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Malik entered through the gates of Masyaf with worry in his heart.
The message he received back in Jerusalem was heavy in his pocket. He re read again and again. Hoping a miracle might change the context of the text.
Grand master Altaïr took a hard hit to the head.
He has not spoken in three days to anyone and has not left his room.
We believe that he needs you dai.
Malik arranged things back in the bureau for his departure when the letter arrived. Wasting no time to reach is companion.
He gave his horse to a stable boy. He headed immediately to the main castle, where Altaïr’s privet quarters laid. He greeted no one. Not wanting to waste anymore time.
He entered the building and saw two young servants standing in front of Altaïr’s doors.
One of them recognized him,so he ran to him, joyful.
“ Dai Malik! Thank god you have arrived! “
“ what has exactly happened ?” Malik questioned. His eyes shifting from the locked heavy door to the young face of the servant.
“ some novice climbed too high after someone challenged him and was too afraid to do the leap of faith,so the mentor went to fetch him, only half way there it started to rain heavily. On his way down while holding the novice the mentor slipped. He shielded the boy from the fall, but ended up taking a strong blow and falling unconscious”
Malik is certain that Altaïr has experienced worse in the past, why was this one different?
“ they put him in his room and waited for him to rise. A healer came to check on him , but was shooed away by mentor and the door was locked behind him. Any attempt to communicate was ignored, and he just slipped orders written on paper from under the doors”
Malik stared at the boy, lost in thought.
“ I see….well then, you two get me something from the village to break the lock or the door with since our mentor is too stubborn for his own good” Malik looked at the lock with disdain.
“ break it down?! Mentor Altaïr wouldn’t like that ! “
“ I’m afraid we don’t have a choice at the moment, do as you are told” Malik’s tone left no room for debate.
The two boys scurried in a hurry, leaving Malik alone in the hall.
“It is me Altaïr …” he called from behind the door “…can you open the door and make this easier for everyone? We’re alone now you and I. Whatever it is that you are hiding you shouldn’t hide it from me”
He waited for a minute, thinking that he would in fact would be forced to break down the door for Altair’s sake.
He then heard some shuffling come from inside. A smile crept across his face, as he heard the lock opening.
A familiar hand quickly snatched the dai from his place, shoving him inside with too much force.
He stumbled a bit as he entered. The door was slammed quickly with too much force, and locked again.
Malik turned around, and was greeted by Altaïr.
Altaïr who looked disheveled.
His brown hair was a mess, a birds nest one might say.
His honey eyes were distressed and tired. Heavy dark bags were under them.
But the most important thing is that Altaïr was fine. He looked alright. The thousand horrific scenarios that plagued Malik’s mind as he traveled here were gone by seeing the man alive and well, just tired.
“ safety and peace Altaïr” Malik composed himself as his friend was still at the door, barricading it for some reason.
His striking gaze, filled with guilt, looked into Malik’s sympathetic black ones. He did not return the greeting. just looked down.
Malik was taken aback “ A bir rude for the mentor of the brotherhood to ignore a greeting don’t you think ?” Malik’s voice had humor in it. He walked to Alatir, who remained silent .
Malik walked towards him, another sly comment on his tongue to ease the tension. Only he was met with the most unexpected action,
Altaïr threw himself at the man, holding him in a tight embrace. Hiding his face on Malik’s shoulder.
Malik’s stood stunned. He put his one arm on his friend’s back
A minute, maybe more, passed, and Malik gently broke the hug, but he still held onto the other man.
“Altaïr, you are worrying me.” Malik said tenderly “ I came as soon as I was informed of your injury and refusal to meet or speak to anyone. The worst came to my mind”
Altair looked at him apologetically. Still refusing to speak.
“While seeing you gives me great relief, your silence is beginning to scare me Altaïr”
Alatïr got out if Malik’s hold and went to his bed. Almost as he was hiding from the other.
“ Altaïr…please say something….” Malik had asked, his voice sad and desperate. He travelled far for Altairs sake and worried for him greatly.
The eagle couldn’t deny him.
“ my sp-p-peech…..”
The faintest whisper echoed through the empty chambers.
“ what?” Malik inquired, sitting closely to Altaïr on the bed.
“ the f-fall….my sp-p-peech ….b-b-broken ….”
“Look at me Altaïr” Malik reached his hand out and rested it on the man’s shoulder, urging him to show his face.
And that he did, and Malik did not know how to react.
What does one do when he is faced with the crying face of Alatïr ibn-la’Ahad ?
“Th-th-the fall t-t-took my sp-p …” Alatir ceased talking and took off in frustration to the other side of the room.
