A/N – Thanks for my very supportive reviewer, I'm pretty much writing this just for you so enjoy lol :P I apologise in advance for this chapter being so poor, but I needed to cover a lot of generic crap at the abbey.
Disclaimer – I don't own Assassin's Creed or Ælfwig (because he is an actual historical figure from the era)
Chapter 2: Revelations
Mercia slumped against the stone wall and fell to a sitting position, shell-shocked with the information she had just been supplied with, she failed to speak, she just slowly tried to adjust to the situation – which was proving difficult considering she has never killed anyone in her life, and was now expected to become a ruthless assassin.
The young collie managed to paw its way out of her grasp and padded along the room before kneeling intently before the cloaked man, who intently scooped him up and gathered him into a cradle position in one movement, Mercia could faintly see his lips part from beneath his cloak before he began to speak again "I believe introductions are in order, I am Ælfwig, the abbot here at New Minster, I'm also the leader of the order of assassins, who operate out of bases like this all over Europe. I see you've already met my little pup Alfie, and I believe he has taken quite a liking to you – and I'm not surprised, your mother gave him to me as a parting gift"
Mercia looked bewildered (well even more bewildered) what did her mother have to do with any of this? She stood up, preparing herself to demand some answers, but was stopped in her tracks when Ælfwig decided to unrobe himself, revealing much to her surprise that the horrific force she feared would be hiding beneath was infact a 35ish man in chainmail armour – and a bloody gorgeous one at that! He stood about 6'1, broad framed and he was strong too, she could even make out the lines of his muscles from underneath his armour. He looked at her with his gorgeous big brown glistening eyes, and she fell backwards, he smiled at her little lapse, he had an amazing smile she thought to herself – with his beautifully chiseled jawline and light brown stubble that made him look tough and rugged yet still kind and gentle. Oh and his hair. She'd never seen hair like that on a guy before but it looked very good, it was medium length and wavy, a lovely ash brown in colour that perfectly complimented his tanned complexion.
"This is your home now, and feel free to treat it that way, there is a common room in the back of the abbey in which you're free to make yourself comfortable in – although if you choose there's always the barn..." Ælfwig noticed that she was staring intensely at him now, but not out of commanded fear like beforehand, but he could tell that she had thing for him, which made him smile (which made her smile harder) she took after her mother it seemed.
Mercia nodded, giggling slightly, and proceeded to bound into the back room – with strength drawn from a mysterious source it seemed – and dived onto the mattress before drifting peacefully into sleep, thoughts of this man and his rugged good looks played over in her dreams. She'd fallen from him already.
*the next day*
Feeling incredibly refreshed, Mercia stretched, rubbed at her eyes then jumped from the bed to the floor – she could have done a summersault had she chose to she was that alive – before being greeted by the warm smiling (and incredibly sexy) face of Ælfwig, who had taken it upon himself to make her an assassin uniform and pointing her to the springs out back where she could wash in seclusion if she needed to.
After taking a relaxing bath in the soothing spring, Mercia tied her dirty blonde hair into a ponytail and carefully unraveled her new uniform, it was leather clearly, but was so silky smooth, she traced her fingertips across the back and then the front; it was white with a simple red cross embossed into the front. It felt wonderful on her, like wearing a nightie, she couldn't resist the urge to bounce about the yard outside, like a child at play, but it was more, she seemed at home, like this was the calling she'd been searching for, the armour felt so natural on her that it felt like a second skin, finally she'd found her calling.
Ælfwig watched on from the window smiling at her, not just because of the grandiose spectacle she was making of herself, but because of how happy she was, of course Mercia never knew this, but ever since she was a child and her mother had left the Abbey in search of a quiet life, Ælfwig had watched on, slowly awaiting the day that the daughter of his most trusted friend and colleague would return to him and complete his final plan, but she was looking over and he had to pretend he wasn't observing her, which failed when she smiled at him, causing him to smile back at her, not out of choice, but simply because he liked her. And he certainly didn't like admitting that to himself. But, he regained composure and called her inside, they needed to start training.
It was intense, the training was hard and brutal, but he needed her in peak physical fitness, however no matter how hard it was for her to continue, his friendly, encouraging voice gave her the drive to continue, she wanted to impress him, she didn't really know why, after all she'd only just met him – and regardless of how fit he was – she wasn't the type for 'love at first sight' or anything like that, even the thought of sentiment made her feel a little bit sick; she'd learned from an early age after loosing her mother that she didn't need anyone but herself – but she thought to herself why did she suddenly feel like this then!
That night Mercia couldn't fall straight into blissful sleep the same as the last, her head played a million thoughts in her head on shuffle, she just couldn't decide whether she liked him or not, he was very kind to take her into his home, he was fit there was no doubt, and he wanted the best out of her – she didn't why was she so conflicted – it was like something in her head was saying to her: stop he's trouble, get out of there now! But she managed to silence that voice, reminiscing about the fun she had today she drifted off into sleep peacefully, unbeknownst that Ælfwig was watching her, his thoughts just as confused as hers, but he had enough restraint to stop himself thinking about it – afterall, the fate of the country was at stake and the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
* a few days later *
The past few days had flown by for Mercia, it all just seemed like one long adventure, her daily routine: wash; train; eat; train; wash; eat; sleep, it was so repetitive, yet Ælfwig made it so fun, the way he would joke with her and reassure her, she'd really grown to look up to him like a big brother, but still couldn't make up her mind if that was all, meanwhile, Ælfwig had a very productive few days, he'd gotten closer to her, which he really wanted, for afterall they were going to have to be the closest and trust each other 100% if they were going to prevent an onslaught of heathen invaders after all.
"Mercia, could you please come with me for a second?" Ælfwig called for the girl, who was engrossed within her training exercises and was quite startled at the interruption, but very happy to hear from him, she quickly made her way to the main room, almost bouncing on the way, he had gotten a very strange ornate wooden box out of the basement, she gazed intently at it for a few seconds, it was very beautiful. The box was made out of shining ebony, with the most detailed little floral patterns engraved upon the top of the box and across the sides, the usual lock in the centre was missing, and instead there was an exquisitely detailed embossed sun decoration (identical to the one in the middle of the carpet), but instead of a face in the middle, there was an indent that seemed to unlock the box – assuming that you had the correct the to open the box.
"Wh…What is it?" Mercia stumbled upon her words in her traditional bemused and flustered style, to which Ælfwig replied with a smirk that it was waiting for her to come and unlock it, he slowly took her hand and guided it towards the sun on the front of the box, slowly he folded her hand into a fist and guided her middle finger towards the insert, whereupon the ring she had always worn on her finger (which was adorned with a rose pattern) fitted perfectly into the insertion, which in turn caused a horrible metal crunching sound and the lid burst open, like the top of Pandora's box of myth, this ancient treasure had been opened too – Mercia however was too busy checking that there was no damage to her mother's ring.
Until she caught a glimpse of what was inside the box that was, her eyes widened and her jaw unhinged slightly, a golden light softly radiated from the open lid, and as she edged closer to it, the sparkling gleam of metals within flashed in her eyes, It had been left here on purpose, by her mother, anticipating her arrival all these years later – it was her mother's old assassin equipment, and a note addressed to Mercia which simply stated: 'I know that you will succeed were I failed, and here is the equipment you will need. I love you honey xxx'
Mercia was taken aback, it seemed her time had come, much sooner than she had expected.
I fully realise this chapter was awful, but I needed to get a lot of stuff out of the way, most of which is and the action can start soon :D