Hello once again audience! Intro of Darkness then Redness then Whiteness! Okay so, this chapter was actually supposed to be part of chapter ten, but it was sooo long and I wanted to add more to this particular part of the story so I cut it up. Anyways, this is a somewhat important chapter from the actual game and for my version of the story. I have been dying to write this chapter for months. But enough talking, here's the eleventh chapter of Revolution:
TM3ACB
A Speech from a Trailer, a Betrayal, and a Remembrance
I wake up to a firm warms chest against my body, soft breathing, and a slow steady heartbeat. I can't remember how I got here but I do remember getting really cold when the fire went out. Then that cold suddenly went away. And I fell asleep again to that slow steady heartbeat.
When I open my eyes, I see the blue and white of Assassin robes and the brass shiny buttons fastened to them. I snuggle closer to Connor as I feel him breathe in deeply and his strong arms encircle me holding me tighter. In this moment here, I feel safe and warm. Like nothing can hurt me when I'm here. I look up and see Connor slowly opening his eyes and he looks down at me. His big golden brown eyes seem to glow in the morning light as he gives me a sleepy smile which a gladly return. Even this simple look gives my butterflies.
"Good morning," I mumble.
"Good morning," Connor mumbles back and I feel his chest rumble as he speaks. "Did you sleep well?"
I smile and nod. "I guess we should go find Haytham then?' I say slowly not wanting to leave.
"No, not yet," Connor says as he rolls on top of me and leans down to kiss me. I smile and gladly cooperate.
"What took you two so long?" Haytham asks in an annoyed and impatient tone as we approach him outside of Valley Forge a little while after dusk.
"We got… busy," I say slowly. Connor fights back a laugh. I bite my lip to keep from smiling.
Haytham shakes his head. "I don't want to know."
I laugh. "If you're wondering, Haytham… I'm still a virgin."
Connor bursts out laughing and Haytham gives me a funny and look then rolls his eyes in annoyance. "Let's just get this over with."
I take the moment to piss off Haytham even more. "Aww does somebody not want to see the man that almost killed him?"
Haytham narrows his eyes at me while Connor looks at the both of us like we're crazy. Then the two of us are laughing till our sides hurt.
But behind my smiles and laugher, I hide pain and tears. Because I can never bear to watch this next part…
We haven't seen Valley Forge since last December when the men and the life of the camp was dead and cold. Now, six months later, the camp is full of chatter, laughter, soldier's swords and muskets clanking together, and the men marching with a lively upbeat vibe flowing through the air for once. And this time, I can agree with Haytham when he will write in his journal, "Here, I realized, was where independence could be born: with spirit, cooperation, and fortitude." But I would never tell him that I actually agree with him.
I glance over at Connor while we walk and see that he's much calmer than when we are in the city. His eyes are softer and have a sort of glow to them and he seems a little more off his guard when we enter the green woods. He shows so much more of his native side out here. I kind of like it.
"We should be sharing what we know with Lee, not Washington..." Haytham complains until Connor stops him and we all stand where we are.
"You seem to think we favor him," he says using his pissed off voice. "But our enemy is a notion, not a nation. It is wrong to compel obedience - whether to the British Crown or the Templar Cross. And I hope in time the Loyalists will see this too, for they are also victims." Haytham is still trying to find the right words to say to his son in return.
"You oppose tyranny," Haytham says also using his pissed off tone as he looks at the both of us. "These are just symptoms. Their true cause is human weakness. Why do you think I keep on trying to show you two the error of your ways?"
"You have said much yes, but you have shown us nothing," Connor snaps as he then pushes past Haytham and walks towards the Commander's tent.
"Then we'll have to remedy that then, won't we..." Haytham says with sarcasm dripping from his words.
"Haytham, I know what you're about to do," I say quietly to him so Connor won't hear. "Don't do it. You will lose your son and break all ties to ever seeing her again."
"Come now, Riley," Haytham chuckles. "What could I possibly do to lose Connor or ever seeing Ziio again?" then he walks a bit faster to catch up with Connor.
"A whole mess of things," I mutter the answer quietly to myself before joining the boys at Washington's tent.
Commander Washington is bent over some documents and letters on his small wooden writing desk when we meet him outside the open flap of his tent.
I stand beside Connor as he gets the Commander's attention. "Sir."
Washington is a bit surprised to he us and looks a bit worried as he puts down his quill and says, "Hello, Connor. Riley. What brings you two here?" he makes a conscious effort to move his body in front of his writing desk. Haytham and I are the only ones that seem to notice.
"The British have recalled their men in Philadelphia," Connor says.
"They march for New York," I finish.
As Washington speaks, Haytham silently moves behind him to examine the documents Washington is failing to hide. "Very well. I'll move our forces to Monmouth. If we can rout them, we'll have finally turned the tide."
