Music Inspiration: Michael Giacchino- "Life and Death"
Life & Death
Ilias and Maria stared in absolute shock to the last person they expected to sneak up on them. Not to mention the improbable route as well. Were they really seeing this? Maria had to squeeze Ilias' arm in an effort to have him tell her she was losing her mind.
Altaïr didn't have time for their dismayed faces and couldn't help but remark sarcastically, "It would be nice to be invited inside and not hang over an endless chasm."
Ilias unlocked his window hastily at seeing his friend clinging to the windowsill of all things. The window creaked loudly for the rarity of ever opening and Altaïr clambered inside with none of his usual finesse. Their diets in Madagascar hadn't been the best so they had to conserve their energy adequately.
Both Ilias and Maria stared in dismay as he fell in a heap on the floor with an annoyed grunt. They didn't hesitate to help him stand on his own two feet and the first words out of his mouth were, "Am I really in Masyaf? What year is it?"
"Yes, you're home and it's soon to be 1194 next month" Ilias informed with confusion to his odd remarks and Maria shot him a worried look. What was going on with his friend? How did he not know what day it was? Altaïr was relieved to hear that he was still in his time and reality, though catching the two in an embrace led to him questioning everything. What had he missed while being gone?
"Are you all right?" Maria asked with concern as the man caught his breath, noticing the brown dirt caking his white robes. The man was finicky about being immaculate with his clothing so seeing him in this condition was unusual. What had happened during his trip?
"I. . .no, I'm very confused" he replied earnestly as he pinched the bridge of his nose to prevent a headache from forming. There were a lot of things he hadn't expected today and being hurled back to Masyaf and catching his friend in an embrace with his ex-lover were not in that category.
Maria released a sigh and agreed, "Same here."
His head snapped towards her as he scrutinized her appearance for anything out of the ordinary. He was still paranoid that he could be trapped in another reality but when her blue eyes met his with the same shrewd sharpness he remembered, he relented. Yes, this was indeed the Maria he knew. Quickly, he asked the last question she expected, "Just to verify, you were pregnant with my child, correct?"
"Yes, the sixteen hours of labor are proof of that" she remarked sarcastically about the bundle he'd left her with. Although she felt nothing romantic towards the man, she didn't regret having her child. Darim gave her a greater purpose to do good in the world to make it even safer for his future.
"So you are here at Masyaf permanently with our son?" he asked carefully to ensure that his child was indeed safe and alive. Letters were great forms of communication but after a year without them, he didn't know what could've happened throughout the pregnancy. His child could have survived childbirth but perished months after or she could've had a stillbirth.
When Maria nodded with confirmation, his shoulders relaxed with relief that he would have a chance to meet them. He didn't know how it would go but he would at least try his best. Although he was currently occupied with a mission, his son was always in his mind. Vivian had taught him the basics of holding an infant, changing their diapers, and playing innocent games to help them grow because he wanted to be a good parent.
"I'm glad you decided to come to Masyaf rather than head elsewhere or worse, chase me down" he admitted since he had left that door for sanctuary open for her. Well, at the time, he also did it in case she wanted to rekindle a true romance. Now, however, his heart and mind were focused on one person whom he had to return to.
"You were off in the land of adventure, what was I supposed to do? Waddle my way through Africa?" Maria demanded sarcastically to the impossible idea of long-distance traveling while pregnant and crossed her arms. Darim hadn't given her a small pregnancy bump either so it would've been dangerous to travel alone. Altaïr snorted at the comical image of her walking at a turtle's pace and she growled, "Don't you dare imagine my waddling."
Ilias shook his head behind Maria to inform his friend not to poke an irate mother. The closeness shared between the two formed another thought in Altaïr's head. Maria had never been one for physical contact outside of their physical relations so this was new. What had happened in his absence? Had Ilias and Maria paired off together? Or had he made assumptions?
"So you two are . . .?" Altaïr questioned calmly for clarification.
Maria glanced at the floor with lingering shame for never developing feelings of him after their travels together. Their personalities simply didn't click together back then in the same manner as it did with Ilias. She had begun caring for another but Ilias had been there for her longer than Altaïr had and their lives hadn't been riddled with danger at every corner. His personality was much more optimistic than bleak and she'd been drawn to his serene persona. Ilias nodded with affirmation because he wasn't one to hide the truth and stated, "Yes, we are . . . involved-"
"Courting" Maria corrected because she wanted to be treated like a proper lady. This time, she would not shy away from a real relationship and saw potential with Ilias. He had helped her through one of the toughest times in her life and continued to do so even now. With regret, she looked to Altaïr with apology and spoke gently, "I understand the surprise to this and I apologize for not requiting your feelings-"
Altaïr waved a hand because he was grateful for the opportunity of finding someone else and dismissed, "Don't worry, it's the best outcome for us in the end. I am happy for you both, especially in these troubling times."
Maria was surprised at the reply after having to gently rebuff him over a year ago. He had been crestfallen but now, he merely waved it away without a second thought. What had happened over the past two years? Where had the broody Altaïr gone and who was this nonchalant man?
"I . . . thank you" she replied softly as the surprise disappeared from her round face. Hearing that he was fine with the situation and approved of it was a relief to her as well. The last thing Darim needed was two parents with unresolved tension.
"And my child, who I'm hoping hasn't been left alone with sharp weapons is. . .?" Altaïr inquired and received a small glare from Maria for the jab. Was he trying to imply she couldn't care well over their child? She was more than ready to remind him she carried Darim and continued to do so after birthing him. She was completely thrown aback when the assassin laughed and waved a hand, "I jest, I'm merely glad to see everyone safe and hope the same for him."
"He's sleeping at the moment" she replied in regards to her rambunctious little one and added in, "Nap time."
Altaïr nodded to his child's stable condition since he trusted Maria to keep him safe. As much as he desired to hold his son for the first time, he would wait. Drawing a deep breath, he continued with his original plan and requested, "I can wait until he wakes but I do need to speak with Ilias."
"Of course" she agreed with slight surprise to his compromise. A year prior, he would've argued until he was blue in the face to get his way. It was a reason as to why she didn't see him with romantic potential since Ilias failed to become defensive when he was denied things. What had truly happened to the man before her? He was not the same one she met years ago and could only wonder what changed.
