best for weeks. For the first time, he wanted something other than land and the piece of Eden, "I'm starving."
His companions blinked with surprise as his appetite finally returned in full force and Vivian smiled warmly, "We'll get you something, don't worry."
"The question is whether they take any of our currency" Malik pondered as he took control of their group to analyze where to begin. With the area being a haven for trade, he wanted to speak to Arabian merchants to see what currency was useful and for a map to guide them north. Altaïr's hunger would allow them to buy food or be refused while allowing him to mingle with locals to get information.
"At this point, I'm ready to trade my best knife for decent food and a bed" Altaïr muttered flatly because the dry tasteless crackers were not for human consumption and his back desired a floor other than hardwood. He was still disoriented from the boat's docking and the lack of decent sustenance didn't make him comfortable to explore the area. He needed to be at his best so he could be useful rather than a hindrance. With their arrival being in the early morning with a clear blue sky overhead, the shores were bustling with merchants and buyers as voices echoed around them. He eyed anybody that ventured too closely with suspicion and told his companions, "I would feel much safer with food so I have energy to fight danger or at least flee from it."
Vivian placed her hands on her hips to puff her chest with newfound confidence as she piped up and promised, "I'll protect you."
After a year of training alongside them, Altaïr had deemed her ready to carry her own weapon now that they were away from the safety of Quelimane and the boat. He had taken the stolen Templar spear (a Middle Eastern assegai) from Egypt that Vivian had become fond of and redesigned it himself during downtime at camp to fit her smaller frame. He'd whittled the end of the wooden staff to a sharp point to serve as extra protection if anyone ambushed her from behind. He would've added a metal point to it but they didn't have the resources or money to do so. She would not be a close range fighter but she was flexible enough to defend herself from a short distance until either he or Malik could offer aid.
He found her pose humorous since he dwarfed her in size and strength but her determination was admirable. Malik met his gaze as they shared an amused look to their petite pupil because students didn't take as long to learn but Vivian was a special civilian case. Of course, they'd never tell her that and Malik encouraged, "Yes, you will."
Altaïr blinked with perplexity to what the dai just stated but he didn't get to interrupt when Malik continued, "Which is why you'll go with him to the nearest eatery while I gather intel from the docks."
Vivian gulped as she was faced with true responsibility over the grand master for the first time but straightened her posture to nod. When it came to Malik, she would not disappoint her friend after his endless patience and sincere friendship with her. Altaïr dared to risk both their ire since decisions had been made without his input and asked directly, "Is nobody going to ask me what I want? Need I remind you of what happened in Lake Victoria when you decided to be helpful?"
"We're in broad daylight and I've yet to see signs of slave trading so yes, I will travel alone like the grown adult that I am" Malik replied easily since he was capable of taking care of himself but understood the worry. He would not be making an impulsive decision anytime soon and he trusted Vivian to keep Altaïr safe. After all, she'd concocted the plan to save him back in Lake Victoria while Altaïr wanted to storm the place. If he allowed his friend to get a word in edgewise, they'd never get the job done and ordered quickly, "Rendezvous point is here. I will be back within half an hour which will be enough time for Altaïr to eat something."
Altaïr gaped that he'd be given such a short time and wasn't keen on relinquishing leadership until Malik pointed out, "You have an appetite and haven't eaten adequately in weeks, therefore your energy is depleted to explore. I'm very certain you'll finish your food in less than ten minutes."
"He has you there so let's go" she agreed with a kind smile as she patted his upper back to move things along. If there was one thing the assassin didn't like, it was losing control but she ushered him gently, "Besides, we can do our own investigating too. We have to restock everything and head out in a few hours to find camp."
Malik shook his head as he watched Vivian lead Altaïr to the nearest abode that had produce outside or a line of people leaving with food out of the doorway. The man waved her hands away as he insisted that he could walk on his own while she nagged that helping was not showing vulnerability. It had taken a lot of work (and patience) but he finally had a team that he trusted with his life and no longer had to supervise them. With an accomplished smile, the dai disappeared into the moving crowds to head back to the docks for information.
