|
Guilt washed over Altair as he listened to her reactions of his disappearance. Despite all of it, she had grown up to be strong and followed the path that would improve her. He wanted to put an arm around her, to comfort her, but his wounded shoulders prevented it. His hands were still clasped around hers as he lifted them up to his mouth. Breathing as steady as he could, his warm breath caressed her fingers and warmed her up even more.
Lowering his hands, his gaze took her in and he wondered if he could tell her his story. She had always loved his stories, but this tale was full of death and injustice. Would her opinion change of him? Would she shun him? He wanted to be truthful with her. The truth... Such a fragile thing easily broken. Altair was well acquainted with lying now, but he wouldn't do that to Robyn, he couldn't. She had been open and honest with him, and she deserved nothing less.
Like old times, she sat next to him eagerly listening to what it was he would tell her. The memory was somewhat painful. She would always laugh and smile as he reenacted some parts of a tale, and finish with a grand ending. This would be quite a different story.
He began with running away from his home and living on the streets with no home or food. How he would have to steal things to keep himself alive. Then his run in with Berad, and how he tried so hard to become the thief's apprentice. Freedom and adventure enticed a young boy who so desperately rejected confinement. Berad's death was swiftly brought up and forgotten, for he did not want to linger on the memory. The crimes he committed, deaths he brought, everything, slowly poured out of him. He was not the mischievous young boy she remembered, he had grown, and with that changed into a man that could easily lie, murder, and steal. His story turned into more of a confession by the time he finished.
Altair couldn't look at her. He didn't want to see what she thought of him inside those green eyes. This was the first time he had ever second-guessed his course of actions. He had honestly never expected to see her again. Not that he didn't want to see her, but he knew she was better off safe at home, married off to someone who could give her the comforts of what she grew up with. He was unsure of it now, knowing how much it had affected her when he left.
His gaze watched the rain crash against the earth, wondering if it was attempting to cleanse him of his past misdeeds.
[ 07-31-2006, 01:40 PM: Message edited by: Deiter Leafblade ]
|