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_Adnan is the ancestor of Altair, and is the only Assassin to witness Jesus' trials in Jerusalem. As fate twists and turns, he is led on a path that suprises him, and leads the young man to a peace in his soul. _

The calm winds brushed over the rooftop, dust and sand moving gently past his feet and into the street. Jerusalem was surprisingly quiet; the streets that were usually crowded with people were bare. The figure was as close to a statue as one could get, only the movement of his white robes signified that this was flesh and blood, not stone. The cheers of a crowd made his head snap around, keen eyes searching the rooftops. The sound came again, and it was deemed worthy enough to go and investigate.

Adnan moved with fluid grace as he sprinted over the rooftops, leaping over the gaps in the buildings and climbing up walls as if he had been trained to. He had. Adnan was part of an order that had been in place since the world had began, one that fought secret wars to keep some amount of peace in the Holy Land. The Assassins. He was of a high rank, a Master Assassin that was born into the Brotherhood. His training had begun at 8 years old, and as he progressed through the ranks, his skill was evident. He was in Jerusalem on a mission from the Grand Master. Pontius Pilate had a death warrant on his head, and Adnan had been chosen to end his tyranny in Jerusalem.

His thoughts were pushed aside as he arrived at the source of the noise. The crowds were gathered along the street that led to the gates of Jerusalem, palms laid out on the ground as they roared with joy. A man wrapped in cloth was riding into the city on a donkey, people trying to touch him, children moving beside him. The assassin crouched on the edge of a rooftop nearby, watching as the man made his way down the street. An amused look passed over his face, before the features returned to the blank look that was customary for the killer. He had heard of Jesus of Nazareth, but had not seen the 'Prophet' himself. Adnan did not believe in any God, and even though Jesus's claims seemed logical, he was not going to convert to the religion. It was then that the figure on the donkey looked upward, and upon spotting the figure on the roof, looked to where the eyes would be. The shadow of the hood that covered Adnan's face showed only his mouth, and although Jesus could not see his eyes, he smiled at the assassin.

Startled, the 25 year old turned on his heels and bolted, robes flying out behind him as he made for the Bureau. The Master Assassin was surprised. Not many people looked into the hood of a killer and smiled. If they recognized him, most turned and fled in the opposite direction. As the Bureau came into view, he dropped down into the opening and moved to give the Rafiq the report about what he had seen.

In the weeks that followed, it became increasingly hard to find information on Pontius Pilate. Gossip was alight with this holy man named Jesus. Adnan's interest grew, and he found himself searching for more information on the Prophet. News of his whereabouts came in the bazaar, the market. As he sat on a nearby bench, the assassin's keen ears picked up a conversation of a meeting between Jesus and his disciples.

"...in a house, just north of this district. They say he's eating with his 12 closest followers."

"A supper? If only it weren't private. I would give..."

He needed no more information. Adnan stood swiftly and moved through the crowd, finding a ladder to climb up onto and jogging across the rooftops. It did not take long for him to find the group of believers. A sixth sense he had had since birth lit up their forms clearly. What puzzled him was that the Eagle Vision was showing the men as blue, not and ally, but not an enemy. Crouching on a roof above the open windows, he looked in on a scene that would later be painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. At a long table sat 13 men, food and wine spread out among them. Jesus was in the center, and something he had said had caused an uproar at the table.

"Surely you don't mean me, Rabbi?"

A pathetic looking man was pleading with their teacher, his face panicked.

Jesus looked at him and said, "You have said so."

The group began to calm, and as harmless chatter arose, they ate. The assassin's attention was turned back to Jesus as he took bread off of a plate and broke it into pieces, giving a piece each to the disciples at the table.

"Take and eat; this is my body."

As soon as they were all done, he took a cup filled with wine and held it in the air. His voice was loud and clear as he spoke, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

The cup was passed around the table, and when the disciples finished eating, they moved into an adjacent room. Jesus sat at the table a moment longer before moving to close the door, turning to look out the window.

