Addiction

It wasn’t long before the frosty chill of winter crept its way through Masyaf, blanketing the small city atop the hill in a thin, fluffy layer of snow. It was odd to see the usually bustling population that normally traveled about the city dwindle itself down to just a few stragglers with everyone retreated for a warm refuge inside their homes. Even Altaïr shed his thin white robe for one of the heavier black and red robes that carried a similar pattern to that of his old Master to help fight off the chill. To be honest, Adah was thankful for the drop in temperature because it bought her a little more time to keep her steadily growing stomach hidden underneath her thick winter clothing. Especially since the continuous traffic flowing into the training yard and fortress had come to halt. To have her condition exposed on display for the populace would only garner some very unwanted attention from the townspeople seeing as an unwed mother wasn’t exactly something looked very highly upon and was absolutely forbidden within with the Creed.

Another three months passed seemingly in the blink of an eye after the unveiling of Adah’s gradually approaching birth, giving her plenty of time to push the dark clouds from her mind and let her present dilemma become clear...

Things may not ever turn out quite in her favor during the span of her new life, but Adah had to admit the new life she was currently given was much better than the terrible path she was intentionally leading herself in the long run. All this time she’d tried her best to keep the blindfold over her eyes by believing that the outside world was better when in actuality, it only shielded the fact that it was a great deal worse... And she never thought, not once, that the one to tear that mask from her eyes and leave her susceptible to the truth would be none other than a cold, lethal killer who once in her eyes knew only of how to destroy...

When she did try to survive alone, Adah somehow managed to provide for herself– despite the fact that it required stealing–but how long did she think it would have really lasted? When would she find herself thrown into filthy cell and beaten for being a thief, all for the hopeless desire to be independent? If it hadn’t been for Altaïr coming along day that in the alleyway, she was sure she may undoubtedly be there right now...
But now that part of her was in the past and was best to pretend it never existed seeing as she was well on her way to becoming a mother, meaning it was time for her to finally put an end to the crying, praying, and longing for a life that obviously was never meant to be.

She wasn’t really sure about her abilities to raise a child since she never really had much experience with her parents to fall back on, but it wasn’t exactly as if she had a choice in the matter from the start. Altaïr, on the other hand, seemed to be unaffected by this quandary and was as proud as the first day he was granted the rank of Master Assassin long ago even though he hid it quite well.

But right now, there was only thing that worried Adah more than anything else. She was terrified to the core that should her unborn be a male, the Assassin’s would automatically seal his fate in training him to become one of their own, as was the predetermined destiny of all male children born into this twisted cacophony of madness that made up their Brotherhood. And she knew no amount of pleading with Altaïr would be able to set him free...
While deciding to face these unchanging facts, Adah eventually began the long process of finally letting her stubborn grudges against said Assassin go by forcing away the urges to remain as resentful as she once did so proudly a while back. She had to. Her growing stomach was making her extremely vulnerable and proved she needed Altaïr now more than ever before.

So having developed a more contented perspective on her steadily changing life, Adah now spent her days at Altaïr’s side. Lately, he had made it his priority to not allow her to wander about on her own and remain within his sight at all times. It all began after the discovery of Jalil’s betrayal and plans to seize the piece of Eden. The Assassin then became guarded and so agitated Adah could often feel it oozing around him like a bad aura. His normally hard and stoic mask was cracking along the edges and it was unsettling to say the least. Altaïr had always known what to do in the past, regardless of the situation. Why would now be any different? It was as if he wasn’t sure what was coming, when it was coming, or even the best method of approaching it once it was here.

Strange, really...

The fierce and elusive predator had now become the prey and Altaïr, for probably the first time in his life, was at a loss as to what to do.

While he continued to struggle with this plight, Adah was also raging a battle all her own. It hadn’t quite been three months into her condition and already she was past frustrated. Her once torturously upset stomach had finally made peace with her after several weeks, only to come spinning back as something completely unexpected. It was getting to the point that she could not recognize her own body anymore, being relaxed and comfortable one minute then just as tired and irritable the next. And now it appeared every spot capable of being sore and achy in her body was making sure it to do exactly that.

Sometimes she even felt so aggravated by the absurdity of it all, she wanted to laugh, cry, and scream, all at the same time and couldn’t seem to figure out which of the three she wanted to do first! As the time pressed on, her symptoms seemed to show no signs of relenting and just when she thought she was at least gaining a hold on them, her traitorous body decided to throw a new addition into the bunch...