With a nod, she smiled at the new assassin before her, "I am glad to see you safe, truly, I am. I'd like to speak to you afterwards as well before I wake Darim."
"Darim, is that his name?" he asked for the first time about his son and tried out the name. She had decided to use an Arabic name for their child- it was a safe option, he'd give her that. He approved of the name, satisfied at finally having answers about his firstborn.
"Yes, along with the end of your name" she informed calmly since she'd debated that choice for a good while. In the end, it was best her child remained under the protection of the assassins versus just herself. Her brow furrowed with curiosity to the way he spoke about Darim and she asked, "How did you know he was a boy?"
"I . . . lucky guess?" he lied because Vivian had given him the answer after chasing her down for hours under the penalty of death. She had great resolve in keeping things from him for his protection but he'd pried them out in the end. The sharp little badger was no longer there with him and it left an emptiness in its wake that brought unease to the pit of his stomach. Were she and Malik safe?
She exited the room to leave the two men alone and Ilias began hastily, "We didn't expect to grow fond of each other, it just happened-"
"It's fine" Altaïr dismissed with a wave of the hand and Ilias looked to him with disbelief. Weren't the two an item- sort of, maybe, in a way- before he left? Was there no love? No jealousy or competitiveness for her? Did he miss something regarding the two? His leader caught his baffled expression and Altaïr spoke with honesty, "I did want a relationship but she never really agreed nor did she feel the same way. I'd rather we be happy with other people than together in misery so be at ease. I will, however, take part in Darim's life and take full responsibility since he is mine."
"I won't try to replace you but I am taken with her" Ilias assured since he watched over the boy as if he were his own but he belonged to Altaïr. They made quite an odd triangle of sorts and could only imagine how they would approach it to Darim. The boy was young but as he grew, he'd undoubtedly have questions. His gaze lowered to the ground for a moment before he posed, "She told me you would've married her to maintain her reputation . . . will you?"
"I will be there for Darim but I'd rather she be with someone she loves" he answered since he didn't see Maria in the way he used to nor would he want her unhappy. She was a handsome woman, there was no doubt about that, but he didn't feel that warmth in his heart as he did with Vivian. A smile, no matter how quirky, from her left his heart smiling for days and he felt emptier without her. Touching her skin under his had become natural in past weeks and a kiss set his heart aflame. She was the one he wanted to wake to every morning to greet and chase around camp for fun under the disguise of maintaining his skills. If he could travel the world with one woman, it would be her. There would no change in that anytime soon and he admitted, "Besides, I am afraid I've fallen for a woman myself and it would feel as a betrayal if I strayed from her. This is why I understand your affection and I accept it without a single regret."
"An African woman? Or one of the Levant?" he asked curiously since his old letters failed to say anything and assumed it must've happened after leaving Egypt. His friend was all business when he wrote and the only subject that veered off was Darim. Ilias couldn't imagine Altaïr having the time to court anyone when he was strictly committed to their order and pointed out, "You've been gone for two years."
"Neither, it's the little woman that I chased through Masyaf and declared insane" he admitted freely with a faint smile and Ilias faltered to his casual reply. Most men avoided mad women due to the danger they posed and wondered if his friend was right in the head. He briefly remembered the frightened English woman that had stayed before he took her along and it had been Ilias' advising that decided not to have her killed or imprisoned. She had appeared more frightened than insane to him, greeting him with a timid expression when he'd passed by in the main hall.
He wondered if she knew how close she'd been to death by the same man who now claimed sentimentality for her. Had he really become taken with her? What had changed between the two that shifted animosity into affection? His looked ready to kill her more than anything else that day, even when he'd bid them farewell at the gates. Altaïr caught the puzzled gaze and he explained his odd situation with a warm smile, "She really isn't, Ilias. I am glad to have used restraint or I would've regretted leaving her here or worse. She's a very sweet woman that helped me through very hard situations. She's a little oddball . . . but she's my oddball."
"You were ready to execute her" Ilias pointed out dryly to the drastic change because he remembered him yanking her up the stairs by the foot.
"That isn't important, my findings are since that is how I'm presently here" he dissuaded to change the topic because the subject of Vivian was a large book.
"What do you mean? You didn't finish your trip?" he asked astounded to his sudden reappearance and realized it was impossible. The distance was far too great for him to finish the trip this early and glanced at his friend with uncertainty. He didn't believe in sorcery or the supernatural but he wasn't reaching rational answers for his presence. Was. . .was it due to the ancient items of that dead race his leader had entrusted him about?
"No, Malik is in a land called Madagascar and it is by the use of the items I'm here" he explained with annoyance and disappointment in himself for landing in that situation. If he'd put the blasted item away, he would be with them at that very moment. Shaking his head, he confided in his friend, "I found a new item in an empty temple alongside the others. My return was completely accidental since I'd been holding it and thinking of Masyaf at the same time. Suddenly, I'm outside the fortress . . . and I don't know how or the mechanism behind it."
Ilias nodded quietly because there was only so much research he could do and he admitted, "My forte is not science so we might need to utilize Bashir's expertise."
Altaïr winced for a moment about Bashir's curious nature and muttered, "Hmm, and risk having him explode the item?"
"If the items survived for this long, Bashir would barely dent one" Ilias reasoned with a shrug because the young man was bright. After working alongside him for the past few years, he trusted the scientist and his quirky ways quite well. Clasping his leader on the shoulder, he advised carefully, "You will need all the help you can get for crossing that distance."
"Very well, my goal is to return there as quickly as I can" he agreed with one nod as he lost one friend and regained another in the span of an hour. He couldn't believe his luck that day and smiled gratefully at his second-in-command, "Thank you, Ilias."
Ilias chuckled to the friendliness emanating from the man and he complimented, "You've changed, it suits you."
Altaïr's smile faltered for a moment before he admitted quietly, "She changed me."
"Meet your son, Darim."
