So I got my first review on this story so quickly. Thank you, KnightLawn. Be sure to expect more. I wanted to add lyrics from the Italian dub of The Prince of Egypt, but I heard that adding lyrics into a fanfic makes it uninteresting. BTW the first chapter was originally titled Ascoltaci, which is the Italian title of Deliver Us. This was originally titled Conducilo, which means "Bring him there" which is a part of the lyrics in Ascoltaci.
Chapter 2: Baby Ezio
Rome, Italy, 24 June 1476
10:00 am
As the slaves went on to work in the city and in the fields, the women and children stayed inside their homes afraid of what was going to happen. They would try to protect their newborn children from the guards in any way they can. However, Maria and her children were prepared to do the inevitable task. Giovanni had already left to lead the rebellion against Rodrigo. Maria hoped that nothing bad would happen to him. She went to her bedroom to put a shawl on her head and to pick up her child from the crib. She placed her child hidden in the shawl so that when they leave, the guards won't notice the newborn.
Thump! Thump! Thump! The children shook when they heard the door. They were afraid that it was the guards who had come to take their newborn baby brother. "Kids, stay behind me," Maria said. "Who's there?!"
"It's me, Annetta!"
"Are you alone?"
"Yes." Maria opened the door and brought Annetta in quickly, trying not to draw attention. "The guards are coming here. You have to leave now."
"We're ready. Claudia, you have the basket?"
"Yes, Mother," Claudia answered quickly. Federico was ready to go as well.
"I know a quickest way to the river," Annetta breathed.
"Follow us out the back door, but hurry! I think I hear the guards coming!" Maria said as she heard footsteps coming straight for the front door. "Kids, come on! Don't let go of the basket, Claudia! Federico, take my hand and don't let go! Stay close!"
As the mother holding her baby and children rushed to the back door, they ran following the nurse through the neighborhood where they were careful not to let the guards see them. They also saw the guards burst through doors looking for newborns to kill. The guards even slapped the mothers who were blocking the door so they would let them in and take their children.
As Annetta led Maria and her children out of the neighborhood where all the Assassin slaves lived, they stopped for they could see the river. "This is as far as I can take you."
"Thanks so much, Annetta. You've been of great help to us." Maria then hugged Annetta and then took her children to the river. Annetta ran back to the neighborhood. The baby Maria was holding was cooing and whimpering as the family reached the river. "Quiet, my son. Don't cry. We'll see each other again." Claudia opened the basket as Maria placed her child inside. "Sleep, my child. Let the river rock you to sleep and let God guide you," Maria then kissed her baby on the forehead and closed the basket lid on him as he fell asleep.
Then Maria picked up the basket and went in the river waters being careful not to slip. "River, this is a precious gift I'm giving to you. It carries a cargo that is important to us. Don't let any harm happen to it. Take this treasure to a place where my son can be free." Maria then let go of the basket and let the river take it. As it floated away, tears fell out of Maria's eyes. She then got out of the river and went to Claudia and told her to follow the basket and report back to her when it has reached its destination. Federico stayed with his mom to watch over her.
Claudia then followed the basket being careful not to be detected and making sure the basket didn't get in harm's way. There were giant rats that were near the river when they saw the basket and they thought there was food in it. "Get away from it!" Claudia shouted at them. The rats heard her cry and swam away in fear. The river started being narrow and then it grew wider as it reached a bridge. Claudia gasped as the basket was in the way of boats that was being rowed by slaves and was filled with materials needed to construct churches and buildings. Nobody cared about the basket being in the river as they didn't notice it. The paddles pushed in the way of the basket carrying the deliverer inside. Claudia gasped so much as she thought it was the end of her brother. However, one boat pushed the basket out from the open water away from any harm at all.
