Addiction

I know this is a loooong time between updates. I have been so busy with my classes that I haven’t had much time to follow up on my writing! Plus I was kind of at a block on how I wanted to get to my ending.

Again the comments I’ve received are more than generous and really love to hear from those who have liked this. You all are the best and a lot of the times give me some suggestions or thoughts of how the rest of the story could play out. I remember some of you that have been following this fic mentioned some tummy size issues in chapter six which I didn’t really notice until it was pointed out.

Now on with the show! Oh and Houri = virgin.


+++


Jealousy…

It has and always will be an ugly and revolting trait for someone to bear. But she never thought that Altair would ever be considered a carrier. True everyone experiences it at one point or another and regardless of how arrogant he could be, he was not immune either.

Who could have guessed that someone so proud and confident such as he might find a reason to be jealous? Apparently holding the title as the Master of the Assassin’s was just not enough. Perhaps if he were not their Master then maybe Adah could entertain the likelihood of him becoming jealous due to the competitive nature that existed all too commonly amongst their ranks. Besides, it is only natural for one to envy another that has literally killed his way up the ladder to claim a higher status, while the other remains behind to brood.

However what struck her as strange about it all was the fact that it was actually not this type of competitive nature turned jealousy that bothered her. No, instead it was the type of jealousy you might see in an adolescent boy who secretly vies for the attention of his first love and tries his hardest to heighten his chances of winning her over.

As if dealing with this vortex from hell she called her raging emotions due to her progressing condition weren’t enough! She had no idea she would involuntarily be forced to try and juggle this particular emotion from him as well.

Of course Altair acted as though there was nothing wrong, as if he had simply been sleeping away these past seven months of her expecting. Why was she always the only one suffering with it all?

But this was just the beginning. Everything seemed to be against her. Nowadays she was having an even harder time keeping her bulging stomach a secret and to her shock, rumors about them began to spread throughout Masyaf like wildfire while each day passed on all the more quickly than the last. Gossip was to be expected in small towns such as this, but this was ridiculous! And being associated with the leader of the Assassin’s was certainly no exception. She soon discovered a number of jealousy driven comments about her, usually set off by the women who inwardly wished to be in her place.

To top it all off, time was even against her too as it continued to charge her faster and faster to her inevitable end when its cold, insensitive claws would finally reach out and force her to give birth.

A smile gradually faded from Adah’s youthful face, forming a slight exaggerated frown when she heard the sound of Altair clearing his throat accompanied by his intimidating and murky shadow swallow her up from behind. It was not him she was frowning at, it was his timing. It was just the exact moment as always to interrupt the peaceful conversation between her and the younger merchant standing proudly behind the counter of his stand.

This was her purpose to leave the fortress today. She waited all afternoon for this quiet and peaceful walk throughout the city despite the fact that Altair had been reluctant to go until she practically shoved him through the fortress gates. He was always busy and spent so much time in his library trying to find out who was coming to raid the fortress for the Piece of Eden that his time with her had become limited.

She only wanted to get away from that place... if only for a little while.

But Altair couldn’t even put away his work long enough to be with her, of all the simplest requests.

‘This is insufferable...’ she thought and exhaled quietly, her hazel eyes glancing back for a second instead of completely turning around to face her long time companion and father to her unborn.

Sure she knew the young merchant behind the counter, who went by the name of Bashir, had developed feelings for her over the past month. It was in his eyes for anyone to clearly see the way he felt about her. She would often find him ignoring his other shoppers and lingering on a certain item that he knew she would love just for a chance to see her eyes sparkle the moment he showed it to her. If only he knew of the cunning little pickpocket she had once been so long ago... Maybe it was good, however that he did not because if he did, rest assured he would close up shop the moment he caught wind she was on her way.

For the duration of her visits, Adah didn’t fail to notice that Bashir would often linger much longer than he had to once the transaction was complete just to see her smile and bid him good day. And even then, he would try to find another reason to try and make her stay by his stand as long as possible. Anything at all it didn’t matter! But as much as she tried to ignore it, she couldn’t help finding it absolutely adorable.