Altaïr’s ridiculously persistent nearness was literally driving her crazy with want...

After receiving the news that she was with child, Adah completely ignored anything that came close to resembling a sexual advance from him. She was still too angry and spiteful at them both for even getting tangled into this situation in the first place. But now she found those absolutely tempting advances that he used to have to coerce her with when they were alone as something she would eagerly be looking forward to.

Throughout the long hours of the day she found herself almost pining after him just as she did as a young girl, embarrassing as that may be. And as much she may try to resist, she just couldn’t fight the inevitable and would simply gave in to her body’s demands, believing it was not her fault and that her condition was truly to blame.

Besides, she couldn’t help it if the almost unquenchable throbbing that prodded at her from the heated center within her hips was enough to make her visibly squirm. Nor if it riled her up to the point that it sent her tip toeing secretly after him as he moved through the dark and forbidden corridors of the stronghold. All that mattered was that he made it disappear in the most enticing and positively mind-shattering ways.

She was basically to the point that she didn’t even care that this was the exact same thing that had gotten her into this condition in the first place. The damage was already done and she couldn’t make the same mistake twice so why not indulge in it a little more?

Especially when she was faced with an afternoon such as this one...

Several times tonight, Adah caught her eyes straying from her book and over to Altaïr’s long slender fingers skimming quickly across the wrinkled parchments sprawled over his lap. His torso was bare as he sat clad in only a pair of loose fitting shalwar that sagged a little too low on his hips. To any onlooker, she probably looked like a starving cat as she sat opposite him by the fire in his quarters, ready to pounce anything close to resembling its next meal. She often had to practically tear her eyes away from the compact but muscled planes of his shoulders and arms, marred only by the scars of battles past. Even the thin but dark smooth hair that spread from his chest and tapered to a thin line down his stomach just to disappear into his leggings made her want to go chasing after it. The very thought of those rough hands roving across her sensitive skin, his full lips leaving marks wherever he pleased, and the sensation of him filling her so deeply within her grasping heat was more than she could shake. To her frustration, there were many days when she was forced to wait an excruciatingly long period of time before he could save her from the tingling torture her that her body cried to be released.

But luckily for her, tonight just happened to not be one of those nights...

From the straddled position over his hips, Adah barely noticed the wrinkled cloth of her open robe being tugged down her shoulders to pool into the crooks of her elbows. She was too occupied enjoying the fingertips of Altaïr’s other hand skimming over her small rounded belly and nipples to bother with the threads protest as it was torn mercilessly along the seams.

Originally this was supposed to be the time he used to examine the important information sent to him from the other Bureaus to keep him alerted of any updates on the expected attack for the orb. How they managed to find themselves entangled together on the floor of his quarters, she couldn’t remember but this time Altaïr wasn’t the cause.

She would have felt ashamed if she saw herself behaving this way, yet every time she felt that thick, lengthy member of his plunging gently upwards into her swollen heat, she was thrown farther and farther beyond any form of caring.

Suddenly her eyes snapped open, pulling her out of her warm pleasure induced cocoon by the sensation of a deep rumbling voice against her chest.

She cleared her throat. “Hm?”

“I said I am curious as to what has gotten into you today.” Altaïr huffed with exertion, his hips steadily matching the rhythm she’d set. He jerked her head backward slightly with a hand in the back of her hair and promptly returned to covering the soft skin of her neck with deliberately harsh nips.

She flushed a lovely shade of red at his observation of her unusual demand for his affection and leaned forward to loosen his grip on her hair and nuzzle her face against his cheek. “I suppose it is becoming harder and harder to resist you these days.... “

Drawing his eyebrows together, confused that she would still be so timid in his embrace, he decided to ignore her unnecessary attempts at modesty and drew her chin down to seal his mouth over her deliciously sweet lips. He was actually pleased with her responsiveness to his touch and didn’t quite know if her condition was to blame for eliciting this behavior but decided if it was, then he might consider trying to always keep her this way. Of course he wouldn’t dare voicing such an outlandish opinion to her seeing as he had no wish to start a battle he would have absolutely no hope of winning. Instead he would just cherish the moment and use it to his advantage to help him slip hopefully unnoticed through her wall-like defenses while he had the chance.

It seemed the more they engaged in these kinds of activities lately, the more receptive and needy she became. He swore he might come apart from the way she swayed her hips against the pumping of his erect flesh, her fingertips digging into his broad shoulder blades all while whimpering and crooning into his ear.