Malik followed behind him
“ your speech is fine Altaïr, you are talking to me! The fall didn’t take anything! “
Altaïr was about to get away again, but Malik held him in place. “ you are acting childish! Hiding from me of all people “ Malik was stern ,and his grip was strong ,but kind “I seen you do worse things than stutter on a word Altaïr, face me and talk”
Altaïr complied. His tears have stoped, but his eyes were still red.
Malik’s face softened, and his grip loosened. His hand traveled to cradle the other man’s face, waiting patiently.
“ when I c-c-came to…. I t-t-tried t-t-to c-c-call f-f-for….”
Altaïr closed his eyes, holding back angry tears. Malik caressed his thumb on the man’s cheek, encouraging to continue.
“ I c-c-couldn’t-t-t-talk right-t-t…lik-k-k-ke a ch-child….no mat-t-ter h-h-how h-h-hard I t-t-tried…..my mouth-th-th wasn’t-t my o—own….”
Altair sought comfort from the hand holding him and put his own on it.
“ I’ve heard of people with a similar condition “ Malik said softly,
“ th-th-then you know th-th-there is-s-s no c-c-cure….” Altaïr was angry.
“ so ?” Malik said , so simply. He found Altaïr’s anger directed at him.
“ s-s-so!!?, I’m th-the ment-t-tore of th-th-the b-b-broth-th-ther h-h-hood-d-d wh-ho c-c-cant-t-t art-t-ticulate a sen—tence ! “
“ you just made a sentence !” Malik threw his arm in the air in frustration, and Altaïr attempted to stomp away in anger
“ must I tie you down to have a conversation with you?!”
Altaïr erupted,
“ t-t-ten years!! I work-k-ked t-t-to p-prove th-th-th-that I’m a worth—thy mentor!! Not th—that arg-g-gant b-boy! Some are st-t-till angry for b-b-burning Al-l-lmualim!
NOW!! I Sp-peek lik-k-ke a t-ten year old—d, by the t-t-time I g-give a c-c-command, four of our—-r brothers—- would have fallen! You mak—ke a foolery of it!”
“ do you think , that there is a slight chance that you are blowing things out of proportion?” Malik asked his voice stable.
Altair looked like he was about to bite the others head off, but he just moved to the window and buried his face in his hands.
Malik gave him some space before he moved in again,
“Altaïr, my dear, this isn’t something worth halting you life on. You’ve endured worse than this, always came out stronger and wiser.”
“ bu-b-but I’ve b—been rendered—d useless..”
“ careful now mentor.if you are useless with that then what am I ?” Malik’s eyes narrowed to his messing arm, Altaïr looked at him with guilt before hiding his face again.
“ you are t-t-twice the man I’ll ev—ver was or b-b-be malik—-k ,” was the soft response he got,
“ you do not give your self enough credit my friend, all that you have accomplished, and still can accomplish you want throw it away due this?”
“ no one will resp-p-pect me …..”
“ then they are fools who don’t belong in the order anyway, this is not less than any scar you gained in battle. You earned this while saving one of our own Altaïr! The order is grateful and the order is worried for their leader who they highly respect for his achievements and actions not juts his ability to speak“
Malik stood behind Altaïr, he held him from behind him,
“ it’s h-h-hard—d to s—see any p-p-positivity in this…” Altaïr answered.
“ I’m not saying this is an ideal situation. We need to figure out how to deal with it, but dealing with is not locking yourself in your room forever”
Altaïr closed his eyes,
“Alright—t.…I h-h-hate how—w logic-c-cal you are …”
Malik chuckled close to his ear,
“ one of us has to be I’m afraid”
Altaïr turned and embraced the man back.
Malik laid a soft kiss to Altaïr’s temple.
“C-c-can I mak—ke a selfish request?”
“Anything for you”
“C-can you s—stay?”
“ of course, as long as you need me”
“ I m—mean stay p-p-permanently.
I want-t-ted you here at fir-s-st, but I knew yo—-ou wanted s—some d-d-distance even after you go-forgave me”
Malik looked at him patiently
“ I need—d you more now….always. I can b—be to much-ch, but u need you,p-p-please no one under—rstands me lik-k-ke you …..” the mentor of the brotherhood pleaded,
Malik held Altairs hand and brought it to his lips,
“ I’ll be here, in every store you take I’ll be near you assisting you in whatever. I’ll have to go back to Jerusalem and when I’m done I’m retiring to you”
“ th-thank you m—-Malik “
“ you don’t need to thank me….,
Can I say something?, don’t get mad though “
“ I do not think I can get mad at you in the moment “ Altaïr smiled, as Malik put his lips near the other man’s ear,
“ it’s kind a cute ……”
Altaïr didn’t get mad, but he did get violent.