Whenever she could persuade Altair into abandoning his duties and escorting her into town since he refused to let her go on her own, Bashir’s stand was the first she would excitedly run to simply for the anticipation of hearing all the happenings that may have transpired in the city over the previous days. His stories were usually a buzz with excitement which she would eagerly pass on to the secluded women of the garden the very next chance she had.

But, she also knew Altair knew of the young man’s feelings for her just as well as she did and for some strange reason, she slowly found herself liking this jealous side of him. But the way he had been acting out on it lately was completely unacceptable!

Here she was, speeding down the road to motherhood at an uncontrollable speed and Altair was still worrying himself with the idea that she might one day decide to make another futile attempt to turn tail and flee. How could she? Each and every day, her stomach continued to grow before both their eyes and she couldn’t stop wondering where he actually thought she might go in her state. Half the time it was hard enough finding an appropriate dress to help conceal her stomach from the public before becoming upset that most of them no longer fit. Nonetheless trying to work up enough energy to move about the fortress alone before she felt utterly exhausted.

Hopefully Altair would not be foolish enough to suggest that she might try to one day disappear with Bashir...

The man was blessedly kind unlike some of the other merchants in town and must have been born with the patience of an angel to deal with her indecisiveness. Not to mention that like Altair, Bashir was also rather good looking in his own right with his soft grey eyes, warm smile and curly chin-length black hair. It was often a wonder that Bashir had not married. He certainly fit the profile for a fitting husband especially since his needlessly expensive clothing usually net him the attention of many women no matter their age, whether married or not.

Sometimes watching them flock to his stand at the break of dawn often made Adah wonder what her world might have been like had she been in their shoes instead of her own that was continuously tainted with the mention of spilling blood.

Although judging by the situation she currently found herself in, the merchant was clearly never meant to play anymore than his current role in her life. Besides, this was the path that was chosen for her so follow it she must...

She didn’t hate Altair for everything that occurred between them even though her heart once told her that she should... Yet she just couldn’t because despite their differences, he has and always will be there for her when there is no one else left to turn to. He had not only been her lover, but also her closest friend...

Something about them would continue to draw her to him and him to her no matter which path they probably went. And despite how much his outer appearance might prove otherwise, she knew Altair would never be perfect. She’d always known exactly what he was from the start regardless of the fact that she never actually saw him kill until he brought her here so faulting him for that was out of the question. And now, Adah was finally feeling as though she could truly accept that dark side of him all the same...

After all, it’s who he is.

She just wished Altair would at least honor her with a bit more credibility than he does and stop trailing behind her unseen with a protective eye and a needless concern that she might stray.

Her visits into town usually never lasted as long as she would have liked anyhow, kept purposely short enough to allow her to get what she wanted until Altair would emerge from the shadows like the walking symbol of death that he is to slip her back into his deadly embrace.

And it appeared that time was now.

“Ahhh… Good day to you, Altair .” came Bashir’s unsteady voice as he took a step back from the counters edge to put the necessary distance needed between himself and Adah.

“Bashir.” Altair acknowledged, his expression stale and hard from beneath his black hood while he and the merchant unnoticeably glared each other down for a moment of what could only be labeled as a struggle for dominance.

Finally backing down when Adah faced him, Bashir swept an extended hand above the items he placed on display for Adah to leaf through and queried to Altair, “Would you… like to browse my wares?”

Altair shook his head slowly, refusing to continue the conversation with the merchant for any longer than he had to and turned his attention back to the small girl digging through her white satchel for her coin purse that to her disappointment, appeared to be missing. She sighed.

“I am very sorry Bashir...” Adah huffed, her arms falling limp at her sides in frustration. “I will have to come back for this case another time... if you promise to hold it for me? It seems I have left my-“

Adah stopped and looked up when she heard the clinking of several gold coins placed rather heavily on the wooden countertop of Bashir’s stand. Immediately her fingers scooped the heavy coins up and placed them back into Altair’s hand.