"You are well known for eavesdropping, remaining unseen are you not?"

Adnan's eyes narrowed. He did not move from his position, instead remaining still to see what Jesus would do.

"Be not suspicious of me, assassin. I will not reveal you to the guards."

He decided to move, leaping down from his post onto the sill of the window of the house, crouching and balancing there before letting his long legs settle onto the floor, moving to stand in the shadows.

"Do you believe in God?"

The assassin thought for a moment before answering in a neutral tone, "No."

"Why?"

"God would not want a murderer. He has long abandoned me."

The door opened, Jesus turning as one of the disciples asked if he was ready to travel to the Mount of Olives. By the time the Son had turned back, the assassin was gone, and the rooftops empty.

It was when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane that Adnan was seen again. He had been drawn in by the sound of sobbing and pain, something he was all too familiar with. Many a time had found guards dead or broken on the ground, fallen beneath his bloodied blade. His boots were silent on the dirt as he moved toward the sounds of human sorrow. He found Jesus on his knees, fallen on a rock, pleading to the God he believed was in heaven to save him from whatever fate was planned.

"My Father, if it not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

It was silent for a moment before Adnan stepped hesitantly forward, muscles tense as he prepared to flee.

"So in tune with your instincts. Ready to fight or flee."

Jesus was still poised on the rock, his hands at his side.

"Tell me, what do you do when faced with death?"

The Master Assassin found it to be an easy answer. Death was his domain, and he had heard in the Brotherhood that this miracle worker was in the domain of life."Fight. Fight until you can fight no more. Then embrace it. Death is not something to be feared. You fall knowing that you have helped your Brothers and died in battle defeating your enemy. If we were afraid of death, we would not fight for what we believe."

Jesus stood, and although he did not smile, he seemed to be at peace.

"You carry a blade, do you not? One underneath your armor?"

The assassin immediately spread his feet apart, bending slightly at the knee to better be able to push off and sprint through the trees and into safety. As a second thought he held one arm bent and positioned in front of his right thigh. The other arm was pushed back near his left hip, bent at the elbow and ready to fight, his forearm hidden behind his back so that anyone in front of him couldn't see the blade. His stance widened more, into a high squat.

It was the sound of the hidden blade moving free of its sheath that re-attracted Jesus' attention. The blade was in fact strapped underneath an armored brace that was secured on the assassin's left forearm. The Son simply opened his hand and did not move, almost as if he were trying to get a frightened animal to come to him. It took minutes, but finally Adnan stepped forward, body moving as fluidly as a slithering snakes. His left arm snapped upward, the blade shining in the moonlight inches away from Jesus' hand. The blade had a red stain in it that stopped a little over halfway up, a sign of all the killings performed with it that looked as if it had blended in seamlessly with the metal. The miracle worker touched the blade once before turning and walking through the trees, waking his disciples with an angry tone.

Adnan heard the guards come into the Garden, heard the sounds of chains as Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek and as he was arrested. The noise of rioters grew silent as they moved away to take him to Pontius Pilate. It was only then that the assassin relaxed, but the blade was still out. He couldn't take his eyes off the weapon.

The hidden blade was completely silver, sharpened to a fine point, and near brand new.

The next thing that he was conscious of was the wind whistling past his hood as he sprinted toward the sound of the riot. The sun was burning bright in the sky as the assassin moved in and out of the crowds, going to the front to see what would happen. Jesus was in front of the High Priests, and their judgments were harsh. The crowd began to whisper when the priest tore at his clothes and exclaimed, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?"

"He is worthy of death!" they shouted, fists waving angrily in the air.

The crowd converged on the Son, beating him with their fists and spitting in his face. As Jesus was taken away he could hear a certain disciple arguing with the people about whether or not he was with Jesus. Three times he heard him deny the Son, and when the rooster crowed, yet again the sounds of sorrow could be heard. It was later that they would hear that Judas had hung himself, his body hanging from a tree.