Altaïr gazed at the eleven-month old child for the first time and felt an instant attachment at just knowing it was his child. The small boy peered at the new man with apprehension, his clear blue eyes widening to their fullest. Who was this man invading his home? He clutched the leg of his crib for protection as he sat in front of him and his mother.
Maria kneeled down to squeeze Darim's cheeks and smiled, "Son, I want you to meet someone. He's been gone very long helping people but he's back to see you."
Taking a page from Vivian's book, he decided to offer a small wave of friendliness. Darim eyed him warily with a look that was too similar to his own until Maria reassured, "He'd never hurt or scare you . . . intentionally. He loves you very much, Darim."
At this, the small boy listened as he released the leg and Maria introduced, "He is your father, Darim. Just as I've been loving you here, he's loved you from afar."
Altaïr stepped forward to smile at the young infant before kneeling on the floor to meet him at eye level. He figured this would dissuade him from crawling away or running or whatever it was that infants did at that age. What did they do at that age, now that he thought about it? Quietly, he spoke slowly with awkwardness, "Hello Darim, it's your father."
Darim was uninterested and began sucking on his little fist instead. Well, that was a decent introduction and far better than having him scuttle off crying. Maria quickly kneeled down and pulled the sleeve of his tunic away while lecturing, "No, Darim."
He babbled in defiance to having his beloved chew toy taken away and Altaïr chuckled, "I like him already."
When Maria turned to shoot him a glare, Darim laughed and clapped his hands to the interesting scene. Altaïr decided to take a gamble on his happy mood and reached out to pat his son's black hair. He knew it could go either way with the innocent child and when Darim's eyes met his, Altaïr smiled, "Hello, Darim. Look at how big you've gotten while I've been gone."
"Gih" the little one babbled as he peered at his father without fear.
"I've missed you but it's safest to keep you here away from all the danger outside these walls" he spoke softly to the truth at being a new parent and squeezed one of his little hands. This was the harsh realization about being a parent as an assassin because protecting one's family would be greatly important. Due to this, an absent parent was inevitable but it wouldn't mean there would be less love.
Darim looked down to the larger hand engulfing his and tugged at his father's hand playfully. Maria found herself surprised to how easily Darim was allowing his father to breach his personal space. Normally, he screeched bloody murder with anybody else. Altaïr smiled forlornly to tell his son, "I will be gone again but I will return as soon as I can to be at your side. Luckily, I'll be around to spend a few days with you."
When Darim became interested in his gauntlets, he allowed him to fiddle with the right one. As he immersed himself with the leather and metal armor, Altaïr took the chance to scoop him into his left arm. Being in the arms of another person caused him to whine in protest but once he saw his mother shush him, he quieted down.
As long as she was there, he was all right with this newcomer and returned to his curious fiddling. Maria patted Darim's back to reassure him everything was fine and told Altaïr, "Children are very attached to their mothers this first year."
"Good, that tells me he'll be safe" he replied with satisfaction to his safety.
Maria hesitated before breaching the topic, "Ilias said that you approved of us . . . thank you. I know we had an odd relationship of sorts and I never intended to hurt you-"
"I want both of you to be happy" he intervened quickly to reassure her he held no grudges about their past, "Although I wasn't overly happy about Acre, you were right about my needing to grow more. I was lost as a person during our time together and I gained a little paranoia after your leave since everyone seemed to be leaving me at that point."
"Your assassins stayed" she pointed out gently since he hadn't been a cheerful man back then after deposing his leader.
"True but they weren't overly happy with me either" he remarked sardonically after Abbas decided to try his hand with the Apple. Power in the wrong hands had severe consequences and he hoped it never happened again. Shaking his head as he patted his son's back, he pointed out, "You didn't belong with that man but you make Ilias happy and I want the same for you as well. After all, having a child should grant you your own happiness besides motherhood."
"Are you happy?" she asked carefully as she found this man more amiable than his former self years ago. If he truly sought the happiness of all his friends, she would rest easy.
His smile didn't reach his eyes as he spoke with a low tone, "Yes, I am. I've found someone who centered me as a person and removed the majority of my less than pleasant aspects. Unfortunately, we became separated with my arrival here and I must return to her as quickly as I can. She . . .she's my partner."
Maria was taken aback that he'd found someone throughout his travels that had tamed his temper. They had done quite the job because she was impressed with the assassin. She hoped the man before her would be the one to stay permanently and smiled, "Then I wish you the best on returning to her."
Altaïr nodded with a small smile as they reached a mutual understanding. He didn't know how his first reunion with Maria would go but this was a preferable choice. If he'd been his old self without Vivian, he was certain he would've been debating her and resenting her for choosing Ilias. How Vivian didn't see the good impact of her influence in his life was beyond him. In the end, though, she had stayed and he would return to her to rekindle a true relationship from the one they'd begun temporarily.
"Aren't you a strong healthy boy?" he chuckled warmly and squeezed Darim's leg fondly. Were children naturally this soft? He couldn't imagine being like this himself decades ago and would make sure his son grew to adulthood. Smiling enthusiastically, he declared, "You'll be the greatest assassin in the world one day-"
"Altaïr!" Maria chastised since she wanted her son to choose for himself.
"Fine" he muttered flatly to that crushed wish (if his son wanted to pursue it) and whispered in afterthought, "You'll be my little assassin in mind."
She looked to him with a protective glance and stated, "I'll leave you two for a bit."
"I won't devour him in case you're wondering" he remarked with a joke as he rocked Darim back and forth with glee for his child. Maria offered one last stern look before exiting the doorway but she left it partly ajar just in case.
Darim's bright blue eyes peered at him and Altaïr smiled fondly to his opportunity, "I wondered for many months how you looked like."
"Gih" his son babbled with a smile and Altaïr tickled his stomach to make him happy.
"You're going to grow up to be a handsome boy and you have a protective mother so that puts me at ease" he smiled fondly as the concern for his child decreased now that he was in his arms. He'd slaughter anyone that dared to touch a hair on his head and squeezed him again. Darim pouted to the rough stubble on his soft cheek and his father chuckled, "You're going to look like her, I just know it."
Darim felt like a stuffed animal but the hugs brought him joy for the affection and physical contact. When his arms wrapped around his father's neck, Altaïr chuckled, "I love you, my little one."
