Fork in the Road (Altair/Assassins Creed)

Chapter 28

Altair awoke rather rudely as he felt the familiar fabric of a bedroll being wacked over his head, "Wake up!" He rolled onto his back and rubbed his eyes, slowly opening his eyelids to adjust to the light.

"The sun is only just starting to rise, we have another hour-"

"-Yes, but after a night of no sleep. I'm packed and ready. So for the first time, I've decided when we're leaving. And it's now, by the way."

He raised an eyebrow at her bossiness, and he watched as she rolled up her bedroll and attached it to the back of her geldings' saddle, "Why did you not sleep?"

"I was worried that I was going to dream." She replied, and then turned to face him, "Do I seriously talk in my sleep?"

He sighed and threw an arm over his eyes, "No, you do not talk in your sleep. I apologise that my comment kept you awake all night."

She huffed, standing on her tiptoes to attach the saddlebags to the horse, "Why aren't you up yet?"

"I said we have another hour." He replied, turning onto his side once more and closing his eyes. "I suggest you nap, you will regret falling asleep on a horse." He looked at her from over his shoulder, "This is one of those favours you requested I make for you to repay your debt."

"Well, I've just packed my bedroll away."

"Feel free to share mine."

"In your dreams." She scolded, causing a smirk to appear on Altair's face. "Wait... you tried to pawn your own dream onto me?" His eyes snapped open at her words, and he rolled onto his back to look at her, "I suppose I'd better be careful, this must be why you asked if I had considered marriage."

He scoffed, rolling back onto his side once more, "As if I'd marry someone who wouldn't stop talking."

"But isn't that why you'd rather be partnered with me over anyone else? You said I was talkative, but not annoying." He sat up then and opened his mouth to retort, but stopped when he found her crouching beside him, "Good, you're up." She yanked the bedroll out from underneath him, and rolled it up as she turned to walk back towards the horse. "Time to go."

"My favour!"

"You'll have to think of something else; I'm in no mood to nap right now. My apologies."

She was hoping for a swift mount to end her statement, but no, luck was not in her favour. Hana placed her left foot in the stirrup and was about to push off from the ground when her gelding decided to take a couple of steps forwards. She hopped after the gelding, reaching up for the reins to halt the horse – and when she did, her legs were too tired to get a good enough bounce to mount.

The Master Assassin, now up and about after his rude awakening, put out the small campfire before he walked towards his mare that the female had tacked up for him, and leaped up in one bounce. He cleared his throat impatiently before releasing the chuckle that he had been trying to supress.

"I thought you wanted to leave now?"

"I do!" She replied, pushing herself up and clinging onto the saddle as she struggled to swing her right leg over the back of the gelding, who had thankfully decided to stand still. Finally, she was on, her face buried in the mane of the horse. She sat up and pushed her unruly copper hair out of her face. "Ready?"

"It's you we're waiting for."

They clicked their tongues to encourage their horses to start moving, and once they were at a steady walk side by side, the female thought now was as good a time as any to have some breakfast. "Are you hungry?" The female questioned, offering the Master Assassin half of her orange.

"No." He replied, then, "Thank you."

She paused chewing for a moment and subtly glanced over at the older male. He was trying not to be in a bad mood, that much she could tell. She looked ahead again as she continued to eat her fruit, "How long will it take us to get to Acre?"

"We should arrive at sundown." Came the simple response.

She nodded her head in understanding, "If we have time," She began, "I'd like to visit the Middle District. It'd be nice to see where my mother lived before she became a slave. If you don't mind, that is."

"You do not need to ask." He replied.

They continued riding for two hours before the air became rather still. The horses ears pricked up in anticipation as they could feel slight vibrations with their hooves.

"Halt." Altair ordered, raising a hand towards the female.

Hana heard the seriousness in his voice and obeyed him, her chestnut gelding stopping just beside his white mare. Something wasn't quite right. Hana pulled her hood further over her eyes as she turned to look at the Master Assassin, her ears straining to hear whatever it was that he could hear. Then she heard it, there were faint footsteps, someone was obviously trying to be quiet. Then another pair, and another...then all of a sudden, the footfalls were picking up the pace seconds before pain ripped through her shoulder and she fell from the gelding.

The horse, panicked by his rider being unseated, took off into the desert and the female cried out in pain when she landed on her back – pushing the bolt further into her flesh, and through the other side.

The Master Assassin leapt off of the mare before taking hold of the reins, in order to restrain the beast from taking off after her companion. Altair grabbed Hana by her upper arm and hoisted her onto her feet, "Bandits." He quickly inspected her wound while she looked around for their attackers, spotting a group of twelve running from tree to bush, closer towards the two, making quick work of the ground and getting closer and closer by the minute.

Altair gave the mare a smack on her rump to send her away from the battle that was to ensue before he drew his favourite weapon – his short sword – and walked threateningly towards the bandits to meet their oncoming ambush; deflecting bolts fired at him in the process. Hana hung back, picking the archers off with her throwing knives before she drew her own sword to meet an approaching attacker. Luckily, the bolt had gone through her left shoulder and she was right handed, and it was even luckier that her opponents weren't as strong as they thought they were. She was surprised by their lack of strength, but Malik's words of warning returned to her: Do not mistake anything for being easy. And sure enough, before she could draw another breath she felt the sole of a boot connect with her back. Hana sprawled onto the ground, the bolt in her shoulder being pushed all the way through! She cried out in pain, but quickly had to shuffle to the side to dodge a sword; the dusty ground being sliced beside her – along with a lock of copper hair.

Her eyes widened in fright, and she even peed herself a little bit! That was far too close for comfort! Hana could not ignore the pain in her shoulder as she grabbed her sword once more and pushed herself to her feet. She swung wildly at the bandit, catching him with the tip of her sword across his throat. There was no time to move backwards, as a spray of crimson showered over her.

The bandit fell to his knees, in a pool of blood just as Altair buried his sword in the chest of their final enemy.

"If we'd have left an hour later, as I had wanted, this wouldn't have happened." Altair remarked as he sheathed his sword and moved to her side.