Vivian watched with dismay as Altaïr licked his fingers clean without a care while the other hand set aside the third plate of food he'd eaten. She had expected his appetite to return but not to such an extent that his food had been wolfed down within twenty minutes. They had been relieved to know the first establishment accepted currency from the caliphate lands (and spoke Altaïr's language) due to ongoing trade so their Egyptian money was valid. Altaïr had no hesitating in ordering the largest dish they could cook and demanded haste with it as he paid them with his hard earned money. Vivian diffused any possibilities of having kitchen cutlery thrown at their heads when she added in that he hadn't eaten well in a month.
His eating speed had been inhumanly fast and Vivian had been forced to hand over her own share of money to satisfy his cravings. She stared at him with widened eyes while her lips pressed into a thin line as she processed what she'd just witnessed. How could a person eat this fast? It was only justifiable that his agility would help him eat food faster than she could hope to but. . .
"Please tell me you're finished, I don't know if I can spare any more money" she finally spoke after staring at the man for a minute while he'd stared back with an innocent look. Had he forgotten she was there the whole time?
He cleared his throat awkwardly since her stare had unnerved him slightly when he caught it. There were a multitude of expressions that she owned but that particular one had left him a bit bashful since her eyes had never been wide for that long without blinking and the piercing green hue enhanced the look. Their moment of silence was disrupted when two rolled parchments dropped down between them as Malik leaned against an empty chair and informed with a happy grin, "We have the maps to the north."
Altaïr was reluctant to believe he'd finished his task that quickly and reached for the rolled documents but the dai objected sharply, "Don't touch them with oil on your fingers."
The assassin snorted with defiance but listened to his friend's reasoning because ruining the maps would not be wise. Another question popped to mind since they hadn't told Malik their exact location and curiously asked, "How did you know we were here?"
"This was the first place you ventured to" he replied with a light chuckle to Altaïr's tendency to choose the closest and most convenient place to eat. It didn't take much for the power of deduction to pin down where he was. The man had been exhausted from weeks of insomnia and inadequate nutrition so the safest option was to plop down somewhere and stay there if aromatic food was involved. Altaïr raised his left eyebrow to inquire on how the man had finished his objective so quickly while he'd been annihilating plates of food. The dai merely chuckled as he knew the man's tendency to interrogate everything and answered matter-of-factly, "Besides my mastered lock picking abilities, I am your best informant. A small area like this is child's play for me."
Altaïr had never been the best at gathering information but interrogating which is why he had often been teamed up with Malik for missions. Vivian's face broke into a grin of full admiration for the dai since his easygoing demeanor and harmless façade hid his skill asset, which was quite intimidating. He didn't need to use physical force to break down an enemy but rather information to strike at their vulnerabilities. She could see why they got along so well after meeting as they stuck to the shadows and out of the line of fire to work, leading her to gush, "He's so awesome, it's not even funny. If there's ever a vote as to who should be the new leader in the future, I vote Malik."
The dai bowed slightly to her compliment since he'd worked hard from day one to get where he was. Altaïr agreed that the man was a valuable friend to have at his side after he and Vivian helped him adjust to interacting in social situations. He pointed to the rolled papers since he wasn't going to risk ruining them and asked, "And you're certain these will guide us?"
Malik pulled the empty chair to sit down and grabbed a cloth napkin to drape over the table to absorb any lingering liquid. He couldn't afford damage to the maps that would guide them to their destination. He motioned for Vivian to unroll one of the two maps since he wasn't able to do so and she revealed a charcoal sketched map of the eastern coast with the surrounding forest. Dots lined along the coastline with foreign names and he ran a finger over the coast towards the north as he explained, "Villages line up along the coast, mostly places for trade, but we've come as far as we can by sea. The north is not accessible due to the rough terrain as the elevation increases and the humidity we'll encounter runs the risk of dehydration while the cold night risks dangerous temperatures. I suggest venturing to the villages for food but we will need to purchase blankets for the elements."
"So we'll be boiling in the day and freezing at night?" Altaïr muttered distastefully to their choices but luck never seemed to be on his side. Vivian offered a sympathetic smile since they'd faced tough weather before and made it out alive in one piece. Heck, they'd been inside a burning building and lived!
