Fork in the Road (Altair/Assassins Creed)

Chapter 64

Hana practiced walking over the next week, her eyes constantly darting to the main doors every time they opened - hoping that it was Altaïr to come back and see her.

She did not know what she would say to the Master Assassin. But she greatly missed him, and her heart dropped into her stomach each time it was not his familiar robes that appeared in her line of vision.

When she was finally given the news that she no longer needed to remain in the infirmary, Hana's was overcome with dread. Of course, she was pleased that she no longer needed medical attention, but this now meant that she had nowhere to stay and she had to approach Al Mualim on either these marriage proposals, or give up the Order to find work elsewhere.

Deciding to bite the bullet and speak to Al Mualim, she knew that she had no choice but to inform him of everything. She needed him to know what had happened to her, needed him to understand about Efled's lies, and she wanted to seek his advice as a male who had been so generous to her since she was a child.

Hana still required the stick to aid her in walking, but she was a lot less reliant upon it. Her side was still sore, and she knew she had to continue to take it easy - as advised by the doctor.

As she made her way up the stairs and along the corridor to where the Mentor was seated, he stood to greet her.

"I am glad to see you finally healed, Hana. I heard that you were being released from the infirmary this morning."

She bowed her head, "Yes, Sir. The doctors and nurses have been excellent to me."

"And you have come to me now, because of your situation. Now that you need somewhere to stay."

"I have, Sir." Hana replied, bowing her head. "I would request assignments, as I would have somewhere to lay my head either on the road or the Bureau. However, I have been told to rest for another week."

"I see." He said, "It may be of great interest for you to know that yet another proposal came to me, last week." Al Mualim said, "I was not surprised for this one. Even if the news of the two of you were to be just rumor's, like you say they are, I saw how close you and Altaïr became with one another."

"Sir," Hana began, her heart fluttering in her chest at the Mentors words. "If I may speak plainly?"

He made a motion for her to continue, "I will allow it."

"I am in a difficult situation." She began, "And to tell you of my mind, I must tell you of what truly happened. You see, Altaïr and I... we were never intimate. There was an... error of judgement made by both of us, which led for me to be... well, there were a lot of men and Altaïr and I got separated."

"Were you raped?"

Swallowing thickly, Hana nodded, "Yes, Sir." She then spoke of how Altaïr became an anchor for her. How she trusted him to keep her safe, how he had been kind and patient with her. She informed the Mentor of her panic in Jerusalem, being in close quarters with several men and how Altaïr slept near her to help her feel safe and to ease her nightmares.

"And it was me, Sir, that flew at Efled like a madwoman. Not Altaïr." She admitted, "From the rumor that spread around the citadel, you can imagine what he had insinuated at for me to have reacted so terribly. And I am ashamed for it."

"I appreciate your honesty over the incident with your comrade. You are right to be ashamed for inflicting such a brutal attack, over words, no less! I am surprised to hear that it was you, for it would not have been the first time Altaïr has done such a thing."

"And, so, Sir, these proposals from Darim and Abbas, as generous as they are for a woman with a ruined reputation... they are made without knowledge of the truth. And I cannot accept either of them, based on a lie."

"And the one from Altaïr?"

"Sir, I feel as though it has been made through guilt over what happened to me." She said, "Altaïr is a good, kind and honest man, and I do not believe he should sacrifice his future with a clean woman, for me."

"Otherwise, you would accept?"

His question had her face flushing scarlet, and she felt her ears burning.

"I would be a fool of a woman to not realize that he would make a fine husband, Sir."

"You have grown fond of him."

"I have, Sir." She admitted, "I know I have developed something for him, yet, I do not understand what."

"I see." He said, his working eye moving to the stick at her side. "And if you were still pure? How would you answer his proposal?"

Hana felt her heart skipping a beat, "I would accept him, Sir."

"Then surely, you now understand your feelings."

She felt her face heating, and Hana had to look away from the Mentor. She eyed her boots that had been taken away and cleaned whilst she had been in the infirmary when the Mentor addressed her again.

"How would you feel if tomorrow, you heard Altaïr was to be getting married to another?"

A wave of sadness washed over her at the thought, and she swallowed the lump that formed in her throat as a familiar tingling sensation developed behind her eyes. "I would be happy for them, Sir."

"That is not what I asked."

"I would be upset," She said. "But I would be glad for him, that he would be starting a family. I already said he will make a fine husband, and I have no doubt that he would become a good father too."

Al Mualim nodded his head, "I agree with you, Hana." He said, "Now, you came to me for advice, I believe."

"I did, Sir."

"Then my advice would be for you to remember what you have told me of your other proposals. They were made without knowing the full story." He took a seat in the chair behind his desk, "Altair's, on the other hand, knows it. Not only that, but it is commonly known that he is a man who would not do something like this unless he truly wanted to."

"What are you telling me to do, Sir?"

"I am advising you, to consider Altairs proposal."