“No, I will come back for it.” she clarified again, turning around to Altair as her small hands curled around his larger one and formed it into a fist to seal the coins inside.

He looked down into those warm hazel orbs that always seemed to heat up his colder golden brown gaze without even trying. “That will not be necessary. You know I will take care of it.”

“Not when I can just as easily return to retrieve it later with my own money.” She reasoned by adding more emphasis at the end of her statement as she tried to hold onto the little bit of independence she had left.

“Do you want it or not? If you do, you can use the coin you have for the purchase of something else later... perhaps at a DIFFERENT stand.” he added, his eyes narrowing at Bashir on the emphasis of the end of his words.

But God, she had to have it! It wasn’t often to find a jewelry case in such excellent condition and the silver design of what looked like cherubs lining its edges made it a must have addition to add to her growing collection of items from countries that she will never get to see. Adah took another look at the jewelry case, her expression full of bewilderment as she weighed her options.

“Yes! Yes I do want it... so very, very much.”

Placing the money back on the countertop for the merchant to retrieve, Altair handed her the box and watched her fingers glide over its casing to marvel at its beauty. “Excellent choice.... Now, we must be on our way. There is still much to be done this day and time waits for none.”

At the mention of how fast time could fly by, her eyes slowly glanced to her large, barely concealed stomach and sighed, “Tell me about it....”

Realizing what she meant, Altair paused and lifted his four-fingered left hand to her face to pass the roughened pad of his thumb along the soft skin of her cheekbone as a form of comfort. Right away her cheeks flamed in embarrassment towards his open display of affection in front of the passing townspeople. The gaping looks from the passerby’s made her feel like she was being studied like some awkward piece of treasure, making her fidget. Looking around nervously, her eyes caught two older women in line behind Altair gossiping amongst each other as they looked on.

Balling her hands at her sides, she narrowed her gaze at them causing Altair to take a quick look behind him as well.

“Is there something you find amusing?” she called to the women angrily. “Or are you unable to find something better to do with your time than to stare at others?!”

Eventually, one of the women had the gall to snort at her before looking away.

“Let them talk, Adah... They will continue to do it whether you agree with it or not.” Altair commented in a low voice and tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear then stepped away. The warmth of his hand on her face was replaced by the bite of a gentle winter wind working its way through the crowded streets... Already he was almost halfway down the hill and out of the busy marketplace.

To not be left behind, she took a step forward only to stop in her tracks and turn back to Bashir with a small smile that lit up his face almost immediately now that he had her attention again.

“Until we meet again, Bashir... And remember to save your very best for me next time!”

“Don’t I always?” the young merchant replied and bowed to her with a sly smile of his own.

The yearning in his grey eyes lingered for a moment as he watched her retreat after the tall assassin he was never a match for from the beginning before returning to his other impatient customers. True enough Adah was indeed far beyond his reach and he knew it, nevertheless he couldn’t help how he felt. Sure he might be playing the hand of death with that murderer around if he kept it up, but he couldn’t keep lying to himself to believe it wasn’t true.

Bashir eyed her attractive little figure garbed completely in white as it disappeared into the congested street to follow obediently behind the man in the black hood. She would never be his. But what was it about that cold blooded killer that was more appealing than someone like himself? He may never understand...

For now, he would just have to find other ways to satisfy himself... And the gratification he received from ruffling the feathers of that cocky assassin whenever he had the chance easily made all of his troubles worthwhile.


+++


“Why do you not trust me, Altair?”

“I do trust you... it is him I do not trust.”

Adah groaned. “We have gone over this time and time again. How could you possibly think I might flee with Bashir? In case you haven’t noticed, I am beginning to look as though the size of my stomach will swallow me whole!” Adah shouted at Altair’s back to ensure he heard her over the cities noise. “This is ridiculous... I would never harbor any feelings of jealousy of my own.”