Malik pointed to the three little dots on the north again and informed, "I've also been told that piracy is common the area but it will be best to stick to the forest after trading anywhere. We don't know what we will encounter so we'd best be careful."
"Malik, my dear, careful is our middle name" Vivian piped up cheerfully to keep optimism alive in their group, especially with Altaïr glaring at the maps. His travels had not been easy so all she could do was lighten that burden however she could. She tapped her fingers on the table to draw his attention away and smiled at him to remind, "Look at the bright side, no water travel this time."
"Now then, let us buy some supplies and head north along the coast" Malik suggested to making the best of their time and drawing some enthusiasm from his team. He could count on Vivian to maintain her perkiness and cheer on whatever suggestions he supplied but Altaïr was a dormant volcano. He had expected the man to curse the entire dock after landing since weeks of suppressed emotions had bottled up in regards to his deteriorating health. It seemed that he was indeed maturing to process his emotions more carefully than a year ago.
Her words on the lack of water travel did raise his spirit somewhat since he'd been happy to leave the boat behind. Nagging about their upcoming obstacles wouldn't help so he smiled at his group to state with renewed vigor, "Let's get this done."
Their first night back to their antiquated camping lifestyle brought a mournful sigh from Vivian as she glanced morosely around camp, "And we return to where we started."
The trio had found a small clearing within the thick brush of the forest but it was denser to see around them than any other place they had visited. The clearing wasn't much in terms of space and had required all three to clear an area for a fire where it wouldn't pose a forest fire risk. Madagascar was an exotic land that had yet to be fully explored and only the indigenous tribes had set foot around land that their group would traverse. They had already been advised by villagers that the north would not be easy to reach but they would not turn away when so much depended on reaching the next temple. Altaïr had set up a campfire despite the humidity that was making him quite uncomfortable since he was accustomed to hot dry weather. For the first time, he had to lower his hood in camp when the cloth stuck to his damp skin and hoped that the weather would better throughout the days.
As always, he was fiercely stubborn to remove the iconic robes to slip into something comfortable. Malik could only watch the man fan himself with his right hand while he sat on the ground in a sleeveless tunic and simple breeches for a cooler wardrobe. He fought the urge to laugh aloud when his friend aimed a glare his way for looking so damn comfortable. Well, it was better than hearing him complain endlessly about his motion sickness so Malik would take solace in that. Those days were officially over the moment Altaïr decided to kiss the bare earth without a care of what lay in it. He missed the sound of the ocean and the silence of absent civilization as the forest came alive with sounds of active wildlife. Vivian settled into her old role with reluctance after enjoying the enclosed space of the boat and the safety of Quelimane. Even now, she had to admit that the weather was favorable in all of the places they'd been to (even Egypt) compared to the humid island.
She was stirring of lentil soup in their trusty iron pot as it boiled over the fire and Altaïr kept vigilant watch over the food. They didn't have the luxury of shopping like they had in Quelimane and had to make sure their first meal cooked correctly. The crackling fire illuminated his eyes as they followed the movement of the wooden spoon and he warned her, "Don't burn them, Vivian."
"Hush . . .I ain't gonna burn it" she murmured with a witty smile after watching way too many Adventure Time episodes with her siblings. Besides, after cooking for him for over a year, she knew how to cook a simple soup in the rugged outdoors without burning anything. Now that he had his appetite back to normal human levels, he would be devouring anything in sight like he usually did.
Altaïr stared at her with confusion written on his face and she chuckled to chide gently, "You've given me that look so much, it's lost meaning."
"You can't grow immune to them" he objected with mock shock since he made a profession out of it by bringing fear into the hearts of many and she smiled cheekily. After making love to him, she highly doubted he'd ever lay a single finger on her to cause harm. His playful swats didn't hurt anymore and if they ever did, he apologized like a true gentleman. She loved ruffling his feathers with banter to keep their days lively and hoped that fiery spark of his never faded. Her amused smile didn't lessen as her gaze returned to the lentil soup and he declared in challenge, "I guess I'll have to keep trying."
