Shiver

The Great Wicked

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Assassin's Creed nor any characters, they are intellectually property of Ubisoft. I make no money in this, I write for enjoyment

Upon Connor's return to the homestead he stood outside looking in the direction of the manor, thinking of the last exchange that was held there.

OOO

The air in the manor was thick with anger and questions as an angry Connor burst through the front door, down the steps and to his waiting horse, Achilles in tow. Despite his age and the cane, the old man caught up to him rather quickly, he always moved a bit faster when he was angry or when he felt Connor was behaving irrationally.

"Don't do this Connor!" Connor stopped and turned long enough to spit out a bitter, mocking reply.

"Then what would you propose we do?" No answer Achilles would give could be good enough, the old man was all about waiting and sending Connor on many foolish errands while their true enemy continues uninterrupted. "Sit and what while the Templars take control? We are sworn to stop them or have you forgotten?"

Achilles stood a little taller now with a fire in his belly that he had not felt quite this strongly in a very long time, the idiot boy was about to do something very foolish indeed. "Assassins are meant to be quiet, precise. We do not go announce conspiracy from the rooftops to all who pass by!"

Connors hanger had reached its peak when it came to dealing with Achilles tendency to lecture him, "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 discourse me and on the rare occasions you've chosen to help, you've done so little, you may as well have done nothing at all!" The string of angry insults had left a bitter taste in Connors mouth, was it because he truly felt these things and the truth was always bitter at best? Or was it because he simply said thing to hurt Achilles?

Yet he did not seem fazed by Connor's harsh words, in fact he seemed angrier then Connor "How dare you!?" He cried out in outrage over this boys arrogance.

"Then tell me, on whose watch did the Brotherhood falter? Whose inaction allowed the Templar Order to grow so large that it now controls an entire nation?" His back to Achilles, he readied his horse eager to put as much distance between himself and this foolish old man as possible.

Achilles knew that Connor only spoke what it was that he truly felt and in that truth Achilles knew that this argument, to some extent was his doing, all he could do was take responsibility for it and try to talk sense into his apprentice, his apprentice who was so eager for battle. "If I sought to dissuade you it was because you knew nothing. If I was reluctant to contribute it was because you were naive. A thousand times you would have died and taken God know how many with you! Let me tell you something Connor: life is not a fairy tale and there are no happy endings!"

Connor already knew this, so why did Achilles feel the need to say it with such force, perhaps he was trying to convince himself, "No." Connor paused for one final insult. "Not when men like you are left in charge." Connor mounted his horse eager to leave and ride hard until he could breathe the fire out of his lungs, Achilles stood in front of his horse reigns in hand to relay one final message.

"In your haste to save the world boy, take care that you don't destroy it!"

OOO

Once more the house seemed dead as the day he arrived, with time that had passed and his experiences since that day, he regretted his words to Achilles. He could only look on at the house and try to form meaningful words into some sort of an apology, wondering if Achilles would even hear him out.

The sound of quickly and clumsy moving footsteps approaching him caught his well trained ears and a moment later there was a hand clamped hard over his shoulder prompted an instinctive reaction. In a well practiced maneuver, he grasped the hand and flipped the person over his back and into the dirt, with the arm still grasped Connor went to place his foot on his assailants chest only to realize it was no assailant, it was Norris. That was so say, it was Norris with an unusually large grin upon his face, this was not the usual reaction to someone being flipped onto their back but it did not appear to bother Norris in the least.

"My friend!" He cried out in happiness.

"Norris? What are you doing?" The happy and cheerful disposition leaving Connor far beyond bewildered.

"She said yes!" He cried out once more, unable to contain himself. It was a simple answer, that Connor felt he should have understood but he still felt as though he were missing some piece of the puzzle. He searched his mind for the meaning of Norris's answer, he was certain it was something obvious. Then it dawned on him who the 'she' was, as the meaning became clear and if t was so then there was not a force on Earth that could stop Norris from being cheerful.

"Myriam?" He finally responded as he offered a hand to help Norris up, still smiling like a fool.

"We are getting married!" He exclaimed with such force that it sounded like he didn't quite believe it himself. A soft laughter and casual footsteps came from a few paces away, calling their attention to Myriam, herself as she laughed at the two men who acted as boys.

"I told you not to touch him Norris." She chided while shaking her head before taking her place next to her fiance, whom placed a loving arm around her. Connor at least smiled a rare smile and clapped a hand over Norris's shoulder.

"Is it true?" Myram could not quite contain her smile either as she nodded before replying an obvious 'Yes.' Connor was indeed happy for his friends and truthfully, he could use their reason to celebrate as a temporary escape from his meeting with Achilles.

Father Timothy had seen the whole exchange and finally joined them, eager to seek Connor's help with preparations for the wedding. "So, now that you have been told might I have a word with you?" Connor nodded before walking off with Father Timothy in the opposite direction of the Davenport manor. For once Connor felt light and happy, his conversation with Achilles could wait a little bit longer.

OOO

Achilles sat at his desk writing in his journal, the red leather bound book that he had written in every day of his life, up until fourteen years ago. He had originally not been able to bear writing out what had happened, so there was a very large gap in the pages. One moment they spoke of actions going on within the walls of the Brotherhood, the goings on of his wife and young son, his hopes and dreams for another generation to step up and become part of something greater then themselves. The next there were only blank pages, pages that Achilles had mean, a thousand time to write in once more, but he never did, perhaps he never could, the guilt far too great, and besides, who would read it? For many years his darkest secrets existed only within his head and they had never seen the daylight of his journal and an ink pen. He was always too ashamed to admit what had happened, what he allowed to happen. He had lived in his shame for far too long and maybe that was why his nightmares visited him again, he knew what he needed to do.