Painfully needing a change in pace, he lay on his back and tightened his grip on her bottom, jostling her forward a bit to deepen their connection. Adah’s hands splayed out over his stomach to help her keep balance over his larger frame, the feel of his slightly raised scars pressing against her hands. He smirked when he felt her back arch, her head lolling backwards as he began to bump against that pleasurable spot deep in her core.
The coolness of the tile floor began to calm the heated and abused skin of his shoulder blades while he relished the feel of her slick folds clasping around his hard, aching member. He couldn’t stop himself from reaching up and rolling her soft budding nipples between his fingers and watching her eyes flutter behind her eyelids in ecstasy.

Among so many delectable places on her to touch, her nipples were often his most sought after. They were the most alluring color as if they were permanently dusted with the richest cinnamon and were always the first to garner the attention of his lips.

That is until he unintentionally made a terrible mistake...

Adah suddenly yelped and twisted her chest away from his seemingly rough squeezing hands, her arms shooting up and covering her sore breasts. He raised a perplexed eyebrow at her, ceasing all movement as he quickly propped himself up on his elbows and watched her knead the supple, bronzed globe with her fingers.

“Do not do that, Altaïr! It hurts!” she chided, sliding backwards off his lap in a flash and sitting too far out of his arms reach before he could react, the urge to proceed further now dulled with the fear that he might do it again. She knew they would ache at times, but had not expected this. The pain was just too sharp and she swore she could feel it literally throbbing underneath her fingers. To be this painful she couldn’t help but wonder in the back of her mind just how far along she had become.

The moment Altaïr sat up, the pang of her discomfort became more evident than at first as he observed her awkward retreat. Her nervous eyes widened as he then stood to retrieve her. Adah felt her flush deepen across her cheeks as her eyes traveled down the flat, muscled plane of his stomach to the dark trail of hair that lead to where her slick fluids were still covering his groin. He did nothing to hide his obviously aroused state from her and shed not an ounce of shame as he closed in. She flinched when he knelt down, grabbed roughly at the collar of her white drooping robe and hauled her suddenly flailing, naked form flat to the floor underneath him in one quick movement.

“Settle down, Adah.” he reassured in a voice still husky with lust as he entwined his larger fingers with hers and forced them up above her head. “Never would I purposely hurt you... You should know this by now.”
She stilled her frenzied movements and stared up into her captor’s handsomely rugged face before he dipped down and began sucking on the juncture where her neck and shoulder met. He felt her stiffen beneath his touch and frowned, his head slowly rising again to look her in the eye.

“Have I ever given you a reason to believe otherwise?”

“No,” she responded in a submissive tone in response to the demanding look plastered to his face. “And I know you never will, but-”

“But?” he pressed setting his mouth in a firm line. “You must stop hiding these things from me. I always find them out at point or another. This situation could have been avoided...”

She averted her gaze. Slowly his eyes began to take in the sight of her naked bronze skin below him, stretched out atop the white robe still attached to her arms and the long curls of her hair splayed out to softly cradle behind her head. Anxious to return to the task at hand, he pressed his hips against hers in search of any blessed friction he could get to alleviate the discomfort of his painfully erect member.

“Forgive me, they are just too painful right now for you to treat so roughly... Just promise to be more careful next time?“

With the reassurance of a convincing nod, he freed her hands and let his own trail a ticklish path down her ribs and over the soft, bronze skin covering her growing stomach. She closed her eyes and relaxed when he leaned down and kissed the tender breast he’d apparently harmed. The apologetic kiss was quickly followed up by his tongue laving over the budding nipple obviously still asking for his attention.

Adah’s eyes flew open and she yelped in surprised when Altaïr sat up on his knees and pulled her bottom flush against his hips, his knees sprawled beneath her, her thighs splayed over his. Before she knew it, two of his long skillful digits had slipped into her silky and still quivering sex.

Altaïr felt his ego swell and smirked inwardly as his mind wandered to the delicate pink folds clutching anxiously around his invading fingers. He watched her moan with satisfaction, her body writhing as his fingers rekindled the flames within her by bringing her dangerously close to the edge of release. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her so riled up before. Just that quick she was completely flushed down to the tops of her breasts, her hips squirming from his questing digits, and her core almost to the point of burning as her wetness seeped down his fingers and into his palm. If he wasn’t careful she might actually teeter over the edge on her own with just the help of his hand.