Holding him close, Altaïr couldn't help but think, Though I almost wish you were mine and Vivian's.
Vivian and Malik waited a week for Altaïr to return but none of their searches retrieved any information. He was lost to them and they had no idea of where he could've gone. In the end, they were forced to call it quits when the next boat returned to the port and they boarded with heavy hearts as they carried his belongings. They needed to stay one step ahead of their enemies and lingering behind was just inviting trouble.
Vivian hadn't released his pack since his disappearance, bearing the extra weight because it was all she had of him. She didn't know the weight maximum a pregnant woman should carry but she wasn't parting with it. This wasn't how she expected the trip to turn out but was glad to remain because leaving Malik alone would've left her guilty. She wouldn't have known if she actually chose to return but still, he was her friend.
She found herself overlooking the water often, missing Altaïr's cranky seasick rants and longed to hear that grumpy tone. If she felt miserable without him in this time, how would she have fared back home? Would there be the possibility of another chance? If so, would she want to? She'd yet to begin studying the necklace because she wanted him back to help her sort through her questions and hypotheses. He was her partner in the learning process and the one she relied on to understand her. How could she have worn her ticket home and not known it? She felt stupid for not questioning the oddity of its existence alongside her. The better question was: how to utilize it to send her back? What was the mechanism and science that worked to allow her presence there? Without him, she lost that drive to unearth who these beings were and why they were adamant in tinkering with their lives. It wasn't just his but hers as well. Who else was experiencing this as well throughout realms and the ages?
"Ugh" she gagged dizzily as a wave of nausea struck, reminding her that there was still a trace of Altaïr lingering around. Her hand absentmindedly stroked her lower abdomen, feeling the growing bump of their child. Her clothes had started to become a little snug in the chest and stomach area, leading her to alter her robes in an attempt to hide it. She was an unmarried pregnant woman in the 12th century. This would have her stoned rather than bring her a reality to show for exploitation like in modern times; truly, what the hell happened to society on both ends there?
"Little peanut, you're already causing chaos" she whispered lovingly to her tiny rascal in the oven. It was hard not to smooth her hands over the baby with her nervousness as a new potential mother. The Middle Ages were not the best time to bring a child into the world and it frightened her considerably. She hadn't even had time to tell Altaïr and now, she longed for his presence to share her worries. Remembering his variable moods, she chuckled softly, "You're like him already."
I miss you so dearly, she thought to the bittersweet moment as she bonded with their unborn child and he was somewhere unknown. She longed to sense a trace of him as the sea voyage had grown lonely for her. You were whisked away before you knew and I need you at my side now more than ever. You helped me endure this horrible morning sickness and now, I'm . . . we're . . . alone without you.
She kept trying to hide everything as the voyage allowed her to barf and blame any nausea or lethargy on it. The passing weeks had strengthened the morning sickness (more like all-day sickness) to unbearable levels for her. However, when she started sleeping well into the afternoon, Malik became curious to that new change. A curious dai with questions didn't bode well for the pregnant little badger in sheep's clothing.
He found her nibbling on a ginger root as she laid down in a shady corner at the back of the ship and commented, "I can't help but notice you resemble a cat nowadays."
"I like sleeping" she piped up impishly and placed the small root in a little bag for safekeeping. Tucking it into her pack, she patted the bag with a fond smile to her helper with morning sickness. Malik shot her a look of amusement to her words since she was energy itself and she evaded innocently, "It's better than bearing the hot sun. I could fry an egg on those planks . . . mmm, fried egg."
"You were quite active during the first voyage" Malik pointed out curiously and watched her scratch an itch behind her back. His friend had shifted from an energetic puppy to a lethargic cat since traveling on the boat. It was an odd behavioral shift which led him to investigate, especially after her emotional loss of Altaïr.
"Once you tour it once, it never changes" she reasoned with a perky smile to lie her way out of it but Malik wasn't budging. Unlike Altaïr, who exasperated you into giving up your secret, Malik guilt tripped you. The puppy eyes expression mixed in with the brotherly 'what have you been up to?' look were quite potent for poor Vivian. Her hormonal flux caused her to cave in after four minutes with 'the stare' since she couldn't exactly disappear under the floorboards.
Patting the hardwood floor to motion for him to sit, she wanted to keep their conversation private and glanced around for any lookieloo's. There was absolutely no way she'd risk outsiders knowing about her little peanut. When he sat down and looked to her for answers, she smiled nervously and tapped her fingers together. Well, there went the element of being nonchalant and playing it cool.
How could she begin to tell him the news? She hadn't even told Altaïr. Even his name brought intense melancholy but she shoved it aside for the time being. Raising her hands peacefully, she admitted carefully with a low tone, "Please don't freak out but I am . . . um, I'm pregnant."
"Oh, is that all the- wait, what?! How?!" Malik hissed frantically to the unexpected news and his hand flew into the air. His little sister sheep was pregnant?! There was an actual being growing inside her? How had he not realized this sooner?! A second later, he realized the last blurt and pinched the bridge of his nose to groan, "Wait, I know the last one so spare me that detail. My question narrows to who?"
His brow furrowed as he went into investigation mode and pondered aloud, "Seeing as I've been conscious for the past year on my whereabouts, this had to be recent. You've never left our sight for more than a few hours and that was only in Quelimane and nowhere else. Given the short time of your condition, I can only deduce that it's either a man from there or more likely, that stubborn brother of mine!"
"Yes, well, say hello to his stubborn offspring" Vivian mumbled sheepishly as she admitted the paternity and tapped her fingers over her lower abdomen. Quelimane had indeed flourished her feelings for the man to the point that a night (or ahem, two) of passion led to her current predicament. They were both adults that knew the consequences - scratch that, she knew them- and there were no regrets.
"Altaïr? Oh my, I should castrate that man!" Malik growled since he was already going to have two children out of wedlock and within three years. Where was his child? He'd be more than happy to have a family without leaving illegitimate children in his trail of travels. When would it be his chance to have a little Malik running around and whacking Altaïr's offspring? More importantly, "How did- never mind, I don't want to know what you two have been doing in your spare time."