"Templars around the world will cry out to your enhanced glare power" she laughed aloud to the idea of those famous glares doubling in strength. She'd been reduced to a squeaking mess most of the time and when he was frustrated and not keen on joking, it did silence her immediately. He was a man she could banter with from dawn until dusk but one that she respected immensely. Altaïr tried to appear nonchalant but smiled faintly to the thought of striking fear into his enemies.
"It's when they stop that it's time to worry" both remarked in unison and they blinked with delighted surprise that they thought of it at the same time. Altaïr smirked proudly as her joking shifted to his own mindset while she flushed for matching his thoughts exactly to the last word.
Malik shook his head in disapproval as their closeness increased and discouraged quickly, "Oh no, don't you two meld minds and behave as one entity. It's bad enough with Altaïr alone and corrupting her- I will not have two Altaïr's to juggle for another year."
"Aw, he's not that bad" Vivian chuckled softly as she smiled at the assassin but knew he had a tendency to drive Malik bonkers. Heck, she'd done the same to the poor dai on more than one occasion. Altaïr puffed his chest to her comment to show that he had somebody on his side but she pointed the wooden spoon towards him and lectured, "Don't puff up like a peacock, you already strut enough as it is. You need to engage in a little thing I like to call active listening."
"Vivian, you've specifically driven me to using selective listening with your horrid singing" he pointed out matter-of-factly since he often tuned out a lot of things nowadays unless it was attached to an angry face. His lack of facial expression tended to shroud what he was thinking but when his eyes glazed over from boredom, he was caught red handed. He snatched the spoon from her hand to stir the pot himself before soup was strewn everywhere and watched her fists clench. Her innocent pout told him he hadn't overstepped with his words and he looked to Malik to reassure, "I promise I will not drive you mad by next year but I cannot be held accountable for Vivian's sudden mindset. We both know what lurks in that abyss and I'm not going to tread into that- have some faith in me."
"Hey! It's only meant to boggle your mind more than anything" she rebuffed hastily since the 12th century wasn't ready for her bold talk and rampant thoughts. He had such a rigid personality in the beginning that she'd learned to enjoy softening his rough edges with humor. Now, he had developed blunt smooth edges after adaptation took hold to protect his sanity. He never smiled at her at all but their progress together as friends over the past year and a half finally allowed them to breach the surface in private. His deadpan expression seen across the campfire caused her to wave her hands and she feigned a sigh with resignation, "I know, I know- crazy little badger fell off her wagon and knocked out a few logic areas of her brain."
Altaïr smirked to her light jesting and added a verbal poke by stating with mirth, "Good, as long as you're aware of that."
She chuckled to his cocky tone as he grabbed each side of the suspended branch to pull it away from the whittled Y-shaped branches holding it above the campfire. Carefully, he set it down on the flat earth to allow the pot to cool and set the branch against a nearby rock for any future use during the night. Sometimes, one of the three had a hankering for tea so it was best to keep their makeshift cooking station available rather than use it for kindling. Waving his left hand over the pot, he aimed a lopsided smile to his team to declare proudly, "Supper is served."
"You know damn well Vivian and I cooked that" Malik corrected as he laughed aloud to his friend's cheerfulness at having supper finished. Food always lifted Altaïr's mood and the weather he'd experienced that day was not filling him with confidence for their journey north. If he was going to fight through Mother Nature's climate and her wilderness at maximum strength, he would need a full stomach.
Vivian waved a hand to let Altaïr have his moment as she watched him gather their wooden bowls from their travel packs. She wanted to keep him in a jovial mood and leaned over to tell Malik privately, "He can have his happy bubble- look at him."
For the first time, he was serving the food himself without being ordered and blamed his jolly mood on breaching land. Vivian hadn't seen him this happy since before crossing the Giza strip and even then, he was not happy. He had endured a horrible experience overseas and his demeanor brightened immediately once his feet touched the solid earth. She wanted to keep that renewed vigor during the upcoming days since they had to be prepared for anything concerning the POE's. Malik shrugged off any heckling remarks since his friend deserved a little cheer in his life after spending numerous days emptying his stomach into the sea and severe insomnia. It was far easier to have a content rather than furious grand master so the dai stated sincerely, "Thank you for serving our dishes, Altaïr."