“Ngh! Altaïr, wait!” she urged, attempting to sit up and nudge him back with a hand to his bare chest, her head swimming from the lack of adequate breath as her eyes opened to look up into his. “I do not want to without you.”

Refusing to yield, Altaïr bit his lip in concentration and applied more pressure to the hypersensitive spot within her folds as he worked her body like the crafter of the finest blade. He watched with smug satisfaction as the small woman released a strangled cry and bent unwillingly to his mercy. His digits continued their relentless onslaught as she went cascading over the edge, her hips bucking as she came.

He chuckled low in his throat when she finally went slack, her chest rising and falling as she reached up to brush the dark, messy hair from her eyes.

“Rest assured. You have my word will get your chance.”

He withdrew his fingers slowly to trace the once hungry opening of her wet and swollen sheath. Adah’s hips twitched involuntarily at the sensation, the heat already beginning to build again. Altaïr brought his glistening fingers up to sample her tangy essence that was so sinfully sweet. A rush of wetness leaked down her thighs as she observed his seductive little taste test, her eyes gazing longingly at his rounded lips sucking her fluids from those strong, deadly fingers. As she looked on she didn’t seem to notice her own all too eager fingers creeping down past her slightly protruding belly button and lower still until suddenly her drifting hand was unexpectedly captured in a firm grip at the wrist. Removing his cleaned fingers from his mouth, he shook his head disapprovingly at her and she tensed, staring at him in shock as if she had just been caught doing something she shouldn’t have.

“Impatient aren’t we?” He questioned and looked in her direction with his intensely sharp eyes.

“Perhaps...” she whispered boldly with a coy smile over her lips, her voice lacing the statement with an unseen challenge. “Or you are just having difficulty keeping up.”

Taking the hint, Altaïr leaned forward and sealed his mouth over hers, his tongue demanding entrance into her parted lips. Adah cupped his face to obligingly deepen the kiss as she fell back to the floor under his weight, her thumbs caressing the rough stubble of his jaw. He spread her thighs forcefully wide to better accommodate his hips and groaned low into her mouth after plunging back into her hard and deep. He broke the kiss then sat back on his haunches and lowered his heated gaze to where they were joined, his hips having automatically assumed a steady rhythm as he watched his thick member blissfully pumping into her and filling her so completely. A disappointed moan escaped her lips when he suddenly pulled out of her, but she swore she saw stars the moment he gripped himself in hand and tapped the plump and slippery mushroom shaped tip against her sensitive juncture of nerves before pushing it back in.

His wandering hands reached up and ran the roughened tips of his fingers up her neck, his thumb massaging her flushed cheeks and bottom lip. Adah managed to draw his captivated eyes away from their joining by enveloping one of his thumbs into the moist cavern of her mouth. All of a sudden she felt herself tugged upright by her upper arms, mashing her naked front to his by a strong arm around her waist as he yanked her robed none too gently from her arms.

A heated shiver crept its way under her skin and sprinkled it with goose bumps as she was then hugged between his thick biceps, a hand grasping into the back of her thick curls. Altaïr’s mind began to race as he stood with her in tow, shoved her back against the wall and doubled her up by pulling her knees to either side of her and drove into her for as long as she could take.

Adah’s mouth fell open and her fingers dug into his short hair as his head dipped down to lavish attention on her nipples. His painful grip on the backs of her knees moved lower to her rump to help sway her hips in tune with his long forceful strokes. Soon becoming too much for him, he pushed a large hand between them and pressed his thumb against the baby soft button at the apex of her folds, circling it quickly causing her second release to ripple through her like a crashing wave.

A groan rumbled deep in his throat as he let himself be overcome by her grinding hips and sultry walls convulsing around him to finally erupt hotly within her welcoming core. It felt like a pail of cold water had just been poured down his spine.

Adah unleashed a throaty whimper and pressed her forehead to his, the soft tips of her thumbs smoothing down either side of his face. A hiss slipped through his clenched teeth to accompany his descent and his knees slowly gave way, allowing them to slide lazily against the wall to the floor.

When rough calloused fingers released their grip on her thighs and bottom, Adah let her legs flop to the floor, Altaïr still pressed between them until he decided to pull out of her. Starting with his angular jaw, she kissed her way up to his lips, the tickly beginnings of his mustache earning him a light giggle while his lungs worked to catch his breath.