Vivian's face resembled a tomato to the flurry of words leaving his mouth, "Wait, it wasn't in my tent, was it? Or my bed in inns? It wasn't anywhere that I sat or slept on, was it?!"
Vivian wanted to self-implode as he played overprotective brother and shook her head with embarrassment. At least he wasn't admonishing or disgusted by their actions and she appreciated that. She and Altaïr had a complicated romance life but for the small moments they had been able to share, it was mutual. He was the kind of man that could drive her to pull her hair out but one she'd cherish and protect fiercely for earning his affection.
Malik would've lived ten times easier knowing that neither she nor Altaïr had reproductive parts for the rest of his life. She buried her face in her hands to avoid his shocked expression and muttered, "It was at Quelimane, it didn't mean much-"
"It always means something to Altaïr, he can be quite attached" Malik sighed as his brain ran out of steam and Vivian blinked. Although he chastised his friend about his complicated romantic life, Altaïr was very capable of loving another. It took time, like any dedicated art, to flourish its potential but Vivian had done so for the man. He offered a warm smile to calm her nerves and admitted, "He yearns pure affection just like any other human being, he's just very quiet about it. Our upbringing in the Order didn't exactly approve of that but he's come out of his shell. As much as I lecture him, he cares for you as much as I know that you care for him."
Her expression shifted briefly into melancholy at missing his presence next to her and he asked quietly, "Does he know about the child?"
She shook her head with regret and admitted, "No, I was too nervous about it and we were focused on unearthing the temple. This wasn't supposed to happen, especially to him, and I don't know what kind of life I can give this little babe. We're traveling nonstop and my odd existence puts us in a difficult position."
"This does put you in quite a bind" Malik acknowledged and patted the top of head her. Vivian chuckled to the action and appreciated having him for the long haul back to Quelimane. When his gaze turned serious, she slumped in her sat as he asked, "Are you comfortable with this child?"
She closed her eyes because the first few weeks had been hard at accepting the truth. Being a new mother in turbulent times was not attractive or safe which led to the majority of the anxiety. How could she keep a newborn warm and quiet in the wilderness? She wouldn't be able to give them the best life possible at all!
She wrung the skirt of her robe and sighed softly, "I can't imagine leaving them somewhere to be raised by another family, this isn't the safest era in history. Who's to say my child will survive the first year with the many diseases about or won't go begging in the streets? I can't give them a normal life-"
"You could raise them at Masyaf and if not, there will be parents about that will take an orphan in" Malik advised gently since he didn't want Vivian to feel burdened and presented viable options. Vivian, however, couldn't relinquish her little one and if she was stuck permanently, the fortress was a safe alternative. Nonetheless, it would be a while before she could see it. Malik sensed her worry as her hands fretted over the fabric of her robes and he added in, "But if it's Altaïr's, he will want to be involved with them and I've no doubt he would protect them fiercely. This child will be a part of our order automatically and therefore, I will protect them as well so you aren't alone in this. By the time it's ready for delivery, we might be near the end of our trip."
"I can't imagine how large I'll be by then" she chuckled softly to the reality that her little peanut would grow into a breathing wriggling newborn with toothless gums. For a moment, she imagined that baby sucking on Altaïr's nose like a pacifier. They'd probably have his little glare to match when they became fussy. Her eyes closed briefly to what future awaited their innocent child and sighed with a shaky voice, "I don't know how I'll tell Altaïr, we're not exactly together."
Malik gave her an amused glance since the last weeks proved otherwise and she blushed with embarrassment, "It's complicated."
Sighing softly to all of the hijinks they'd faced, she whispered, "It will certainly be difficult to juggle a baby without being married in this age but . . . I hope they're like him. He . . . deserves the unconditional love of a child after everything he's gone through."
Malik chuckled softly but knew his friend would have some decisions to make when he returned. He could only ponder about the reaction he would have since the news of his firstborn led him straight to alcohol. Somehow, he doubted the same would happen with this child and agreed, "You two will have a lot to speak on when he returns and he will, he's quite adamant on his goals."
Tell me about it, he gave me this little bun in the oven, she thought with warm amusement to her loved one because he was persistent.
"I just hope he's okay" she sighed worriedly to his safety, longing to hear his voice complain or whisper in her ear. Leaving Madagascar had been hard enough without feeling like she'd abandoned him. Hugging herself, she rubbed her arms to wash away the worry and murmured pensively, "I just want to know where he is."
"Darim, put the bottle down" Altaïr ordered carefully as he approached his son with cautious steps. This would not end well if the child disobeyed.
The little boy frowned to the order because only his mother could do so and half the time he'd crawl away. In his hand, Darim held a closed ink bottle that he'd managed to capture from the floor when his father wasn't looking. Altaïr had been tasked with babysitting that day and he'd taken the child to an empty room within Masyaf.
Unfortunately, he didn't count on the curiosity of his son and the speed of his crawling. He had been greeting his friends at the doorway for one minute and the next time he turned, his son had a closed bottle of ink in his chubby little hands.
Ilias had been ready to intervene but Altaïr insisted on putting his new parenting skills to the test. If he could survive Vivian's antics, how much worse could a baby be?
"Give your father the bottle, Darim" he ordered calmly as he outstretched one hand but maintained a safe distance. He didn't know if he'd scamper off like a mouse or decide to unleash a wail of epic proportions. Children were a complete unknown variable in his life and he was learning slowly, day by day.
Darim pouted in defiance because he rather liked the cold object in his hands, waving it around to show the three men. Ilias, being the careful faux parent of every young assassin, stepped forward but Altaïr held up his other hand to state, "Let me handle this."
"Normally, I'd agree but children aren't our domain" Bashir piped up helpfully because the other man could sway the child to do anything. Altaïr, however, was adamant in fulfilling his fatherhood shoes and shot a heated 'don't you tell me what to do, young man' glare at the scientist. Bashir sighed pitifully for being the victim but complimented, "At least you have the death stare mastered, sir."
Altaïr's piercing stare turned into delight because he never wanted to be rid of his natural ability to terrify people. However, scaring his son wasn't on the agenda. Darim, however, merely blinked at him in afterthought before deciding to gnaw on the bottle.