The pitch of her voice made Altair turn and gauge the actual level of her frustration, his eyes taking in her flustered and increasingly reddening face as she continued to rage on. They had begun arguing ever since they left the stand when she questioned his attitude towards Bashir.

During the past few weeks, Adah had become quite the little hot head and did not take much to ignite her anger or frustration. A side effect of her condition was all could chalk it up to....

He reached into the small pouch at his waist and dropped several coins into the hands of a woman begging near the entrance to the residential area as he passed by. Crossing his arms, he came to a stop and leaned his back against one of the cobble stoned homes lined up along the street. His gaze slid from left to right from his black hood as he followed her pacing form while she vented a bit more. By this time he had learned the hard way that it was best to tip toe around the fire and let her get it all out before he jumped in the ring unarmed to try calming her down.

“Are you finished?” he asked when she finally stopped a moment to wind down.

Adah looked over at him with a puzzled expression as though he had just spoken in a language she had never heard before. “What?”

She stalked up to him, her shoulders squared, her mouth open to really give him a piece of her mind when it was interrupted with a small yelp of pain. “O-ow...”

Startled she put an unexpected end to her tirade, opened her warm wrap to the cold and looked down at her swollen stomach like it was a foreign object not of this earth. Altair pushed himself away from the wall and watched her begin to feel around her rounded belly rather curiously, the tips of her fingers poking and prodding in different places until she squealed again and snatched her hand completely away.

“Ah-Altair ...? What is happening?” her voice now shaky and teetering on the edge of downright frightened. Before he could come close to figuring out what she was talking about, she quickly pushed her way through several passing people, ignoring their rude comments and slipped behind a nearby house with Altair following closely behind. Adah dropped onto a bench with a rather terrified expression as Altair knelt down in front of her to search for signs of pain.

“Is something the matter, Adah?” he questioned and looked up into her uncertain eyes filling with tears. His gauntleted hand began to massage the side of her stomach to help put her at ease. “Why have you worked yourself up so?”

“Uh- I am not sure. I know I felt something. It was... strange." she tried to explain, her fingers shaking as she stared down at her stomach in disbelief. “Somewhat painful also.”

“I am certain it is too soon for you to give birth. Explain what it is you felt.” he insisted as he tried to determine just how much time had actually passed them by.

“Well you may not believe me, but I swear I felt something-OW!” she jumped again, this time Altair ’s hand feeling the tiny thumping sensation against his palm as well. “-kicking me on the inside!”

Adah sat as still as possible and waited to hear what he had to say, praying it would not be something along the lines of “It was time.”

He could tell she was afraid. Her body was trembling. In all honesty, he wasn’t quite sure what to tell her up to this point. His fingers gently pressed and squeezed her middle several times as his eyes searched her, finding absolutely nothing. Their two pairs of eyes then looked at each other with the same question lingering on their faces as if afraid to ask the other had they simply imagined it.

About to pull away his hands, they both suddenly felt the mysterious thumping spring to life once again. This time Altair followed it up and pushed the edge of his black hood behind his ear and pressed it to her belly just in time to hear and feel the muffled bumping occurring inside.

Finally dawning on him, Altair looked back up at Adah’s worried expression and made a low chuckle.

“You can relax now... It appears that for a first, your excessive shouting has simply caused the child to stir and guessing by its reaction to you, I think it agrees with my side of the argument as well.” he explained.

Her hazel orbs snapped back to Altair’s face with a look of irritation at his statement for a moment until she closed her eyes and gave a much needed sigh of relief. “Thank god... I was so afraid my time had come. I am not ready to be a mother just yet, Altair... I need a little more time before I am due!”

“No, you must be prepared for what lies ahead of you because you can never know just how much time you will be granted...” Altair lectured, hooking his finger underneath her chin to look her in the eye and ensure she took in his words then stood to pull her up gently from the bench by her wrist. In wonder if his words held some truth to the child’s retaliation to her shouting, she looked down at her stomach and silently questioned if it would always be so quick in the future to side against her.