She let herself be pulled away from the wall to lie next to him. She couldn’t help the tiny smile she made for the first time since she could remember and hugged him to her, draping a bronze leg over his hip as he buried his face into her neck. He probably wouldn’t admit it, but he didn’t have to. She knew she’d won. It always took very little to convince him to step away from his troubles by using only what lay hidden under her robe. Adah closed her eyes and let herself drift into a peaceful sleep.

Content with the small young woman lounging somewhat comfortably beneath the length of his torso despite the small roundness of her stomach, he reached up to sooth away the mistreatment he’d previously afflicted on her bottom. When she didn’t move, he wondered if she had fallen asleep. He longed to join her, but he knew he was already on borrowed time and could not spare the moment. Regretfully pulling himself from her, he seized her robe from the floor and covered her with it, silently watching her curl into herself.

She had been very persuasive indeed to keep him from his tasks, but he couldn’t delay any longer and the information on the parchments strewn across the floor was still in need of his attention. After brushing away several long wisps of hair strewn over her brow, he picked up his own forgotten cloths and slunk away to what would most likely be another chilly bath.


+++


A bright pane of sunlight crept its way through the narrow window above Adah’s sleeping form. As the hour passed by, the beam managed to creep far enough to land directly over her eyes and grudgingly work them open. After a rolling and twisting fit on the floor to shove away from the offending light, she finally gave up the struggle and opened her eyes, finding her still naked body curled near the wall. She confusedly looked around Altaïr’s room, disappointed to find him nowhere in sight. She moved to push herself up and found her lower regions sore. Memories of the enticing events of last night ignited a flush across her face but the feeling was disappointingly short lived. She frowned at the offensive light forbidding her the opportunity to actually enjoy the pleasing memories swirling pleasantly in her mind and covered her puffy, defenseless eyes from the glow pouring into the window from above. She sighed.

It was official. Never would this particular spot be used as her sleeping place again. As soon as she sat up her swelling stomach gave off a loud offending grumble.

“It is too early for you to awaken...”she moaned, looking down at her persistently growling stomach where her unborn resided then over to the more comfortable and secluded bed resting far away from the bothersome sunlight. “Must sleep a little longer and I promise we will find food.”

To her astonishment, the grumbling seemed to subside. Wobbling up, she stumbled over to the bed and plunged face first into Altaïr’s warm bedding. Her eyes drifted closed as sleep began to draw her back into its lovely embrace for the second time this morning yet before she even had the chance to fall asleep, the grumbling abruptly intensified and popped her tired red eyes wide open.

She let out an aggravated groan at the realization that her simple request, like any other, had unfortunately been denied and sat up on her elbows to glare down at her curved stomach. “Isn’t it far too early for you to begin taking after your father?”

Deciding to pamper her unborn’s demand, she pushed out of bed and hurriedly cleaned herself up in the washroom. She cringed as she poured the fresh cold water down her back, scrubbing all over vigorously. A comb was dragged through the tangled curls of her hair, accidently yanking too hard on the left side and pulling a small knotted mass with the teeth. Throwing the comb down in frustration she pulled on a clean blue dress and white wrap then stormed through the door to begin the search for her absent Assassin that held the key to her breakfast.
Taking her first step of the day outside, she noticed it was actually a bit warmer than the past few cold and dreary days even though the thin tufts of snow scattered here and there were nowhere close to melting. Making her way at a steady pace through the garden behind the fortress, she intentionally ignored the women scattered here and there that had obviously ventured outside to enjoy the unexpected warmth. Darting around the corner as she followed the path leading around the icy tiled pond, Adah was abruptly stopped in her tracks. Slowly she looked up at a woman seemingly a few years older than she who folded her arms and boldly glared down upon her.
Carefully, Adah examined her while keeping her distance. The woman was much taller than she with slightly thinner eyebrows, her upper eyelids painted in coal with twisting black curls of hair wound tightly amongst each other as they danced atop the crest of her shoulders. Like the other women she was adorned in a long white wrap with several thick golden bangles attached to her ankles and wrists.

“Everyday we have watched you slip through here every morning in such haste and not once have you ever spared us a passing glance... May I ask is there something about us that you find distasteful?” the woman urged as the others began to close in around her out of curiosity.

“N-no I...” Adah began, wringing her fingers slightly as she was backed into a heavily bricked corner of the fortress’s passageway that led up the staircase and the library.