The assassin blinked to the compliment after being accustomed to lectures and advice, unsure of how to respond. He couldn't resort to his sassy remarks after forcing Malik to bear his sour attitude for over a month on that accursed boat. A calm aura had fallen over his fellowship and looking to his friends, he replied earnestly, "You're quite welcome, my friend."
Altaïr's joyful mood of the night came to a screeching halt when Vivian began to sway to the side with a small cunning smile on her lips. He knew that familiar accursed smile- it was the one she used before unleashing a banshee song. He hadn't heard one out of her in weeks due to her own sickness of the sea and yearned to clog his ears when she began to sing slowly:
"In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The assassin sleeps tonight
In the jungle, the quiet jungle
The assassin sleeps tonight
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Near the river, the peaceful river
The assassin sleeps tonight
near the river, the quiet river
the assassin sleeps tonight
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh, wimoweh
Hush my darling, don't fear my darling
The assasin sleeps tonight
Hush my darling, don't fear my darling
The assassin sleeps tonight."
Altaïr aimed a deadpan stare to his companion and critiqued, "That was not one of your best songs yet."
"Given the fact that we've heard you barf more than my banshee songs, you can go kiss that mossy rock over there" she shot back with a laugh to his insult and pointed to a large boulder hidden from the campfire's light. The moisture that the western coast retained allowed for most rocks to grow moss in comparison to the east and the thick coverage of the forest provided the perfect environment for growth.
The assassin refused to budge from where he sat, a cocky glint flickering through his eye before he ordered simply, "Go to bed."
"Aw, no, not that again" she whined pitifully with a comical pout since he hadn't enacted mandatory bedtimes in a very long time. Malik couldn't help but laugh at their antics as a sense of normalcy settled back into their group dynamics. Being stuck in the tiny ship for weeks without anything to do had driven them to extreme boredom. The dark and empty forest allowed them to have the privacy they sought to discuss important matters and simply be themselves for a few hours. Her hands clasped together as she scuttled over to him with haste and begged humorously, "Please, sir, your humble servant asks for forgiveness. She's ever so loyal."
Altaïr groaned with distaste since he'd often heard similar in the past without the humor linked to it and shook his head, "Never call yourself a servant ever again."
"A minion?" she chirped innocently despite the fact she'd never join their order but would still follow him willingly. Malik laughed with amusement since the man was often followed by new recruits in a similar manner and he'd sent them on fake errands to get them away from him.
He pointed to the log he sat on to avoid another lecture on unquestionable loyalty and ordered hastily, "Sit."
Vivian, however, plopped down on the bare ground with a perky smile and her bright expectant eyes led him to state flatly, "I meant the log."
"But the ground is softer on my bum" she reasoned simply and he resisted from facepalming out of fear he'd activate his hidden blade. Malik paused writing in his journal before his laughter caused him to make a horrible mistake on paper. It had already happened once when his friend had been chasing the woman around camp and he had to tear out a page worth of important notes. Her left hand batted Altaїr's knee in rebuttal to his dry expression and she hushed innocently, "Stop distracting Malik, he's all we have to keep us sane and on route."
He balked to being pinned as the instigator and straightened his posture on the log before exclaiming, "Me?! You're the little-"
"I'm a minion, I could never" she interrupted nonchalantly and waved a dainty hand to show her innocence. The huge smirk on her face said otherwise as she held back laughter that threatened to break the silence in the forest. Her fingers tapped against his knee to draw his intense gaze away from her face and she suggested, "Just poke the fire and look like the badass you were born to be."
He flicked the center of her forehead to return her playful banter as she pried his mind away from his worries. Malik watched the two like a father wolf to make sure they played nice before returning to his work. Night worked best for him since their days would be spent exploring and making sure they stayed one step ahead of their enemies. Vivian flashed him a wide smile to reassure him they would behave and allow him to work diligently. Altaїr poked the fire with his handy stick to incite the fiery flames as Vivian scratched the back of her head lazily since a lack of daily showering hampered having a lustrous mane like shampoo models. Early tomorrow, she'd search for a nice water hole to freshen up at so she could appear half decent while hiking.