“What am I going to do with the both of you?” she asked with a gentle smile, putting a hand on her waist and shaking her head at Altair who responded with what he does best, a raised eyebrow and half a smile.

Her smile was something he was being gifted with more and more often these days. After a moment he leaned closer and pressed his lips to hers, feeling the tension in her body rinse free. Inwardly she relished the time he took to explore the warm cavern of her mouth before slowly pulling away.

The crunch of his leather boots over the dry dead leaves and light snow when he walked towards the opening between the houses quickly melded in with the busy sounds of the city while her thoughts wandered off. This little incident had definitely been the scare of a lifetime. What if this had been that terrifying moment when she would give birth? Adah lowered her eyes to her white cloth covered belly and pulled her thick wrap tightly around her once again to attempt concealing her torso.

Before stepping between the houses to head back to the street, Altair stopped and looked back after noticing the light steps of her boots were not close behind his own. Even from afar he could tell just by looking at her exactly what she was thinking and she looked more troubled than ever before... Eventually she looked back at him once he called her name and slowly made her way to his side.

“Try not to worry yourself, alright? You will do just fine.”

He wasn’t sure if the nod she made was an honest one or not so he grabbed her hand and pulled her closer against him. “Good because there is something I would like you to see... Down past the holy church of Sulaimon, but you might miss it if the hour of the sun is not exactly right.”

Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment in curiosity until her eyes grew wide, her fingers twisting into the cloth covering his chest. “The waterfall near the river’s edge... I have forgotten all about it!”

“Ahh, you do remember... It is a long walk, however. Do you feel up to it?” he asked, his attention flickering over her already excited form.

“I would love to. There are so many memories I have left behind there. I remember it being my favorite place to catch fireflies with you on the nights I could not sleep... after Bushra’s death.” She reminisced softly. “To think I have lived here all these months and not once has it ever crossed my mind.”

He looked up at the suns position in the sky to estimate the time and smiled. “In that case, we must move quickly towards the fortress lest we arrive too late.”

On cue her face brightened up even more if it were possible. She grabbed Altair’s hand and dragged him up the hill towards the castle so she could drop off her box and prepare. Upon reaching the fortress they both parted ways and Adah rushed directly towards the garden out back to search for her good friend and tell her the news.

“Sameera!” Adah called out as she slipped passed the line of guards, through the tall entranceway to the garden, and stepped outside to scan the grounds.

“You are awfully cheerful for someone who once loathed this place almost as much as I do.”

Hesitant, Adah slowly turned to the owner of that spiteful voice she was growing more and more annoyed with each time their paths crossed.

“What are you rambling on about this time, Nadidah?” she countered to the tall woman sitting atop the iron railing of the steps with her legs crossed, carrying a very dignified air.

The uncomfortable run-ins between her and this woman were becoming far too frequent these days, each time worse than the last.

When she first met Nadidah, she was not quite sure of what to make of her. She had always kept her distance, staying mostly to herself when Adah would come for her daily visit with Sameera. However, what Adah failed to realize was that Nadidah’s distance was not because she was the solitary type... Nadidah grew spiteful towards her for reasons of which she never understood and one day led them both to a rather ugly confrontation. It was clear at that point that they would never become friends. Nadidah’s increasingly sour attitude towards her just would not allow it. She could be pushy, tactless, and very uncouth...

“Rambling, whining, complaining... Label it what you will, I merely call it the way I see it. You have always despised being here from the start so, why are you still here?” Nadidah asked in a harsher tone than was necessary.

“Why do you care? You know absolutely nothing of what has transpired between Altair and I.” Adah frowned, rolling her eyes.

“How could anyone not? Your stomach tells the entire world as we speak! It is sad that all you have done in the past was roam these halls sulking day in and day out, secretly wishing you were someplace else... It was written all over your face.”

This time Adah remained quiet and stared her down. Since the day Altair brought her back to Masyaf, her hatred for this place had grown from bad to worse up until now.