Adah’s eyes darted to the women gathered around her nervously. She knew these women of the garden had been shut away most of their lives, completely restricted from the outside world and any of its people. Even the men of the fortress were especially banned from their presence to ensure they remained chaste and untainted, as they were so vital in the initiation of the Assassin’s. It was not a wonder to her as to why they would latch onto any entity to wander through this garden.

“Then why is it you have never spoken? Always keeping your distance from us? Surely the Master does not bid it so...”

Adah’s glanced back and forth between the groups ring leader and the gate at the top of the stairs that would take her to Altaïr and more importantly, a decent meal.

The woman’s large charcoal colored eyes glanced back at the wrought iron gate before turning them on Adah once again. She smirked. “The Master will not be able to save you this time, little one. Now... what is your name?”

“Please, I do not wish for any trouble...” Adah said quietly and moved forward to silently request her permission through the women-made barrier.

“It looks as though you have already gotten yourself in quite a bit of trouble as it is...” the same woman countered as she stepped up to bar her path.

This time Adah stood her ground, her eyes narrowing as they scanned along their delicately painted faces. “What are you saying?”

The women eyed each other warily in an unspoken stand-off that lasted longer than she would have liked until the older woman extended a thin, sinewy hand between them. Adah’s eyes remained transfixed on the calligraphic symbol of purity branded to the back of that hand that forever mark this woman as a cherished possession to the Brotherhood instead of where the limb was actually heading. As soon as the tip of that lengthy index finger was touched to Adah’s secretly bulging belly, she snapped out of her trance and jumped back.

“You will not be able to hide it forever, you know?” the woman continued, giving Adah a very deviant smile. She quickly raised that same hand previously on the girl’s stomach up to grip her chin. “I am surprised the Master has even let you out of his sight for so long. You know, such bonds are not meant to last.” The surrounding women began to murmur amongst themselves but before Adah could object, the hand gripping her chin was yanked away as another shorter, young woman stepped forward. This one with long hair tinged in chestnut that was spooled together loosely in a neat, collected bun.

“Stop it, Nadidah... She speaks and you are ready to shoo her off!”

Adah looked on with a fairly cross expression as the taller woman now going by the name of Nadidah gave off an undignified snort and moved back to blend into the small crowd.

“I am sorry. You will have to excuse her behavior... She is just a little put off by your wish to remain so distant, as are most of us here... My name is Sameera.” she went on, offering Adah a gentle reassuring smile and an outstretched palm, the heavy bracelets of her arm clanging loudly as it moved. “Why don’t you come with me? There is much we wish to know.”

Hesitant at first Adah gave her name as well and gently took the offered hand. She immediately protested as she was pulled by Sameera across the opposite end of the frozen pond and through a rickety wooden door. She continued to resist as her hand was pulled up some steps to the groups private quarters.

“Wait! I do not want to go, I-I have somewhere I must be.” She lied and stumbled as she was dragged inside a lavish room, numerous hands pulling her down on her back to lie among many ornately designed cushions scattered across various multicolored rugs along the floor. “Please, STOP!”

Anxiously the women plopped down next to her, giggling amongst themselves as they fawned and pawed over her slightly rounded belly. By reflex Adah gawked incredulously when an ear was pressed to either side of her stomach for a moment then both women darted up at the low growl emanating from deep within. She noted the fact that the two women’s faces were exactly identical, their long straight hair dipped with the inkiest black and the outer corners of their brown eyes upturned slightly from their joyful smile.

“The Master will be angry if he discovers you have not eaten. It is best to do as the master wishes. Yes?” one of them chimed with a nod in a thick obscure accent and then scrambled up from the floor.

“I was- “Adah began as her eyes took in her surroundings before looking back to the twin next to her, “-going to look for food when I was stopped by Nadidah.”

“Have you chosen a name?” came the first raven haired twin returning with two large wooden bowls in her arms, one filled with a various assortments of freshly ripe fruit and the other stacked to the rim with the most delicious, looking baked chicken.

“Na’am, what do you hope it will be?” added Sameera as she plopped down on a pillow next to her.
The heavenly aroma of the small banquet instantly began assaulting her nose as soon as they were placed to the floor for her reach. Their questions went unanswered as Adah dove into the food, her ears tuning everything out except the glorious chewing sound of her filling her empty stomach.

