Drake's orders

Drake and I slowly climbed the hill up to the manor. The horses where starting to tire, and I can't say we faired any better. We slept on the cold hard ground last night. No matter how we laid, it was still uncomfortable. So we basically stayed up most the night until the sun rose. Not a word was said between us on the descent. The only sound of hooves clopping on loose dirt filled the air. The trees lining the dirt pathway swayed lightly with the warm breeze. Despite the warm weather I still sat slumped in my saddle, my eyes barely staying open. We rounded the last bend, the manor coming into view. It was a two story building with two long section on either side. To the left was our hallway to the bedrooms, and to the right was the bath house and the Master's personal quarters. I gave a long sigh of relief.

The chipped paint and gross windows bringing a wave of comfort at the sight. On the porch steps sat Sebastion, sharpening his blade. At our approach he stood, sheathing his blade, and walked up to my horse. Like the good brother he is, he snagged the reins from my hand and practically caught me as I collapsed from the saddle. I fell limp against him, finally happy that we where back.

"Jeez, everything go alright?" I yawned, as he placed me me gently on the ground, wobbling with fatigue. Oh yeah, everything went so swell. Right now all I wanted to do was sleep of the last few horrible nights before we all had to doomsday talk.

"Yeah, the meeting just held a lot of info and we left later than we wanted to. So last night we camped out. We didn't get much sleep." I murmured. Sebastion grabbed the horses reins from me and walked us over to the red barn that sat just on the other side of the manor. The barn that we worked so hard to fix. When we first came here, it was in shambles. Doors where broken, wooden panels where missing. So we spent a lot of our time when we weren't hunting or out on missions, and slowly rebuilt it. Of course it still wasn't the greatest barn ever, but it kept the horses and safe and warm. That's all we needed. We entered the barn, Drake right behind us. I led my horse down to the furthest stall to the left, getting grain and water as I went. Sebastion helped me unlatch the saddle and hang it on the rack outside of the stall. With a pat on the back, I locked stall up, the horses greedily digging into the grain in the bucket.

"Sebastion there is so much I need to tell you. So much that I have been keeping from you." My voice cracked as tears started to fill my eyes. I was so tired, I couldn't even keep my emotions in check. How embarrassing.

"Hey slow down. What are you talking about?" Concern filled his voice as he spoke, his eyes narrowing at me with suspicion. I had to bring myself to say it. He had every right to know now that he was in danger, and it was all because of me.

"You have been such a good brother to me. I only wish I could repay you more. All the years you had to watch me suffer, all the pain you had to endure because of me. I only wish I could do something to show you how much I appreciate you." I fell into his chest, sobbing. I could feel him tense as he wrapped his arms around me.

"What the hell has gotten into you Aria? You never come this unglued. Drake you bastard what did you do to my sister." He demanded angrily. I sniffled and shook my head. This wasn't his fault, this was all mine.

"Do not blame him for my mistakes Sebastion. I'll admit I am very tired, but I have kept these feelings pent up for a long time. For so long I thought I was protecting you, but in end it will lead to your own demise." Sebastion sighed in frustration, stroking my hair as he listened to me sob. How could I do this to him? Make him so unaware of the danger he was in, and now he would be the same weapon that would be used against me, to turn me to Drakos side.

"You are such a pea brain Aria." He mumbled. I couldn't help the giggle that burst from my lips. His little insult, is what made me come undone. The helpless and hopeless feeling lifting just a tiny bit. I never liked that nickname, but in this moment I was exactly that, a pea brain. I sniffled against his chest as I tried to regain my composure. It would probably be best to address everyone at this point. Hopefully maybe we could figure this out and plan accordingly.

"Go, I'll meet you inside. Gather the others please?" I asked pushing him out of the barn. I watched him hesitate, he was unsettled by my switch of emotions. "I will be fine. I just need to chat with Drake before we go in. It won't be long." I tried to paste the best smile I could muster on my face, but it failed and looked strained. The quicker we get this over with the better. I wanted nothing more that to sleep now.

Without even a warning I felt myself sway to the right. I was even too tired to care, but a strong hand caught me before I could completely fall over. I stared into Drake's blue ocean eyes. They seemed to be quiet today, not as rocky as they had been the last couple of days. I could stare into them forever, just wanting to perch myself on his island and whether every storm with him.