“You know some of us would give anything to have your freedom. To be able to walk out of here whenever we like! I will never believe you are here because you want to... But more because you need to.” Nadidah smiled smugly and jumped down from the railing to approach her, the white tail of her wrap playing behind her in a chilly gust.

Nadidah held her hands behind her back and tread slowly around the short young girl, Adah’s hazel eyes following her movements very closely until she stopped directly behind her and giggled. “Hmph... looks like someone is putting on a little bit of weight.”

Adah spun on her and grit her teeth to maintain her composure, one of her fists balling up at her side and the other clutching tightly to her jewelry box. “How dare you... No. I do not have time for your foolishness nor do I care what you think. Where is Sameera?”

“Honestly at the rate you are going, the Master will lose his interest in you...” Nadidah continued as she leaned against the fortress wall and curled her arms around her slim waist. “...which will in turn, give someone much more SUITED to the task a chance to take your place at his side.”

Adah folded her arms and glared at Nadidah’s statement. “And who might that be?”

“Obvious, is it not?” the conceited older woman smiled, the gold lining of her eyelids crinkling at the edges. “I think you are much too young for him. He needs someone that can take charge.”

“Oh I have had just about enough of this! You must be going mad if you believe you... you have a chance at-,” Adah paused, her expression now confused as her anger began to subside. “-at taking my place.”

She lowered her eyes to the elaborate tile and tiny bits of ice making up the walkway around the garden. Why was she getting so bothered by the thought of no longer being here, no longer with Altair? Isn’t that what she wanted...? But with someone like Nadidah around, the possibility of that dream could actually get dangerously close to becoming true...

And to Adah’s surprise, that was not sitting right with her at all.

“Just admit it... you are undeserving of him.” Nadidah spat disapprovingly to her and watched in amusement as the young girls anger returned, boiling voraciously underneath her bronze skin.

Nadidah watched in triumph as a very puzzled and at the same time enraged Adah suddenly stormed off to make her way along the icy pathway and continue her search for Sameera. Now if she could only get her chance alone with the Master, all of her planning would fall together and if she played it smart she would one day take Adah’s place. She wanted to be free and no longer subject to the taste of this fortresses confinement on her tongue.

But, the Master was not an easy man to catch up with...

She suddenly whipped around and backed up in surprise when a dark shadow overcame her from the gated entrance to the garden, interrupting her from her problematic thoughts.

“My apologies if I have startled you, Nadidah... however I am looking for someone. Have you seen her pass this way?” Altair began, his perceptive gaze consuming her from the top of the steps.

Nadidah put on a meek smile and approached him slowly as she tried to contain her poise. This was going to be much, much too easy....


+++


Adah wandered irritably through the entry to the virgin’s chamber finally understanding what Nadidah has been after all this time. She was not worth her time although her wicked and poisonous words seemed to keep playing over in her mind.

Would Altair really stop caring for her as her condition progressed? She shut the creaky wooden door behind her, pulled off her wrap and looked down at herself as if she were looking for the first time then sighed... Her stomach had blown up these last few months compared to the small bump she had long ago when she first learned she was with child. What happened to her slender frame? She began to wonder if Altair truly was finding her less attractive. A look of frustration smeared her face as she examined her middle a bit more.

Throwing her irritation to the wind, she walked inside the chamber and looked over the room. She always enjoyed coming here. The warm, vibrant colors of the rugs and pillows scattered over the floor made for a wonderful contrast compared to the rest of the fortress. The Houri looked up at her and quickly stood to bow respectfully, the jingling bangles of their ankles and wrists chiming noisily.

“Please, that is not necessary.” Adah responded with an awkward smile, her hands shooting up in front of her to wave them down. “I am no one of that much significance.”

“Do not be silly... Anyone of importance to the Master such as yourself is more than deserving.” came the response of one of the twin females seated in the corner on the floor while her exactly identical counterpart continued to run a silver brush through the firsts long, straight black hair.

Adah blushed slightly in embarrassment. “Have any of you seen Sameera? I have searched all over for her.”