At that moment, his parenting kicked into overdrive and he lunged forward. His fingers pried the bottle out of Darim's little hand and he shoved it into his pocket for safekeeping. His son blinked widely at having his belongings taken and his big blue eyes met his father's before unleashing a loud wail.
"No, look at what you did!" Ilias groaned as the happy infant went into crying mode in one second flat. He moved forward to scoop up the little one but Altaïr raised his hand in objection. Darim's face resembled a tomato at this point and the assassin stated calmly, "I feel this is one of those times where I teach while you observe and then you'll handle the next situation."
The assassin was not happy with that idea and Ilias reasoned, "You're new at this and we want Darim to have an easy transition where he identifies you as a happy person."
"Well, I'd like him to fear me once adolescence hits" he justified offhandedly to ensure his child grew into a respectful individual, not a rambunctious teenager. Ilias shot him a knowing look since he'd grown alongside him and Malik at Masyaf. Altaïr the teenager had not been a very happy person and demanded attention half the time.
"Is that why you terrorized me in my childhood?!" Bashir demanded shrilly because he'd been a boy of ten or so when Altaïr reached his assassin rank. Once he had that title, he'd been relentless in shaping up the future assassins as he basked in his new rank. He still remembered him popping out of a barrel while he'd been eating a snack. A terrified yell and a dropped snack later, Bashir had been in screaming hysterics while Altaïr was covered in his sticky food.
Altaïr offered a lopsided smile to his mischievous youth and reasoned, "I'll be the first to say I wasn't the greatest person around. However, I did shape all of the assassins to be tough and afraid of barrels."
Ilias left the two to argue and picked up the sobbing Darim before his cries echoed down the halls. His mother had sharp hearing and if anything was amiss, he'd see her in minutes. The infant rapped his clenched fists against chest and he soothed gently, "There, there. Don't cry, you have to be a happy little boy or else your mother will have our heads."
Altaïr had to admit his friend worked magic when Darim was smiling seconds later. His eyes were still full of tears but he was happy to see the man. For a brief second, Altaïr felt out of place but he reasoned it was due to his extensive leave of Masyaf. He couldn't expect his son to recognize and love him immediately so it would be quite the road ahead.
He decided to start working on what he'd brought them together for and opened a satchel where he stored the scepter. Bashir had been privy to all of the information that Ilias knew and when he saw the golden object, he mused, "They look like ordinary items. Foreign but there's nothing special about them in the physical sense."
"Only those of a specific bloodline can wield them while others are not so lucky" he explained carefully as he used the fabric of the satchel as a barrier between his skin and the metal. He didn't want to accidentally send himself somewhere else and land in a worse location. Bashir nodded with rapt attention and he continued, "No other item has caused this anomaly to occur. All I did was merely touch it and think of Masyaf and I was here. The other items from this technology cannot do any of this, merely give glimpses into the minds of others or open the temples holding this technology."
"And these beings never gave information on wielding it?" the young scientist asked curiously as he observed every inch of the item. He'd never seen anything like it! He'd heard of Hermes' legendary staff but to see it and know its true origins was staggering.
Altaïr snorted derisively to their lack of aid and answered, "No, they're more of the type of letting you sort it all out at the risk of your life."
"We should practice short distances to see whether it truly can transport you" Ilias suggested and placed Darim back onto the ground when he began to squirm for freedom.
Bashir shook his writing feather to emphasize it and added in, "I will record everything to gather data to formulate a plan."
"But first. . .is it safe to have him here?" Bashir questioned warily about the baby Darim and pointed at the infant. Darim merely kept playing with his wooden cube with glee, ignoring all of them. Due to the unknown nature of his leader's technology, he wanted to minimize any injuries. Pointing to himself in emphasis, he exclaimed worriedly, "And when it's me that's asking, it begs attention!"
"If I survived for this long, surely he will too- it's in the blood" his leader reasoned with a proud grin to his child. Darim could do no wrong in his eyes as of yet and believed his little one could be great one day.
Ilias eyed him uncertainly, wary about his level of confidence, and hesitated, "I don't think it works that way, my friend."
"It's a good thing his memory hasn't begun or I'd be a failure by being parented while I parent" the assassin stated flatly to being lectured by his dark-haired friend and Ilias merely smiled in amusement. Despite his wisdom and genius on the battlefield, Altaïr was still very much new to certain subjects and a regular fish out of water.
Ilias shook his head to his sarcasm as he eyed the little one and pointed out, "It's not you we're worried about, it's angering his mother."
"She told me to babysit so I am" he scoffed in dismissal to his perfection at being a babysitter because he clearly wasn't one. Assassins were meant to do one thing and caretaking of children was not one of them. He never imagined himself being a father, the entire concept being completely foreign to him but he wouldn't shy away. Clear blue eyes glanced up at him with curiosity and he smiled at his son, "Whether he likes my style or not is up to him."
Ilias shook his head to his friend's stubbornness and pointed out, "Well, we either take him back and annoy his mother or we keep him here under heavy vigilance and maybe, just maybe, everything will be all right."
In unison, all three decided within seconds, "Let's keep him."
Vivian knew something wasn't quite right after experiencing a few painful back cramps but attributed it to her long periods of sitting. What else could she do on the boat? There was nothing but water to entertain them. She and Malik were rather quiet as they missed Altaïr's company, hoping he was all right.
Nausea struck again and she nibbled on a piece of ginger to settle it, wiping sweat from her brow. Minutes passed until finally, it left her system and she relaxed with a sigh of relief. Never in her life had she experienced the dry heaving and never-ending nausea like she was during pregnancy. It was horrid and she praised the strong women who endured it all.
Sleep would be best to fade the nasty sensation and found herself a spot in the corner of the ship, keeping a caring hand around her lower stomach. There was a tiny swell there and in her private moments, loved running her fingers over it. Her little one dwelled there safely and she'd do her best to protect them against the elements. It was all she had left of Altaïr now and it settled the pain of his unexpected leave.
Just give me a few hours of rest and I promise to feed you yummy food once on land, she promised warmly with love and settled down to take a nap with a smile. The fatigue from the trip, stress, and the pregnancy quickly knocked her out into dreamland.
