Disclaimer: You know the drill. Everything that sounds familiar is owned by Ubisoft. Cameron and other OCs belong to me.
…
The clinking of keys and the opening of cell doors were what woke Cameron the next morning. Dread filled her as she realized what was to happen today.
"Up," the guards grunted. "I said, get up!" They both forced Connor up by his arms and pushed him, leading him outside. Cameron followed closely behind careful not to step out of line.
Connor was escorted by both men while Cameron lagged behind.
As soon as they were outside, the guards pulled her aside and threw Connor head first into a wagon. With the doors shut tight, the guards dragged Cameron along and sat her upfront with them.
"If I were you, I'd keep my mouth shut and stay put. Or you'll be thrown into the back with the other savage."
Cameron kept silent and turned her head. Without another word, the guard slapped the reins, making the horses lead them onward.
Once they arrived, Cameron heard the shouts of the townsfolk and realized this was going to be a public hanging. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves and suddenly spotted Achilles hiding in the shadows. While the guards drug Connor out of the back, she knew now would be her only chance to escape. She prayed Connor would not blame her for abandoning him and quickly took off to meet Achilles.
"Hey! Where did the other one go?" One of the guards shouted to the other.
"Don't look at me! I thought you were keepin' an eye on him!"
"No you blockhead, that was your job!"
"oh, shut up! It's not like he mattered anyway. We got the real prize right here." The guard kept a tight grip on Connor and pushed him forward.
…
As Cameron stayed close to Achilles, she looked upon Connor who was standing on the platform in front of the townsfolk. A noose was hanging on a pole for all the townspeople to watch him hang. Next to him was the same man Cameron had seen in the tavern not more than a week ago. His unshaven face and messy black hair looked like it needed a bath. He was looking into the crowd, a smirk on his face—the bastard—and spoke of the wrongs Connor had done. But what made Cameron angrier was the fact that he was framing Connor of potentially hurting General Washington.
Cameron heard the jeers and murmurs of the crowd as he spoke and hated all them for believing this man so quickly. A nudge caught Cameron's attention but it was only Achilles who held Connor's tomahawk in his hands. "I will distract these people, you stop Lee." He said, handing her the weapon. Nodding, Cameron watched as he pushed his way passed the boisterous crowd. Watching a few heads turn his direction, she veered off to the side where she saw the man Achilles called "Lee" grabbing the noose. He almost had it around his neck when she sliced the noose with the weapon. It broke apart and Connor tumbled forward only to be greeted by Achilles. Seeing Lee run off, Cameron passed the tomahawk to Achilles. Connor grabbed it out of his hand and rushed off; chasing a man Cameron recognized to be Thomas Hickey, another one of Haytham's men.
"Come along, Cameron. Connor is fine now." He smiled reassuringly at her.
"Achilles, who are those men who framed Connor?"
"Hush, child. Come away before we draw attention and potential danger to ourselves." He stated, pulling her along with him.
…
"Cameron, how are your injuries faring?"
Cameron looked to Connor who was standing in front of her open door; his shoulder was carelessly resting on the doorframe. He had his white robe on again which made him look very muscular. She turned her head to hide her blush. "I believe they have healed, they don't hurt much anymore."
"Good. I am glad. Pack your things, we are leaving again soon."
"Alright, give me just a few moments."
"Of course. I will be outside. Meet me there with your things when you are finished."
Cameron nodded. Hearing his footsteps descend down the stairs, she let out a breath.
Finishing her light packing, she wondered what would happen now. Connor was free and she was glad for that, but there were people out there like the men she met in the Green Dragon who still wanted people like Connor dead. She needed to know more of what was going on if she were going to help Connor, she decided. She needed to know who these people were. Who exactly were the men she met in the Green Dragon? Who was Connor for that matter? And why was she thrown into it all? Closing her bag, Cameron lugged it over her shoulder and proceeded downstairs after looking back to make sure she hadn't forgotten anything.
"Don't do this Connor!" Achilles boomed as she stepped off the last step.
"Then what do you propose we do? Sit and watch while the Templars take control? We are sworn to stop them, or have you forgotten?"
Templars? Cameron froze, listening intently.
"Assassins are meant to be quiet, precise. We do not go announcing conspiracies from the rooftops, to all who pass by."
Assassins? Cameron took a step forward, hearing Connor raise his voice louder than she ever heard.
"Who are you to lecture anyone? You locked yourself away in this crumbling heap and gave up on the brotherhood entirely. Since the day I arrived you have done nothing but discourage me, and on the rare occasions you've chosen to help. You have done so little you may as well have done nothing at all."
"How dare you!" Achilles shouted, anger filling him.
"Then tell me, on whose watch did the brotherhood fall? Whose inaction allowed the Templar order to grow so large that it now controls an entire nation?"
"If I sought to dissuade you it was because you knew nothing. If I was reluctant to contribute it was because you were naïve. A thousand times you would have died and taken God knows how many with you. Let me tell you something Connor, life is not a fairytale and there are no happy endings."
"No. Not with men like you who are left in charge."
Cameron emerged from the mansion to see Connor and Achilles turn to her. Without a word, she walked passed both men, tied her bag to the horse's saddle, and mounted the horse next to Connor's. Without looking in their direction, she heard Connor mount as well.
"In your haste to save the world, boy take care you do not destroy it."
No more than a second later, Connor was off. And Cameron had to kick the stirrups of her horse to catch up with him.
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