Haytham picks up a document. "And what's this?"
Washington's eyes widen when he realized that Haytham has discovered the letters he was trying to hide. "Private correspondence!" he quickly tries to reach for the letter in Haytham's hands but fails.
"Of course it is," Haytham says sarcastically. "Would you like to know what it says, Connor and Riley?"
"Haytham, don't-"I begin but Haytham stops me and turns to his son.
"It seems your good friend here has just ordered an attack on your village." Connor immediately snaps his head towards Washington with a shocked and unbelieving look on his face. "Although attack might be putting it mildly." Haytham turns to Washington. "Tell him, Commander."
Washington looks embarrassed and ashamed and disappointed as he keeps his head down and speaks. "We've been receiving reports of allied natives working with the British. I've asked my men to put a stop to it."
"By burning their villages, and salting the land," Haytham finishes, walking towards Washington. "By calling for their extermination, according to this letter. Not the first time either. Tell them what you did fourteen years ago."
"That was another time," Washington snaps at Haytham in protest. "The Seven Years' War."
"And so now you see what happens to this "great man" when under duress," Haytham says in a convincing tone to try and win Connor and I over. I know it's not working. "He makes excuses, displaces blame. Does a great many things, in fact - except take responsibility."
Washington gets ready to defend himself when Connor yells, "Enough! Who did what and why must wait. My people come first."
"Then let's be off," Haytham says calmly.
"No," Connor says angrily. "You and I are finished."
"Son…" Haytham says calmly in a caring tone like a real father would. But he's not Connor's father. He broke that tie a long time ago.
"Do you think me so soft that by calling me son I might change my mind?" Connor questions harshly. "How long did you sit on this information? Or am I to believe you discovered this now? My mother's blood may stain another's hands, but Charles Lee is no less a monster, and all he does, he does by your command." Connor points angrily to his father. Then to Washington. "A warning to you both- choose to follow us or oppose us and we will kill you." Connor then turns away from the two me and mutters, "Come on, Riley." He begins to walk towards the nearby horses.
"B-but, Connor…" I stutter. But I know it's useless. I then turn around to look at Haytham and Washington and look them in the eyes and shake my head in sadness and disappointment. Then I turn back around to join Connor on the large brown horse he sits on.
"We have to hurry!" I say quickly from behind Connor. "The messengers aren't too far but there's a camp next to your village that waits for the orders to attack.
"What do you propose we do?" Connor asks me after shooting a messenger in the head with his gun that was kneeling on the ground bent over his broken cart.
"Get rid of the messengers," I reply simply.
There are a few more minutes of silence between us as we gallop through the silent dark forest with the moon overhead our only light. Then we spot two messengers on horseback slowly trotting along the beaten trail. I feel Connor tense up and I wrap my arms tightly around the middle to assure him.
"I got the first one, you get the one in front of us," I mutter to Connor as I load an arrow into my bow.
Connor nods as he pulls out his tomahawk.
Balancing myself, I stand up on the saddle of the moving horse and pull back the string of my bow. I release and the arrow lodges itself in the back of the first dude's head. He falls from his horse, dead.
"Nice shot," Connor says to me.
"Why, thank you, good sir," I say like a lady with a little curtsy and bow. "I've had a little practice."
The second mad panics when he sees his comrade dead on the ground and then the two of us coming at him. Connor jumps from his horse and lands on the second messenger's and buries his tomahawk blade into the guy's shoulder and throws him to the ground.
I sit properly on my horse and kick her sides. She goes flying down the path past Connor.
"Riley, what are you doing?" Connor calls after me as he follows me on his own horse.
"Catching up to the final messenger!" I call back. "But we have to hurry!"
I then see the messenger in my sights. He's racing just as fast as me on his black horse.
"Come on, girl," I nudge my horse faster and load another arrow into my bow. I easily take out the final messenger with an arrow to the head. I slow down my horse to a trot to let Connor catch up.
Connor sights in frustration when he approaches me. "We should at least check and see if the village is alright."
I nod. "Lead the way."
Connor's village looks the same as when Connor left it to find Achilles. It's late in the evening so there are few people walking around or tending to fires. But everyone knew when we arrive because of the constant barking dogs.
Connor and I pull off our hoods as we enter the peaceful quiet village and leave our horses outside the wall of logs surrounding the log houses.
"Ratonhnhaké:ton! Riley! You're back!" Ziio comes running up and throws her arms around her son. Connor holds her tightly and closes his eyes so grateful to see her. My heart begins to hurt for my own mother.
"Hello, mother," Connor says softly.
"Hello, my son," Ziio says back.