Her first dreams were sweet as eating in modern restaurants flooded her mind to her basic desires. Eventually, it shifted to the man she missed most in her life at that moment as she faced his backside as he walked with that familiar gait of his. No matter how many steps she took forward, he was always out of reach for her. Didn't he know she was tagging along behind him as usual? Frustrated, she began batting at the ends of his fluttering robes for some form of attention as her logical mind slept on to the dreams of her subconscious.
Soon, it was all whisked away as a dark cloud swallowed the bright dream. Vivian blinked as she felt trapped in an endless room that lacked any visibility whatsoever. Where was she? This wasn't fun for her curious mind at all.
'We warned you of what would occur and you chose,' a woman's voice echoed in her mind as she tried to find the speaker but the area was shrouded in shadow. She could hear the voice in all directions but failed to pinpoint an outline. The authoritarian tone to the female voice in a soft but stern tone set her on protective mode. Who did that voice belong to?
'Who are you?' she asked cautious as she looked to find escape anywhere in that abyss.
'I think you know very well who I am' the same voice replied with a hint of amusement that she wasn't keen on. Mind games were not to her liking, especially when the ancients were concerned, and her eyes narrowed.
'You took Altaïr who knows where, that was never part of the deal' she shot back firmly since she'd never encountered them in a dream. She would have flickers of game time scenes in her imagination but never true conversations with them. Dream Vivian was more vocal than the conscious one as her ego took a more liberal stance. This side of her was an encaged lion for having her partner removed and she demanded, 'He did everything right and you punished him!'
A colder voice, Juno's, surfaced and Vivian jumped back when her form appeared before her. Out of all the people to dream of, Juno was the last person she wanted to see. If anything, she preferred Isis out of everyone due to her benign demeanor. The raven-haired being looked to her with a look of disdain and spoke, 'Devotion for one who isn't from your time. You are wrong for involving yourself with one and bearing his child.'
'I can reproduce with whomever I want, it's my uterus! It's uter-'us', not uter-'you'!' Vivian pointed out firmly to stand her ground, especially for her child. Weren't Juno and Minerva supposed to be the nice ones of their race? The ones who were helping the Assassins? Or maybe they were all playing an ancient political game that she knew nothing about? Was she a blind pawn or even on the right side? Was there a right side? Defiant to them, she shot back, 'I'm not the one who engineered slaves so take a closer look at yourself.'
'You intervened! Freedom was within your grasp and you disobeyed our will!' Juno's voice thundered as she approached her to stop only a few inches away. Vivian was immobilized against her will and gasped when gray eyes locked onto hers, the twinkle of a hundred galaxies seen within the iris alone. She'd never felt trapped as she was now, feeling like a trapped lamb against her and Juno snapped, 'You chose, young Vivian, and it was wrong.'
A hand engulfed in white light shot into her abdomen and Vivian screamed for the crushing sensation she could feel within her. Vivian could only glare at the woman for the violating action and screamed, 'You have no right to take what is mine!'
Another hand covered in an ivory sleeve clamped down on Juno's and Vivian could only see the back of a white hood as the first voice in the dream ordered, 'Release her.'
Juno released her fierce grip, carrying with her a light that extinguished slowly with the frailty of a dying sun. Vivian knew what it was and although she wanted to charge down the remnant of what that being was, she found herself immobile.
Without another word, Juno disappeared into the starless abyss and Vivian knew she'd never trust that being again. The being from the games was not the true face of whom she'd just seen.
The one before her covered in beautiful silver armor turned around and instantly, Vivian's gaze was controlled so she could only peer into their eyes. She had the clearest of sapphire eyes imaginable, peaceful but stern simultaneously, and her low voice echoed in all directions, 'Remove the necklace or she will return. You will know when to wear it again.'
'Who . . . who are you?' Vivian hesitated because she'd never seen one of the others outside of the games. All she could hear were their voices in the temples, never glimpsing their appearances. She was definitely in awe of this one.
Her blue eyes twinkled to her curiosity and she spoke, 'I am Diana . . . and it's time to wake up.'
Vivian awakened with a sharp inhale to find herself in pain from the midsection downwards, curling against herself. Why was the pain worsening now? Breathing heavily to the unexpected change, she sat up to find a towel she could warm with hot water for a compress. Usually, she left a bowl of water under the sun due to the lack of gas and electricity. It was times like this she missed modern technology for a heat pack. When she moved to find her backpack, sharp pain shot down to her pelvis and she felt warm liquid trickle down her thighs. Oh no, not that.
Please, no, not here, she thought fearfully as her concern went directly for her child. Anything concerning her pelvic region drew worries from her which is why she tried her earnest to rest when she could.
She murmured weakly in the hopes that it was pregnancy related and she was freaking out like any first time mom. She didn't want to face the possibility of losing her little one before Altaïr knew. Her life in the Middle Ages wasn't the healthiest but she was trying her best to maintain a safe pregnancy.
Struggling onto her feet, she managed to find her way to the nearest latrine as the pain failed to leave with movement. Thankfully, nobody was around to watch her hobble into the small room and she shut the door with a heavy sigh. Lifting her robes, she found a sight that she'd never forget for years.
She remained inside the tiny room for more than an hour as she sobbed, telling anybody that approached to find another method of relieving themselves. For once, she was going to be selfish and mourn in private to losing her little one. After everything she'd endured recently, the baby had been the only one good thing left in her life that was hers. Losing Altaïr had been devastating and this was another tremendous loss that hit hard. She had done the best she could to protect them and had failed.
Malik knocked on the door since he'd been looking for her around the ship and failed to do so. His trained hearing allowed him to catch the quietest of sobs coming from the latrine and he asked softly, "Vivian, are you all right?"
Hearing her friend's comforting voice, she wept through the closed doorway, "My baby's gone, Malik."
He was on alert to that confession after seeing her napping recently and asked carefully, "What happened, Vivian?"