The assassin shook himself, sprinting through the crowd to move onto the rooftops, leaping over gaps and keeping up with the riot as they pushed him through the streets. It was when they got close to the Roman Royal Guard that he was forced to move higher, and by the time he got to a good vantage point, Pontius Pilot had emerged. The assassin's senses heightened immediately at the sight of his target. The words reached him only when the crowd was roaring for 'justice'.

"Crucify him!"

The cry came again and again, and finally Pilate gave up, washing his hands in a bowl of water. His anger heightened at the sight. How dare the man give up so easily! He had to turn away as Jesus was being flogged, the scent of blood filling his nostrils. Disgust twisted his mouth, the scar that ran straight down the right side of the corner of his lips and ended on his chin. When he turned back they were hauling the broken thing of a body to his feet, moving to the Praetorium.

Despite his Grand Master's orders to assassinate Pilate, Adnan moved with the riot. The streets were alight with cries for Jesus' blood, streets that only weeks before had moved with joy at his arrival. They placed him on a chair there, a crown of thorns creating rivets of blood down his saddened face. The scarlet robe was draped across his body, the soldier bowing in front of him with mocking cries of "Hail, king of the Jews!"

It was when they ripped the robe off of him that the assassin snarled and winced. He knew how bad it hurt for bloodied cloth to rip off fresh wounds, tearing the skin with it. Rioters lined the streets, making a small path to a known hill that carried the weight of many dead souls. He watched as the heavy cross was placed on Jesus' shoulders, and the long walk began.When he stumbled and fell, Adnan's heart ached. When he fell again, he wished that he could go to help. But slight hope lit in his soul when a man named Simon was forced to help Jesus carry the cross. From his perch on the rooftops, he watched as step by step Jesus was taken to his death. Only once was Jesus allowed to stop, and this was when he was met with the women of Jerusalem, where Mary Magdalene wiped his face clean of blood and gore. But he was forced to his feet, and the walk of death began again. Golgotha was as dark and cold as it had always been, indents in the sand signs of the death that marked the place. The cruel Romans offered Jesus a wine and gall to drink, but he refused.

The Master Assassin nearly cried out when they stripped him of his clothing and forced the Son to lay on the cross. Shrieks of pain rose over the sounds of angry spectators as nails were driven into the hands and feet of Jesus. The blood stained the ground, and the sky darkened, the sound of thunder filling the air. The mocking sign was nailed above his head, and slowly, the instrument of death and torture was raised in the air. The broken body that hung from it was breathing, but barely. Adnan found a position on an overhanging rock, above the crowds and away from prying eyes of soldiers. He stood there, listening to the mocking chants of "Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!" The rebels who had been crucified with him mocked him also, despite their own pain.

It was past noon when Jesus threw back his head and cried, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?!" (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?!")

A soldier ran to grab a sponge and offered wine and vinegar on a staff to the Son. Jesus threw back his head a second time, and it was then that he found Adnan's eyes. There was hurt and sadness there, but no regret. The Master Assassin froze before gently pulling his left arm across his chest, and making a fist at his heart, bowed at waist level.

He had given Jesus the traditional bow of the Assassins, something so sacred to the Brotherhood that none outside the Order recieved it.

When he rose from his bow, Jesus used the last of his strength to give a slight nod, showing that he knew the honor and respect that came from the action. A loud cry rose from his lips, and at last, he died. The soft rain began to fall, the rocks splitting as in the temple; the curtain was torn in two. The soldiers, terrified, turned to each other and said, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

It was the cry of Mary at the foot of the cross that caused Adnan to turn away and return to the city, his heart and limbs heavy with the fresh memory of blood and wrongful doing.

Weeks later, when Adnan was back in Masyaf, the stronghold of the Assassins, he heard the news of Jesus' resurrection. He smiled, gave a knowing nod, and returned to his newborn son.

_"Faith and doubt both are needed-not as antagonists, but working side by side to take us around the unknown curve." -Lillian Smith. _