The twin using the brush giggled and pulled herself out from behind her sister then stalked up to a stack of cushions to the left of Adah’s feet. She reached down and pulled away a plush violet pillow, revealing a dozing Sameera lying snuggly beneath it. “Shhh... we like to bury her underneath many pillows while she sleeps-”

“-So when she awakens in darkness she will think she has slept the entire day away by mistake!” finished the other twin as she also stood to take her spot next to her sister with a grin Adah swore was from ear to ear. She couldn’t help but snigger at their mischief until the mention of nightfall reminded her of her meeting with Altair.

“Well I would love to stay and wait for her to wake up, but I must get going. When she awakens, will you tell her I was looking for her?”

The twins both nodded at the same time, looking as if one of them were merely standing next to a mirror. Adah bowed and quickly made her way back through the door, sliding it quietly back into place. She darted around the corner to head into the garden towards Altair ’s quarters when she saw him out of the corner of her eye, but who she saw conversing with him stopped her completely in her tracks...

‘Nadidah!’ she raged in her mind as she tip toed back around the corner to peer beyond the edge. She was too far away to hear them though. ‘I wonder what cruel web of deceit she is spinning this time.’
And just as she asked it, her question was answered.

“You should worry less and not allow her to get to you the way that she does... Adah has always disliked it here, you know?” Nadidah sighed, averting her charcoal eyes to the ground in thought as she caught glimpse of Adah peeking around the corner to their right.

The hazel eyed young girl watched the older woman flash a conniving smirk her way then step uncomfortably close to Altair, those long sinewy fingers creeping up along his chest. Nadidah slowly moved closer and inched up on her toes as though trying to press her thin lips to his. Immediately Adah’s heart sank like it was heavier than a sack of stolen gold a thief would hide at the bottom of a dark pond. She shrank back behind the brick wall before the nauseating path of Nadidah’s mouth could get too close to his skin. Her blood rushed to her face with the heat of anger and betrayal as its fuel. The warmth of her tears ran cold from the winter air as they squeezed themselves free from the corners of her eyes.

‘And he does nothing to stop it! Yet he worries that I will stray...’

Altair eyed Nadidah suspiciously and remained quiet. Nadidah’s hand reached to feel the short stubble of his jaw, her lips slowly working their way to their destination as she spoke. “Anyway, I am sure you could use some much more... appealing entertainment which I would be happy to provide.”

Suddenly Nadidah tensed and she gasped, her seductive smirk wiped clean from her face when her wrist was grasped tightly in a strong gauntleted grip.

“What do you think you are doing?”

Right away she pressed herself up against him with a submissive posture and looked up into his handsomely, rugged face.

“Have I done something to displease you, my Master? I only seek to... help you relax and take your mind off your troubles.” she responded and glanced in the direction of his chambers. She was determined. Anything not to lose her chance to be free, even if it meant giving herself to him to get it.

Altair grabbed her by the arms, pushing her back and away from his person. He looked her over and frowned when he noticed her plain charcoal eyes held an eerie coldness that was disturbingly like his own. “Your behavior is... very unbecoming of someone in your position.”

“But I can offer you more than she ever could if you only give it a chance... I know it!” she said and wrenched her hands into his robe, her painted face becoming desperate. Holding his ground as his face went cold.

“Nadidah... I am very displeased and I am beginning to question your right’s to remain as a member of the Houri...” He began in a stern reprimanded voice. He looked away from her, his gaze turning to the distance of the garden to set a much needed boundary. “

“Master, you do not understand....“ she whimpered lowly, her tears building as her hopes were being burned into dust. Slowly she released his robes.

“Go to your quarters.”

After a minute she averted her eyes to the ground, hiding the glaze of rejection and shame that fell over her face as he spoke as though he did not want to look at her.

“Then please excuse me...” she said, her voice shaking as she covered her mouth to hold in the sob. Her tightly wound curls bounced above her shoulders as she sped off towards the women’s chamber, ignoring a defeated Adah still standing around the corner as she zipped past.