The basket floated in the way of ducks and seagulls who flew away when it was coming towards them. Claudia was on the sidewalk under the bridge and she sighed in relief as her baby brother was safe. But she noticed the basket was going to a mother who was holding a boy in her arms. She recognized that woman: it was the Pope's wife, Vannozza dei Cattanei. She was visiting the river with her son, Cesare Borgia, and behind them were ladies-in-waiting and a horse carriage that they all traveled in.
When Vannozza noticed the basket, she put her son aside and opened it. Claudia gasped in shock for she was afraid the Borgia mistress would kill the baby on sight, but she didn't. She instead smiled and picked up the baby. Claudia sighed in relief again and smiled because her brother was safe, but in the hands of the enemy. How could someone who belonged to a controlling and evil family be so nice and happy to an enemy of theirs? Well, one could say that the mistress always saw the good in people and her love was influential to others.
Vannozza noticed Claudia watching her and she told her to come over to her. "Little girl, don't be afraid. Please come here so I can see you." Claudia did as she was told and Vannozza noticed she is an Assassin slave by the insignia badge she was wearing. "Little girl, what's your name?"
"Claudia," she answered.
"What were you doing in the shadows? Were you spying on us?"
"Heavens, no, madonna. I saw you with that baby and I was wondering, are you thinking of taking care of him?"
"Why, yes, I am. God has delivered me a child so that my son won't be lonely and I'll raise this baby as my own and I believe maybe one day, this child will be destined for great things."
"I believe so. Will you need a wet nurse?"
Vannozza thought a little and then responded, "Yes, I think so."
"Then I know just the one."
"You can tell her to visit my place tomorrow morning. She will need this to gain entry in the place I live in." She then reached into her dress and gave Claudia a slip which bore the Borgia coat of arms.
"Thank you. I'll be sure to give it to her. By the way, have you thought of a name for the baby?"
Vannozza hasn't thought of a name for the child. She almost gave up when she saw in the sky an eagle flying above. "Ezio."
"What?" questioned Claudia.
"Ezio. That will be his name. It's Ancient Greek for 'eagle'."
"That sounds nice. Thank you, madonna. Addio (Goodbye)!" Claudia then ran off from the same way she went when she followed the basket. Vannozza then walked up the stairs from the bridge that led her to the carriage. She noticed the ladies-in-waiting gasping when they saw the baby she was holding. She then glared at them which meant to have a little respect for she was going to take care of him like her own child. Vannozza then noticed Cesare tugging on her dress whining about wanting to go home and being curious about the baby.
"Come, Cesare. We will show the Pope your new baby brother, Ezio." She then went inside the carriage along with her son and ladies-in-waiting.
Back at Tiber River near the neighborhood, Maria and Federico were waiting for Claudia to come back with news. They saw her running quickly to them and she was almost out of breath. When she caught breath, she revealed to her family what happened.
"Claudia, what happened?" Maria was the first to ask.
"Is our brother safe?" Federico intervened.
"Yes, he is. The basket was in the hands of rats, but I shouted at them to go away. Then it was in the way of boats. Nobody noticed it. I thought it was a goner, but it wasn't. Then I saw it going to the Pope's wife and her son."
"What? What did she do?" Maria gasped as she thought of the idea of a Borgia raising her son.
"She took my brother in as her own son. She saw me and I asked her if she was going to take care of him. She said yes. I asked if she needed a wet nurse and she said yes. This is for you, Mom. You are to go to her place tomorrow morning." Claudia then handed the paper that had the Borgia coat of arms to her mom. Maria took it from her hand, looked at it, and put it in her pocket. "By the way, she named my brother Ezio."
"What kind of a name is that?" Federico puzzled.
"She said it meant 'eagle' in Ancient Greek. She saw an eagle up in the sky while thinking of a name for him."
"Ezio Auditore," Maria thought. "I like it. Come on, kids. Join me for prayer." The children then joined hands together and sat down on the ground. "Dear Lord, thank You so much for keeping my son safe. We hope You send him to us when he seems fit. Make sure nothing bad happen to him. Don't let the Borgia hurt him in any way. Please send us to a land where we Assassins will be free. Amen."