When they release, Ziio turns to me. "Riley, it's so good to see you again." She pulls me into a hug like the ones my mother once gave me. Then she looks me over. "You have certainly changed these past few years here haven't you?" I smile. "But you look so much like your father. But you have your mother's eyes."
"Wait, you two know each other?" Connor asks looking confused as he studies us.
"Yep," I say keeping my arm around Ziio's shoulders and she keeps hers around my waist. "You know how I can see into the past?" Connor nods. "Well, you mother can see into the future. She saw everything that ever happened to me and she even saw me coming. She knew it was me when you and rescued her that night in the fire."
Connor looks over and Ziio to see if it's true. Ziio smiles and nod to her son. "That is… interesting," Connor says slowly. Then he looks around. "Where is Kanen'tó:kon?"
"Ratonhnhaké:ton! You have returned!" the Clan Mother comes towards us limping slightly as she uses her long staff to support herself. "But why? I thought you would be with that other man."
I bite my lip as Connor looks at the Clan Mother, confused. "What other man?" He asks sounding worried with a concerned look on his face.
"Boiling Water. The one called Charles Lee," the Clan Mother replies leaning on her staff. "He took Kanen'tó:kon and a few others with him."
"What?! Where have they gone?" Connor asks looking worried and nervous.
"To push back those who would take our land," the Clan Mother replies calmly.
Connor turns around and looks at Ziio and me with a worried expression on his face. I look down at my boots to avoid his gaze. "No. this is wrong…" Connor says slowly.
"Why are you troubled?" the Clan Mother asks Connor. "Is this not what you wanted? For us to take a stand?"
"I… we have to go," Connor replies slowly. "We need to stop them."
Connor glances at me and I give him a nod. I begin to follow him out of the village when Ziio stops me and quickly grabs my arm.
"Riley, what is going on?" she asks with a concerned look on her face. "Is everything alright?"
I turn around to face her. "It's gonna be okay," I assure her. "Just make sure you are ready for something tragic and unexpected. Charles Lee is the monster. The man that nearly killed you. The reason Connor left to become who he is now. He is going to get all the men killed with this little stunt. We're going to stop him."
"What?" Ziio asks. "Wait…"
"Connor loves and misses you so much," I say taking her hands in mine. "We will be back soon," I release her hands and slowly back away. "I promise…"
"Be careful, Riley!" Ziio calls to me before I leave the village to find Connor.
"I promise, we're doing this for you own good," I say to the native I just put in a headlock until he stopped struggling and went unconscious. I suddenly hear loud grunts and shouting as I'm walking through the dark trees.
"Peace, Kanen'tó:kon!" I hear Connor's voice as he speaks in Mohawk to his best friend nearby.
"Ratonhnhaké:ton," Kanen'tó:kon snarls. "Come to kill me yourself?"
"What?!" Connor exclaims at his friend.
When I find them, they are in a clearing in the trees so I can easily hide in the brush nearby to watch the final moments.
"Charles Lee told me everything," Kanen'tó:kon snarls holding his blade tightly, ready to strike. "The Patriots seek to destroy us. And you and Riley would aid them."
"That man is a liar!" Connor cries, trying to convince the boy he grew up with as they circle one another.
"He said you and Riley had been corrupted." Kanen'tó:kon continues. "That you two would try to deceive. But here they are on our doorstep. What say you to that?"
"It is a mistake!" Connor says with fright and pain lingering on his features. He knows he has to do it. I think this in my head as I feel the tears pooling in my eyes. I will always hate this moment.
"The only mistake was trusting you and Riley would keep us safe," Kanen'tó:kon snarls. "They have seduced you two. And you are turned against your own kind." He then tries to slice at Connor's middle using his knife but Connor is too quick and jumps back and misses the blow.
"Stop!" Connor cries.
"I will!" Kanen'tó:kon says. "When you and Riley are dead!" he suddenly wrestles Connor to the ground and gets on top of him trying to force his blade into Connor's neck.
I turn away when I see Connor's hand shoot up and bury his hidden blade into Kanen'tó:kon's neck.
The world fades as Connor throws Kanen'tó:kon off of him and onto his back and slowly sits up. He sits on the knees as he looks down at his dying friend with watery eyes.
"My passing wins you nothing, Ratonhnhaké:ton," Kanen'tó:kon manages to get out. "Charles Lee rides for Monmouth to reveal the Patriots' plans." Connor takes his friend's hand as he struggles to stay awake. "The Loyalists will destroy them. The revolution will be ended. The Crown victorious. Our people... safe." He closes his eyes and lays his head back down in the grass.
"It seems our people will never be safe," Connor whispers. "You are resting now, my friend." He slowly rests Kanen'tó:kon's hand back on his chest and gets back to his feet.
I rise from where I was crouched in the brush. Connor looks over and sees me. then the tears start to fall.