"You do not look well Aria. Maybe you should rest and we can have this meeting later." So much concern for me. It was really sweet. But this had to happen now. I don't think I could keep this from Sebastion any longer. Who knows how much longer we have left with each other, and I don't want anything to be between us if he is captured in the end.

"I can't do that. Sebastion needs to know the truth sooner rather than later. I owe him that much. I don't honestly know how long we have left before we are caught. I want there nothing ill to be between us when it happens." I muttered, tears falling down my face. Drake sighed as he bent over and looped his arms around my legs, his other around my shoulders and lifted me into the air, bridal style as we exited the barn. I felt so small in his grasp, like a fragile leaf that would blow away at the slightest of gusts.

"Who says you would two are going to get caught? You focus to much on the negative and its making you weak. Although I do think you and your brother need to have a long discussion after this, I don't think you need to focus all your attention on your negative feelings. Your brother has been there through the thick and thin, and he will still continue to be by your side because he loves you. He will be mad at first, but honestly he gets over things pretty quickly. He is insightful, he will understand." He was right, and I knew it. I was focusing on the negative of the situation, only because I knew how badly Drakos wanted me. He had no problems using all his resources if I really was that important to his cause.

"You haven't seen the things I have seen. Am I not allowed to worry about my brother's safety?" I asked as he walked up the porch stairs. He stopped just at the door, his eyes gazing down at me. There was a smile that played on his lips despite my growing anxiety.

"Of course you are allowed to worry, but you won't have to for very long because right now you are out of harms way. No one knows that you two are here with us. But if there is in any way shape or form any harm that comes to you in any way, I will to see to it personally that they never live to see the light again. You have my word." He smiled, but his eyes where dark. A bitter and angry promise that escaped his lips. It honestly almost scared me. How can he be so soft and so dark and the same time? Who the hell was he? Without dropping me or putting me down, he carefully opened the door. It creaked and groaned loudly as he entered.

I felt my face flush as the chattering died down and went still, quiet. Well I was hoping for more time to explain this. Another thing that Sebastion and I would have to talk about. This list keeps growing.

"Good, I'm glad you are back Merrick. I don't have to wait for everyone after all. I know your Master is still out right now so I can brief him later." Drake stated as he carefully set me down in an empty chair next to Sebastion. Instead of anger, I saw amusement. Does he find my close relationship with Drake funny? Why was that? Instead of pondering my brother's questionable amusement, I directed my attention towards Drake. He stole an empty chair from the table and straddled it at the front, directing his attention at all of us.

"We have quite the bit of news. Heavy news and if Aria is comfortable with me telling it..."His eyes fell on me. I gave a long sigh. It would sound better if I said it, especially because it mostly had to deal with my past. The past I hid from my own brother.

"If you don't mind, it might sound better if I explain it. After all, it is my secret to bare." I muttered. He grimaced but nodded his head. So I launched into the meeting, giving all the details and findings. But I left out the other Assassins, I'll tell Sebastion in confidence later about them. Then I explained how I tied into it all, leaving nothing out as I explained my torture and how I snapped. How the result of me snapping was suppose to go in the direction of evil as opposed to self defense. I let Drake explain about the information of the Eastern Kingdom as I was now becoming to tired to form words properly.

"With that being said, I know the people who run the Eastern Kingdom well. So I will be leaving for a few days to meet up with your Master and the King. Hopefully we can come up with a plan before the invasion." He finished. The room was silent as everyone mulled over the information.

"Sebastion and Aria, in light of the threat, I think it would be best if you laid low. No hunting trips or stepping of the Manor grounds until we return. If they really are looking for you, I have no doubts they will be looking in numbers." Sebastion was silent for once. But the look on his face was full of rage. I don't think it was because of Drake.

"Sebastion?" I could feel my own voice crack as I grew weary. His eyes dropped to mine and I flinched. I shouldn't have waited so long to tell him.

"I am not mad at you for not telling me. I am mad at what they tried to do to you. I am mad at what they did to Gavin and Nicklos. Those bastards took everything away from us, and then he personally tried to take the last damn thing I care about too. No matter what happens, I'll make sure he never touches you again." He was dark, cold, angry. Things I had never experienced before in my brother. I never knew how angry he could get. But I suppose I would be the same way if the roles where reversed. I just hoped that in the end, Drake would prove me wrong and we would be safe. I don't want anyone else dying because of me.