"I didn't feel well earlier and took a nap" she grieved softly as she failed to act on how to prevent the miscarriage. She didn't even know how or the symptoms of it! Malik heard the slightly muffled words as he assumed she was curled up against the door and she sobbed quietly, "I woke up with worse pain and came here to check . . . I couldn't. . ."
She closed her blurry eyes and hugged her abdomen, knowing it would return to its normal size eventually, "Oh, my baby."
"Open the door, Vivian" Malik advised gently as he heard the quiet weeping on the other side and knew she needed sympathy if she truly did lose her child. Faint fumbling was heard from her side and a few seconds later, the door creaked ajar as she allowed him to see her. He was the only person in the world that she trusted at that moment.
She was crumpled against the wall, her skirt bloody on one side as she'd used it to hide the first trickles of blood from the miscarriage but it covered the entire lower hem. If Malik hadn't known her, he'd have assumed she'd injured herself but the case was a somber one.
He quickly excused himself to fetch extra clothing for her and a cloth to tidy up the area before anyone noticed what had occurred. They needed to maintain insignificant identities during their travel and keep to themselves. His friend would require a lot of support for the rest of their journey, especially without Altaïr by her side. The two had helped each other cope through the hard spots in their lives and now, it was up to him.
Returning, he embraced her sobbing form to offer his sympathy and whispered, "Vivian, there are no words I can offer for your pain but I'm here to help you."
She took the change of clothes gratefully and with trembling hands, closed the door. Every movement caused her pain and she tore her bloody skirt to create a makeshift pad to absorb the rest of the remainders of the miscarriage. What else could she do at this point? Her little one was lost. Her coping strength at trauma had been shattered and she couldn't handle any more, quickly changing.
"I . . . please, help me find a sleeping place" she wept pleadingly to erase everything she'd seen while hoping another nightmare wouldn't return in her sleep. Remembering the words of the new being, she quickly removed her family necklace and stuffed it into her pocket. She wanted to dissociate herself from the pain as quickly as possible and for the first time, wanted alcohol to numb everything. She wanted nothing to do with the artifacts and hoped to never hear their voices again, conscious or subconsciously. Scooting away from the latrine when sunlight struck it from the outside, she cried somberly, "I can't look at this anymore. I can't . . . oh, Malik, why did it happen? I tried. . ."
Malik had seen mothers weep for their lost children but it never hit closer to home until now. When Vivian broke down to sob into her hands, he picked her up to prevent her from falling and injuring herself. They were hundreds of miles away from a doctor or anyone in the medical field so it was up to him to ensure she didn't gain an infection.
A/N: And we hit the next bump of the trio's journey! Apologies for the wait time but work has been so busy since Christmas, I've lost count of how many new moms and newborns I've cared for up until now. Finally, it seems the never-ending deliveries stabilized and I managed to wrap up the latest chapter on my off-time. Vivian's miscarriage was hard to write for me after witnessing them, especially when the miscarriages happen so close to the delivery date. For any wondering about her nightmare and the miscarriage, they're not related at all but being stuck on a boat can psychologically have you wondering just how powerful these unknown beings are if they sent Altair elsewhere. Haha. I loved Malik's outburst in this chapter since he's a very composed individual until the two do something to make him facepalm. Also, Darim is plain adorable as he defies his father and having Ilias parent him just added the cherry on top.
Thanks again to all of my readers and I'm always happy to see the new followers to this story! I will respond to reviews via IM since I'm sadly swamped with multiple papers and I have a horrible habit of writing my stories versus doing my schoolwork. So, I wanted to post this now rather than keep dawdling and procrastinating because I'm ecstatic to reaching the midpoint of the story!
Next Time: Across Space and Time
Altaïr waited for days for his friends to return, pacing every day down the docks to witness each incoming boat. The people at Quelimane still remembered him as the sign maker and he'd lied that he'd come back with his younger brother, Bashir, on a previous ship since the piece made travel super convenient. The young scientist had explored on his own but he kept an eye on him due to his tendencies to study everything in sight. Well, that and spontaneously combust things. In another time, he could've imagined him and Vivian as siblings.
He was anxious to see the two return since he was no longer there to watch them and boats could sink at any moment, leaving them stranded or worse. What if someone decided to pick a fight with Malik? What if someone discovered Vivian wasn't a normal woman? The extended worry ended when a ship docked one early morning, the air cold against his skin but he'd been waking early every day to wait for them. Bashir, on the other hand, was freezing since he wasn't accustomed to living by the seaside.
When he spotted their familiar faces descending down the wooden platform, he'd almost run towards them. Of course, he remained the epitome of calm and approached them with confident steps to greet the two weary travelers. They appeared in the same condition as he'd left them, grateful that they were safe on land once more.
"It is good to see you" he greeted with a friendly smile to their return.
They were both clearly surprised since he'd disappeared in the blink of an eye with no clues to his whereabouts. He shook Malik's hand before pulling him into a brotherly hug. After releasing him, his gaze shifted down to catch the familiar oval face with the bright green eyes and unruly black mop of hair. Immediately, her eyes softened when their gazes met and he didn't break it until they were a feet apart. She was the same as he'd left her and he restrained himself from crushing her petite form to his in relief.
"Vivian" he greeted sincerely with a smile but it softened when Vivian embraced him tightly, holding him close as she whimpered her relief over his safety. Her worries melted away instantly at seeing him and no longer having to plan their next steps without him. Her fingertips sought strong shoulders, her nose inhaling his familiar leathery scent, and hearing her name in her ear was overwhelming. He was alive and safe in her arms now; there was no need to worry anymore.
He reciprocated her embrace with a fond squeeze despite he wanted to kiss her in private and asked, "How are you?"
"You just made my day" she murmured against his neck and felt safe once more, happy to know that he was safe. She wanted to nestle against him for hours and could feel the same on his end as he refused to let her go. Her voice shook with overwhelming relief as she whispered, "I've never been happier to see you."
"I'm alive and in one piece, you don't need to worry" he assured fondly and squeezed her petite frame tightly. Oh, how he'd missed holding her like the rare treasure she was. His little badger of a woman had stayed and he wouldn't take it for granted after caring so much for her. He cupped her cheek as he held her tightly and whispered, "I've missed you dearly."
Thank you as always for reading! :)