He also knew that on more then one occasion, Connor had spied the red book, his gaze full of curiosity often lingered on it for a few moments, long after Achilles had seen him looking. He knew that Connor was very curious to know what text was within the pages and although he never said anything Connors gaze would always return to the book when Achilles wasn't looking. It was one of Achilles' greatest debates, of whether or not he should one day allow Connor to read the book and whether he would finish it, but would it strengthen his resolve or destroy it?

It was a question that Achilles had thought of for several years, since the day Connor came to him.

His nightmare was still fresh in his mind and it bothered him greatly, he hadn't dreamed of those events in many years, there was no foreseeable trigger, so why now, after so many years? Perhaps an old lion sensing his end and his conscience decided that he needed to be reminded of his failures. He touched a hand to his temple, it had been so many years and yet he remembered it like it was yesterday.

His quill was positioned over the the blank page as though he intended to tell a great tale but nothing happened, the quill remained motionless. What would he write? Where and how would he begin? A drop of ink that had collected on the quills tip fell and bled onto the pristine white page, staining it and although the ink was black ass Achilles could see was red.

The sound of the front door opening and heavy footsteps that belonged to Connor puled him rom his thoughts, he welcomed the distraction and quickly closed the book. Connor knocked softly on the doorframe of the sitting room, he didn't have to, the Davenport Manor was just as much his home as it was Achilles. It was a soft knock, almost remorseful, gauging Achilles response, but he could read his student very well, there was no anger, no rebellion, only Connor with something on his mind.

"Welcome back, and how was Martinique?" His tone wasn't quite cheerful but he was relieved to see Connor safe and sound.

Connor spoke slowly "Achilles… I… I owe you an apology…" Achilles at first was surprised but he quickly waved it off as though it weren't important, it was deserved. He knew Connor had only spoken the truth, he had lost his way a long time ago, Connor had seen to it that he remembered. "It was wrong of me to say the things I did…" Why was it that accepting an apology was so difficult for men? Achilles looked up to see and uncertain look plaguing Connor's face. A deep internal conflict.

"Your words were harsh, Connor, but there was also truth in there. I failed the Order. Allowed the Templars to take control.." His own guilt weighing his head to hang low with shame, maybe it had been Connor's heated words before he departed that provoked the dream. He didn't know.

"-But now their hold id weakened, which makes me believe there's a chance for peace. Imagine what we might accomplish if we were to unite." These were strange words indeed, Achilles shifted in his chair to face Connor head on now, carefully observing him.

"Why the change of heart? Where is this coming from" Connor turned to look away, trying to keep his thoughts to himself, not wanting to answer Achilles question, but it could only be one thing. "You've met your father, haven't you?" Connor did not need to give an answer, Achilles knew.

Connor sighed heavily and tried to do some damage control, "I do not claim to trust the man- or even like him. But I would be remiss to ignore this opportunity."

Connor had a good point, and he wasn't the first to come tho this conclusion, and Achilles couldn't blame him for being hopeful and seeking a peaceful solution. If there was a chance for peace and all it took was letting go of foolish pride, then why not? "Haytham may listen, but will he understand? And even if he does, will he agree?"

"Even he must admit that we achieve more together then we do alone." True enough. Achilles considered the thought himself, knowing full and well what Connor would do next. He met Connor's eyes until a soft glint of light on metal caught his eye until it settled on the source.

"Connor," Achilles stepped closer as Connor turned away, thinking Achilles may try to change his mind. "What is that?"

It was not the response Connor expected and for a moment he was uncertain of what Achilles was asking about. He followed Achilles line of sight before looking at his chest to the talisman tied to a leather cord around his neck. The one that Chenoa had entrusted to him. "This? A recent acquisition." He didn't feel like elaborating or bringing up the subject of Chenoa, certain Achilles would disapprove.

There was a spark in Achilles eyes, and a change in his demeanor, something about him changed in that instant as he reached for the trinket, eyes wide. "Connor, who gave this to you?"

"An ally." He replied nonchalantly thinking nothing of Achilles sudden interest.

"Blast it boy! What is her name?!" The sudden outburst had startled Connor, he had rarely seen Achilles so riled up over something so small, apart from the time he embedded his tomahawk into the column on Achilles doorstep. Good times.

"An Abenaki woman, I met in my travels." The spark faded, "Her name is Chenoa." And now it was gone, dead again. But it was a curiosity that Connor had such a trinket to begin with.

"Do you know what this is?" He asked turning away, placing a hand on the desk for support as he glanced out the window. Connor followed with his eyes as they landed on the book.

"Your journal?"

"No boy! The trinket you carry!" Achilles had only ever referred to Connor as 'the boy' when he was angry or frustrated or felt Connor was not paying attention. Connor glanced down at it again, searching it carefully, but he saw nothing of consequence, nothing special about it. "Nevermind," Achilles paused before changing the subject. "I assume you're off to find him then?"

If Connor was curious about the piece now there was no finding out about it, Achilles changing the subject was something Connor picked up right away on after having first met him. When he spoke no more of it, that was that.

"Yes, I ride for New York to see what might be done." Achilles sat down hands gripping his journal tightly as Connor turned and left, leaving him alone with his memories and a question:

"How?"

OOO