"Amen," Claudia and Federico said in unison.
"MARIA!"
Maria shook when she heard her name. She recognized that voice: it was Annetta. She had come back with tears in her eyes. "Annetta, what's wrong?"
"It's your husband! Please come quickly! Hurry!"
Maria ran with Annetta back to their home. Claudia and Federico followed. The group ran back to the way they came from. They noticed the neighborhood where they lived was empty of guards. Instead, it was filled with crying mothers and screaming children. Some men were comforting their wives, mothers, aunts, cousins, and sisters who had just lost their newborns. But Maria focused on getting to Giovanni. They weren't going to their home. Instead, Annetta took them to her place. When they entered, they saw some nurses and doctors tending to Giovanni, but to no avail because the wounds in him were so bloody. Maria stood in shock and in tears when she saw her husband in bed. Claudia and Federico cried when they saw their father.
"What happened?" Maria asked as she stood by her husband's side.
"He was stabbed by one of the Pope's guards," a doctor replied. "He was planning on assassinating the Pope when one of the guards stopped him and stabbed him furiously."
"Is there anything that can be done?"
"I'm afraid not. He is mortally wounded and there's nothing that can be done."
Claudia and Federico stood by the other side of the bed where Giovanni laid on, crying and begging for their father not to go. Giovanni comforted them and told them not to cry.
"Tell me, Claudia. What about your brother? Is he safe?"
"Yes, he is. He's with Vannozza, the Pope's wife. I thought she was going to kill him, but she didn't." Claudia then explained to his father quickly about Vannozza going to take care of the baby, needing a wet nurse, and naming the baby Ezio. Giovanni wasn't angry for it was too late for him to be angry. Instead, he was happy that his son is safe, but it will take a lot of reasoning for Rodrigo to keep Ezio. He then hugged every member of his family while being bedridden.
"You can't leave us, Father," Federico pleaded fighting back his tears.
"You must be brave. Watch over your sister and mother, please?" Federico nodded and moved back so Giovanni could talk to his daughter. "When you brother comes back, you'll tell him everything." Claudia agreed. Maria then stood next to him and he reached over to her forehead and kissed her. "Ti amo, mia cara (I love you, my darling)."
"Anche io (Me too)." Maria responded with tears in her eyes.
"May Ezio lead us out of this hellhole when the time comes." Giovanni uttered his last words and finally died. His wife and children cried in grief and all the doctors and nurses put their heads down in sorrow. Annetta took a blanket and covered Giovanni's whole body for he will be buried soon and a funeral will be held.
The next morning after the funeral was held, Maria went to the location that Vannozza had put in her paper. When Maria came to the location, she noticed it was a magnificent villa full of gardens and stables. She then entered the villa and was stopped by guards.
"No slaves are allowed in here!" a guard shouted.
"It's okay," a voice said behind them. It was Vannozza dei Cattanei. "I gave her permission to come here. You're the wet nurse, right?"
"Yes," Maria answered.
"Come in." The guards moved aside and let Maria in. Vannozza then explained that Maria is to be their wet nurse until he refuses to drink breast milk at the age of one. She will be paid 200 florins after the day is over. Maria had noticed Rodrigo didn't kill Ezio at all. Maybe he saw some good in him or maybe he was reasoned by Vannozza into keeping him. Maria had felt inferior by the Borgia but they never treated her like such. Instead they treated her like she was family. She was paid every day after the day was over and she would go home and tell her children about Ezio and what he has done. The next day, she would do the same thing until she was no longer needed as a wet nurse.
As her children grew up, so did Ezio. They never gave up hope that he would come back to them. But Ezio was unaware of what his true purpose was and of his identity.
Author's Notes:
I decided not to write about the rebellion Giovanni led and not add more detail into the funeral. If you want to write about it, go ahead. But it must be in consistency of the story here. Now I want to focus more on the fanfic where it's getting into the good parts.