"Oh, Connor!" I cry as I run up to him and wrap my arms around his middle. I bury my face into his chest as he encircles his arms around my body and rests his head in my hair. "I'm so sorry," I whisper.
When I wake up again, I'm hugging a pillow. I feel around the cold sheets and realize that Connor left his room and has been gone a while.
I decided last night to stay with Connor in his room when we got home from the village after telling the Clan Mother and Ziio about Kanen'tó:kon to help comfort him. The ride home was silent and Connor seemed to want me to stay with him tonight but I can't blame him. He would have done the same for me.
I slowly sit up and look around the dark and quiet room. No sign of Connor. I immediately feel shivers up my spine when my bare feet touch the cold wooden floor. My robes sit on a chair next to Connor's on the opposite side of the room. So I pull on my small blue cardigan that was once my mother's favorite that I managed to save from the future. I pull it on over my black tank top and jeans as I silently leave Connor's dark room.
I silently walk down the stairs of the manor and can hear Achilles snoring from where I sand. Most of the candles are out save for one in the kitchen and the one that opens the basement. I walk towards it and find the door slightly ajar and some lights on below. I push open the door a bit more and silently walk down the old wooden stairs. Living in this house so long, I know where to stop and not be heard.
When my feet tough the cold stone of the basement floor, I look around the wide open training room and only see darkness except for the small candle underneath the portraits of the Templars still left. The candle sits on a small wooden table and beside it, sits a shirtless Connor with his head down resting on his arms.
I hear soft whimpers and sniffles as I approach him. He doesn't seem to know that I'm here so when I rest my hand lightly on his bare shoulder, he shivers and stops crying. He probably thinks I'm Achilles.
"Connor," I whisper softly.
He looks up at me with red eyes as he slowly sits up in his chair. "Riley? What are you doing up?" he talks to me like I'm a little kid or as if he doesn't was me here as he rubs his eyes.
"What are you doing up?" I ask putting my hands on my hips.
"Thinking," he mutters after a few moments of silence.
"About what?" I persist.
Connor sights in frustration as he gets to his feet. "You know what, Riley," he says using his annoyed tone on me.
"Yeah, I do know," I agree. "But I wanna hear you say it."
Connor is silent for a moment as he tries to put what his wants to say in words. "Tell me why you let me kill Kanen'tó:kon," he says. "I want a real answer."
I sigh. "It's not my place to alter history on who lives and who dies. I wanted to tell you everything. About Washington, you father, about me about your mother, for a long time. But if I did, it would have changed everything."
Connor is silent for a moment as he walks around the basement at a loss for words. Then he looks up at me. "You did not know him, you know. You cannot understand this pain that I have."
I open my mouth to protest.
"You may have seen him in your "visions." But you will never know or understand."
"Where is all this coming from?" I ask angrily. "I've saved you ass because of my dreams!"
"That does not matter," Connor says. "I could have done just fine without you."
I feel an immense anger inside me that I haven't felt since the Tea Party. "Whatever happened to, 'I needed you more that you will ever know?'" I ask raising my voice slightly.
"When you keep holding things from me, how can I trust you? Or even need your help?"
"I decided to stay here because I loved you and still do!" I say feeling my throat choke up. "I thought you would want me here to help you… to be with you…"
Connor gets ready to say something hurtful- I see it in his eyes. I prepare for the worst. But it doesn't come. He just slouches back down into his chair. "I can't do this anymore," he mutters.
"Do what?" I ask.
"I cannot finish this task," he says looking up at me in the eye. "What if I cannot kill Charles Lee?" He bows his head and buries his face in his hands.
"Connor?" I ask softly. "Look at me." he doesn't. "Connor, look at me." Connor slowly lifts his head and looks into my eyes with bi\g brown read and watery ones. I take a deep breath and speak.
"Is this not why you fight? To protect your people? This land offers something else than pain. Have you not seen the fruits of our labor? Raise your flag, this is a revolution. You have given people hope. You have given people faith. Paint that flag red with the blood you have shed over this. They will fight. And they will fall. Welcome to the new age. But in time, they will rise for their freedom. So rise! You will not bow and you will not break! And I will be here to see you do it…"
Connor gets up and takes me in his arms. "You will be here with me every step of the way."
"Why?" I ask pressing my face to his warm bare skin as I wrap my arms around his waist.
"Because I want you to."
Sorry for the longish wait. I meant to post this Friday but I had a football game to go to so I left school early and didn't get home until 2am. But there you have it. This is probably one of my favorite chapters. I hope you enjoyed. So as always, review, comment, like, follow, favorite, do whatever it is you do. Bless you face. If you sneezed during this chapter, bless you. Peace off! Ba da-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-follow! Outro of Darkness then Redness then Whiteness then, BOOP!