Nudging his booted foot with her elbow as she huddled against his leg, she mumbled lethargically, "Prodding the wood won't give you answers at this hour of the night. Besides, it's bedtime so no more thinking. . .it will give you wrinkles and sun damage is already bad enough here. If you're going to be living into old age, I want your skin to stay tight and hydrated."
"Vivian. . ." he sighed to her humorous logic as he turned to gaze at her and pointed out matter-of-factly, "I wear a hood at all times so that will avoid it."
She chuckled softly to his reasoning since his profession provided a perfect blend of sun protection as he stuck to the shadows and wore a hood 24/7. Altaїr shook his head in amusement to her sheer joy over something so simple and she patted his kneecap to grin, "That you do. You smart devil, you've been using natural sunscreen since birth."
A moment later, her green eyes widened as she blinked rapidly to a delightful thought that sparked and asked, "Wait, did you wear a little hood to show you were a little assassin in training when you were young?"
Her teeth glinted against the fire's glow as she smiled widely to coo sweetly, "Oh man, I want to hug an adorable toddler like that as if they were a cookie dough tube."
"I didn't have this hood all of my life, Vivian" he chuckled softly to her ramblings as she stirred laughter for the first time since that horrible boat trip. His earliest memories did have him running errands around Masyaf for the assassins but he'd yet to don a hood. The fortress was large enough to offer decent shade on his trips and he enjoyed the sun on his skin whenever he wandered below to the village. It was only until late childhood that he'd begun to wore a gray garb to designate that he would soon begin his assassin training.
"With the way you strut around, it sounds like you did" she scoffed cockily to the image of a baby Altaïr wearing the iconic hood as he crawled all over the place. Hmm, even the glare he was aiming at her was imaginable on those little round features. The thought of that glare being passed down to her possible little bun in the oven brought a bittersweet smile to her face. Would they look like him or share a blend of their features? She didn't have admirable traits like he did so she hoped they took after him.
"He was the first to gloat like a child with candy when he received one" Malik added in to chide his friend as he remembered the young Altaїr bursting into their shared quarters to wave it around. The young man had not been modest about anything and it had only worsened in later years. Altaїr muffled a groan in his throat to his appalling behavior but Malik shook his shoulders to remind him it was all in the past.
Altaїr caught the half-formed smile on her face as she failed to add in a joke as well and asked softly, "What is it?"
"I wish you would've had an easier life" she whispered sympathetically to the harsh life he'd led since entering the world and it wouldn't end anytime soon. She could only clear the rocks in his path to the best of her abilities to give him an easier path to walk after all of the hard work he endured.
"Trust me, if it'd been possible, I would've asked for a moderate one" he snorted since he wasn't one to shy away from hard work and reminded his assassins that shortcuts were never a good idea. He'd learned that the hard way and didn't want another going through the same ordeal and causing another ruckus through their order. Lingering on the possibilities of a life outside of the order was not feasible to him and he stated simply, "An easy life would've made me complacent and I don't like being stationery."
Vivian smiled to the image of him relaxing on a bale of hay and snoring the day away. It was so unfitting to the man that fought to make the world a better place but yet, he deserved to do so after all the work he put in. She snuggled against the warm leather of his boot and mumbled sleepily, "You're a leader, not a cloud counter."
Before he realized it, she'd fallen asleep against his leg and he leaned down to see her eyes closed as she dreamed of things he had no idea on. He was certain that a fictional character of her fancy currently dwelled in that realm. Rather than waking her, he allowed her to keep sleeping since she'd wasted her sleeping time by staying up to talk with him. Their traveling conversations were directly focused on business and lightened with humor during their adventure. Nighttime, however, brought solitude along with vulnerability and it often led the two to divulging their worries and feelings. He had never been open with anyone until she'd indulged him to purge whatever burdens he dwelled on to lighten that load.
His hand gently stroked the top of her head as she slept on and he murmured privately, "You're going to make my life emptier when you leave."
"You have to prepare yourself for it" Malik advised gently since his friend tended to grieve with anger first than any other emotion. The woman had changed the man for the better but her leave threatened to undo that hard work and possibly tear his resolve. He gazed at his friend with empathy since he would lose his mentee as well and stated, "It is why I have been pushing for you to give her space because we do not know what will happen when we find this temple."