Altair watched Nadidah disappear, her behavior and suggestive display rattling about in his head. He would deal with her later. Removing her from his thoughts and focusing on where his Adah may be located, his golden brown gaze scanned the garden from front to back when a shuffling sound emerged from the corner Nadidah had just run to. His eyes narrowed under the sun’s rays as he made out Adah’s silhouette underneath the covered entrance where she was hiding. Half a smile spread over his lips. Without delay he headed straight for her. It was only about mid day which meant they would have plenty of time to still reach the river’s waterfall.

Slowly the small woman in question stepped completely out from behind the corner into the warmth of the sunlight, washing the small smile away from his face and bringing him to a halt. Her distressed and tearful expression made his brow furrow, a look on her he had not seen for quite some time...

She shook her head at him and backed up the second he took a cautious step towards her.

“I saw you...” she choked with despair as she felt her already rampant emotions come together like a huge disgusting knot in her stomach only to explode and begin the tortuous process all over again. Tears cascaded down her cheeks and pooled together to drip off the edge of her chin. “I saw you with Nadidah.”

He looked at her in confusion, his eyes finally widening a bit upon recognition of what she must have seen to make her react this way.

The horrific vision of him and Nadidah seemed to be burned onto her eyes, unavoidable even when they were open.

“I trusted you.” she said in a small voice, her little fingers dropping her jewelry box to the cold hard ground. “How could you do that to me...?”

A sob escaped her, her eyes darting around the somewhat icy garden for a means to get passed him... Far away from the torment that was tearing at her insides.

“Wait, you must let me explain.”

She saw him coming towards her again along the main walkway, his wide gait quickening with each step. But she didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

Instead she ran around to the icy steps leading to the library before he could get close, her hands reaching out for the stone railing to avoid slipping on any thin sheets of ice.

Altair called her name several times with which she never responded. His leather boots skid over the slickness of the tile as one of her own slipped from beneath her, her hands thankfully holding onto the rail for leverage to help pull herself up.

Silently cursing himself that after all his training he was still not able to keep up with her even on ice, he figured she must not have stayed around to see the result of the ordeal earlier. The adrenaline rushed him on once he regained his footing and hurriedly pushed himself up from the cold ground.

He needed to get to her, needed to explain. And she was going to hurt herself out here if he did not calm her down.

Even after scraping her left calf on the steps as she slipped again, she didn’t stop. She wouldn’t stop until she reached the top of the steps to run directly out of the fortress and away from Altair. Having difficulty catching her breath, a hand shot to her swollen stomach as a sharp pain crept up her side from exertion. She tumbled to her hands and knees between the guards posted at either side of the library gate she’d fallen through.

From beneath their grey hood, they looked down at the mass of long ebony curls falling around her face as Nadidah’s sickening words yet again crossed her mind.

The image of Nadidah leering up to Altair’s face flashed before her eyes as she huffed to catch her breath. ‘Unbelievable...’

She felt weak and heavy as the hands of the two guards slipped under her arms to easily lift her to her feet like an empty burlap sack. They turned her about face and gently brushed her wobbling form right back through the gate towards their Master loyally. She saw Altair coming up the steps looking a little too winded from his own dance over the ice, even for him. There was a disappointed look on his face. Quickly he then began to clarify the true events that transpired in her absence. Her mind calculated as he spoke, piecing the puzzle together as to why Nadidah was having her own little fit when she passed her by and slammed the door to the Houri’s chamber.

Once he finished Adah stared up at his handsome profile, her watery eyes beginning to flood and before she knew it, she had practically flung her arms into the flaps of his thick red and black robe, mashing herself against his front. The moment the guards turned back to their post, he looked down in astonishment at her ebony head of hair while she quietly wept away in relief.

He would never forget the way she once told him she didn’t care anymore. She even told him she would never love him again to try to hurt him the way he once hurt her...

But her actions today showed him that she felt something... even though she may not say it. And in her odd unspoken way, that was definitely telling him something.

--

To be continued...