Lineage of Brotherhood

Chapter 10

As they walked together through Masyaf, Esther found herself watching the ground pass beneath her feet. This was a walk she had grown to enjoy taking with him. She and Altair were able to walk freely without worry of being recognized or exposed. There were no imminent threats or names to be crossed off of any lists. It served as a short, but well-deserved break from the mission they'd undertaken. The ride back to Jerusalem served as an extension to this break. Having relieved the pressure of wondering whether or not they would be executed, their ride back to Jerusalem than the one back to Masyaf. Things were simple again. Kill Robert. Deal with everything else later. Still, she sensed a bit of tension that hadn't been present before, or maybe she was imagining it.

When they arrived at Jerusalem, night had fallen. Majd's funeral was to be held the next morning. After they'd dropped off the horses, they went to the inn and procured a room. Upon entering the room, Esther undid the clasps at her neck and slid her hood from her shoulders. After folding it and setting it upon the desk on the far end of the room, she removed her hidden blades and laid them on her folded hood. "You've been quiet," she said softly as she turned and looked to him, "Is everything okay?" Her face wore a subtle, but warm smile.

It was a stressful time for the both of them. Many people had fallen to their blades on their paths to redemption. Talking with Mualim only confirmed that many of these people were doing what they believed to be right, including Robert to some degree. On top of that, there was the chance that they could fail in some way. By no means were they in the clear, but they had come a long way to get to this point.

. . . .

There was something enjoyable about being in familiar territory with Esther by his side. Masyaf held so many memories and experiences for him. Many which included her. It was refreshing for his mind and body.

Altair's mind pondered Malik's warning about Esther and keeping her in his sight. His mind further pondered what Al-Mualim would have said to her in private. Ultimately he figured he would trust her and his Mentor. Whatever information had transpired if she wanted him to know of it, she would tell him.

They reached Jerusalem yet again at nightfall and found lodging for the night to stay in. The funeral was the following day and Robert de Sable would become a dead man. It wasn't until she spoke that he realized his pondering had made him unusually quiet.

"Yes. I've been pondering I suppose, about tomorrow. I have no doubts about our mission or our capabilities, yet still. I've also been pondering about after tomorrow." He answered, as he too removed his cloak and the dual blades from his forearm and placed the objects on a nearby chair.

He slowly made his way from his position to the far end of the room where she stood, and enveloped her into a hug. Holding her close in a more affectionate manner than he was used to displaying. "For after tomorrow surely has a lot of potential for us." The end of their mission was near. While he had no doubts, with his blind arrogance now at a appropriate level he knew their was a chance they could fail. And he would be executed. But that wasn't a thought that scared him.

What scared him most wasn't death or failure, but rather not showing the woman he had grown to love just what she meant to him while he had the chance.
"I love you, Esther." he spoke looking directly at her. He placed a loving kiss on her lips. At some point his lips wandered from her own to trail kisses on her throat and her jawline. When he reached her ear he whispered "Let me love you completely?"

. . . .

Altair's unprompted display of affection was almost too much for her to take. As he draped his arms over her, she slid her hands up to his sides and gripped his tunic. He told her that he loved her and before she could respond, she tilted her head back to receive his kiss. As he moved his lips away from hers, she started her reply, "I love..." but trailed off as he started to work on her neck. She remained silent, containing a few gentle sighs as she absorbed the pleasure brought on by his lips moving along her skin.