Altaїr wasn't ready to face that his days with her were limited as she slept beside him because at that moment, she was real and next to him. Removing his hand from her head to occupy himself with a random string that stuck out from his robe, he muttered, "I'll be fine."
"No, Altaїr, you won't . . . but I will be here for you as a brother" the dai promised to keep his friend's mind and heart intact when that day came. Altaїr avoided his gaze to suppress the bothersome emotions that surfaced when he thought of her leaving them. It was easier to deny than acknowledge them at that moment.
A/N: First of all, a happy and late new year's to my readers worldwide and secondly, I apologize for the lateness of this chapter and any other stories you might've been reading. Never in my life did I expect my major to take such a vast amount of my focus but I realized in the past few months that with a person's life hanging in my hands, I need to give up my own social life to learn to save and preserve the health of another. I'm near the end of my long journey with June of this year being my graduation and have been humbled to appreciate life by my patients (especially the ones in oncology) while my professors chisel me to be a leader (which is still scary to me). I wish I could devote the time I had to all of my stories as I did before my program which has led me to prioritize which ones will be updated first. I love the historical settings of the assassin's creed franchise and it allows me to release the stress I've endured (ex. spraining a hand minutes before a team leader exercise right under my professor's supervision pushed me to give care while sacrificing my own in order to pass). The humor poured into this little adventure will continue because I am seeing this story through after putting so much effort into it and seeing the reviews and PM's from you guys. The OC characters created for this and Ubisoft's own characters have helped me build the mold for my own fictional tale characters so I will not abandon it after all that it's given me.
Thank you for the ongoing reviews and new readers, I know which ones you are and I thank you for your words (especially your fave parts, it gives me new ideas). I don't know whether I've mentioned this before but due to my longer post times now and growing PM's in my inbox, I welcome questions about the characters or story or anything Assassin's Creed or Adventure Time. When I see stories abandoned by authors or go for years without updates, questions pop into mind about it and for me, a poke from readers tells me that 'yes, someone's still interested' so feel free, lads and ladies. The trio is in a new terrain now and again, it is not playing in Altair's favor so we will see whether he returns to the man he was during Lake Victoria or has actually grown up a bit. As they head north to find the temple, it will start to hit home as to what exactly will happen to our quirky Vivian.
Next Time: What Happens in Madagascar Stays in Madagascar
"I've never seen so much vegetation, it's worse than traveling down the Nile" Altaïr sighed with aggravation as he chopped branches out of his way to make a path to the north. Two days had passed since their arrival at Madagascar and the assassin longed for the dry winds and open landscape of his native Syria. If the humidity didn't annoy him with drenching his clothes in endless rivers of sweat, the cold nights stiffened his limbs and left his teeth a chattering mess. Half his day was spent clearing a path towards the north as Malik guided their direction and the thick foliage that tangled against his shoes and sword was an immense annoyance.
Vivian leaned down to collect the lingering debris of his aftermath for their campfire. Her smaller size helped to squeeze in through dense spots when he needed her so she could scout ahead and clear smaller tangles of branches to lessen his workload. His shoulders would ache horribly by the end of the week with endless repetitions of the same motion but he needed to get to the specified location. Altaïr glanced back at his companion as he noticed a blue blob dart around in his peripheral vision and reminded, "We can't slow down after losing time in Quelimane. We can find more at camp but it seems you have enough."
Vivian's gaze met his as she paused in her branch gathering to offer a rebuttal. After collecting an armful, she still tried to add one more piece to avoid wasting the branches. The man had literally left a clear path to the north that covered his width and it would remain for years to come until the forest swallowed it once more.