Ignoring the hands still patting her rounded belly, she quickly filled up with food and occupied herself with discovering what cool slices of fruit tasted the best with each sliver of warm, juicy chicken. The minute a majority of the meal was devoured she licked the tips of her fingers and presented a very contrite expression at her ravenous appetite.

“Forgive me...” she whispered to her lap, still popping chunks of meat into her mouth.

Sameera shook her head and smiled. “Your apologies are not necessary. We have all been dying to talk to you... It is not often we are gifted with the presence of one in your condition.”

“I did not mean any harm by not speaking... “Adah added, glancing in Nadidah’s direction where she sat at her right. “I was afraid you would think less of me if anyone were to discover what has happened... between the Master and I.”

Sameera laughed softly and looked knowingly into Adah’s hazel eyes. “We have all known for quite some time about you and the Master. Just between us... we have seen the way he looks at you when your back is turned. I can only imagine how he must be when he has you all to himself!”

She watched the deepest flush explode over Adah’s face. She then placed a hand onto the somewhat swollen stomach of the young woman lying in front of her, her soft regretful eyes lingering on it for as long as possible. “Will you tell us... what it is like?”

Adah looked puzzled, at long last putting an end to her chewing. She looked up at the small group of surrounding eyes that waited in anticipation for any information they could absorb. In her haste to pack away the food, she’d practically forgotten they would never be given the chance to experience having a child of their own. They were destined to remain pure and untouched for the remainder of their days.

A sad recollection of the past months reeled to the forefront of her mind, all filled with the distressing memories of once having no desire to remain here as she is now. She thought she had put this place behind her a long time ago, but as she looked down at her stomach she knew that was something of the past. Her mouth opened even though she was unsure if her response would be a positive one or not, the creaking of the wooden door suddenly stole the attention of her inquisitive companions.

They all watched wide-eyed as Nadidah entered wearing a suspicious smile, holding the door open with her head bowed low as a tall, looming figure garbed in black from head to toe save for the hard leather boots stepped silently into the entranceway.

“She has been hiding from you in here all this time. A pity she would disobey you this way...” Nadidah commented pointedly and followed at his heels.

Adah couldn’t see above the women piling back against her as the intruder approached, but she knew who it was... The women quietly parted away, the jingling of their heavy jewelry echoing noisily about the room. Adah watched Altaïr’s ominous figure proceed forward seemingly in a sluggish motion, his gait long and the pointed tip of his hood darting from left to right as his hidden gaze swept over the room.

Adah cast Nadidah a frowned look after the lie she’d just told, watching as the woman placed herself delicately onto several cushions across from her. Adah dropped the now bare bone she finished picking clean into the bowl in her lap and simply stared sheepishly up at into Altaïr’s eyes the second his large boots stopped at her side.
He flashed an upturned eyebrow at her no longer chewing yet still very stuffed cheeks. “I see you have officially met the Houri....”

He watched her swallow hard and nod, looking back at the women that had now placed quite a bit of distance between her and them. Slowly he knelt down next to her, a look of disappointment set over his lips.

“Your coming here is not an issue, Adah. However, you not discussing it with me... is. You know what dangers are lurking outside these fortress walls, most importantly in a condition such as your own. If you feel you must wander away from me, I must know of your whereabouts as well... I thought we have had this discussion before.”

Inside, Adah was fuming. Her intent was to go to him as soon as she awoke, but it was Nadidah who stood in her way. If she was going to receive a lecture, it should at least be due to something she did of her own volition!

“Come, we shall finish this in the library. I have many things to do and this discussion has not been one of them....” She heard him state lowly as he pulled her up from the floor by an arm behind her back and her knees then slowly eased her to her feet.

Adah took one last glance of the room as they made for the door, her hazel orbs narrowing with Nadidah who only bowed to her with a wicked smile. She then looked over to Sameera’s brown doe eyes and felt that anger dissipate, an apologetic smile gracing the woman’s face to wish her a silent farewell as Altaïr blocked her view and nudged her out the door.


TBC...


A/N: Well does anyone have any ideas as to what Adah will have or suggestions to what you will like it to be? I’m going to put it into everyone’s hands and I would really like to hear what you all think even if it’s just a guess and not much else but remember... your choices are what will seal the baby’s fate. Have fun!
A short P.S for the beginning of one of Sameera’s statements: Na’am is yes in Arabic. ^^
Thank you so much to all of you that have enjoyed this story. I appreciate your letting me know that someone out there is actually reading this and at numerous times at that!

The Rusty Peach