"I'm trying to save the remnants of the jungle you're butchering here" she pointed out with a pout and grabbed the last stick into her pile to recycle. Of course, that little stick was one too many and the entire collection fell out of her arms as she tried to stand upright. All of it crashed onto the ground and Altaïr glanced at the scattered twigs with a deadpan expression while Malik awaited their next words. Vivian raised a hand in peace to broker a compromise with the man eating lion known as Altaïr and slowly stated, "All right, we can't abandon my hard earned stick collection-"
"Vivian, we're already behind!" he objected curtly and made an emphasis by chopping down the next fat branch in his way. A droplet of sweat sneaked past his eyebrow to annoy his left eye and he quickly dabbed at the hindrance. Malik shook his head because his friend was incredibly stubborn at donning simpler garb to weather the elements. Altaïr made an emphasis by pointing to his damp forehead and told her frankly, "And it's humid like a thousand lingering storms!"
"We do need kindling later on" Malik reasoned and grabbed a few sticks to help his friend save her bundle. The nights had grown incredibly colder to those at sea and they kept the campfire burning until daybreak. Altaïr's eyes narrowed as the dai decided to clearly enter the playing field in Vivian's corner and knew he was outnumbered immediately.
"Unless you're both making twig soup, forget it! We can find more later" he argued defiantly and stomped forward, only to snag the back of his robes on a protruding branch. He heard a sharp tear that would require sewing from the sound of it and tensed his shoulders in frustration. His stroke of luck had ended the first night on the island and it only seemed to be getting worse. Was it too much to ask for a little repose while saving the world? His right hand clenched the hilt of his sword as he purged a few of those feelings, "Arrgh!"
Vivian continued to pick up her fallen sticks as quickly as possible and tried to charm him with a smile, "I've heard it's quite tasty. Is that why you're cranky? Because you're hungry?"
"No, I'm sweaty and exhausted in this forsaken jungle" he shot back quickly because her chirpy tone was not decreasing his discomfort with the humidity. If anything, it irked him further and fueled his agitation as to how she could even cope with the extreme temperatures.
"You know, you could just ask for help" the dai suggested dryly to his innate need to be the hero all the time and to remain in control of his decisions. As Altaïr puffed his chest to accepting such a thing after all of the hard work he was putting in, the dai unsheathed his sword to take the front lead. The assassin was more than ready to protest that he was strong enough to do it himself but Vivian grabbed him by the arm to halt his henpecking.
He was more than ready to nip their mutiny in the bud with a sharp word but her troubled expression stopped him short. Was she ill? Had something bitten her? Did those stupid branches give her splinters? He sheathed his sword quickly as his pride was placed on the shelf and concern took over for Vivian.
"Please don't turn into that man in Lake Victoria" she pleaded with him privately after the horrible time that plagued them during the entire trip. It had been such a beautiful landscape but the tense situation had dampened that enjoyment. His demeanor had shifted into a different person and she didn't want to lose the man she respected and cared for. Her fingers wrapped around his forearm tentatively to pacify the fear of seeing that person resurface and she beckoned with worry, "I don't want that cold calculating man that shouted every time something went wrong and made me feel like an outsider. I want the grumpy but reasonable man you've become, not an obsessed madman."
He calmed down to her words and wiped his sweaty brow to groan miserably to the unbearable climate. Vivian used the side of her sleeve to dab his face clean so the droplets wouldn't irritate his eyes and he smiled to her care. She stayed by his side through thick and thin with unyielding loyalty, leading him to apologize for his brusque tone, "This climate is pushing my limitations and after traveling on a boat for a month, I am ready to end this journey at times. I don't mean to snap at you- if anything, you're keeping me sane in this endless maze. I would never hurt you in any form and you have authority to beat me with that truth if I get out of line."
"So I can keep my twigs?" she asked hopefully as she clutched the small bundle to her chest while the rest lay on the ground. He couldn't help but smile at her simple glee over mere twigs for kindling but that was Vivian. She found a way to stay optimistic in the worst of conditions and tried to stir the same out of him for distraction. That little woman would be the end of him but she kept him grounded and he was grateful for that. If he'd continued to bark orders and with her behaving like a harpy, things would've been much different.
"Gather as many as you want but be careful" he allowed with a small sigh to keep her happy and that in itself lessened the tension in his mind. It was better to have her forage now rather than lose hours' worth of kindling for their campfire. He flicked a small round bug that scurrying between the sticks, hoping that she wouldn't be bringing 'friends' along for their journey. Their eyes met as he offered a kind smile but his words carried his concern, "Don't linger here too long and stay within my sight."