DanAlaya: If Eleanor had told him she had retired, it still wouldn't have changed anything. She's the one who is running away - from him, from the Templars and from the Assassins. The only reason he stayed over that night was because she needed the comfort, and Haytham understood that. He was going to leave but they used this as a sort of goodbye. Eleanor's just scared and confused at the moment. But DAMN I wanted that to be a surprise! Oh well XD
AssassinsGurl2012: No no Haytham and Ziio is already finished! Connor is three years old at the moment, he is a year younger than Nora. It's just like in the game, Haytham and Ziio hook up shortly after killing Silas and then break us just after Edward Braddock dies. Haytham and Eleanor don't get together until after that! Sorry for the confusion! I did think of finishing this story here and making a sequel but I decided against it. There's only 13 chapters at the moment and I want to keep Eleanor's story all together in one big story.
ObsessedFableFreak: Aww I didn't mean to make you cry! *hugs* Yes she'll see Haytham again, but that's all I'm sayin' =P This chapter is making me nervous because I'm really breaking away from the AC universe for a couple of chapters so I don't want anyone to get bored Thank you so much for your support!
The Biggest Geek In The World: YES THEY WILL I PROMISE! I may be cruel but not THAT cruel. Haytham needs somebody to love (why am I singing Queen?)
Victory Goddess: She'll always have Khan, that's what is so great about him :) I love changing the situations around otherwise it gets boring for me to write XD
LurkingLady: Muahaha I love that song! But yeah I tried to set up this part a couple of chapters back, hinting here and there that she didn't belong in Boston anymore. I'm glad no one noticed though, I like to surprise people :D I know, I felt terrible for Nora, I'm a cruel person But she'll be alright. She has a great future! MOUAHAHA YES Charles certainly will explode! Thanks again for your review :3
Like last time, I used RPG Creator to make Eleanor's outfit. I even tried to draw one myself thanks to The Biggest Geek In The World (I'll try to add Haytham in the picture as well :3). Both are on my Tumblr, the link is on my profile (because Fanfiction is annoying and refuses to post links in here)
I REALLY REALLY hope you enjoy this. This chapter is a closure on Ella's old life and the start of her new life, so things may be a tad confusing or slow or whatever, I don't know. Please let me know what you think! And thank you to everyone who's still reading this :)
In the morning, the storm had passed and the sky was blue again, the sun reflecting brightly in the puddles that covered the streets. The five of us made our way down to the port once Catherine had given the keys to the people who had bought their house, and stepped aboard the ship. The crossing would take three months I was told. Three long months. But I didn't mind, I would happily spend years on the open sea. Within days, Nora discovered that she also loved the open sea and would run around the top deck chasing a young boy that was around her age who was travelling with his parents. I learnt that the reason why Catherine and Charlie were moving to England was because they had recently lost their child, and Catherine had begged Charlie to find somewhere else to live. I understood where she was coming from, being in a very similar position, and together we supported each other.
But still I grew more and more tired, and after a couple of weeks I began to feel sick when I woke up, feeling as if I had been thrown around in my sleep. I hated it, and I felt it was unusual because I had never been ill on a boat before, not since I was a child. But again I dismissed it, thinking that it was my emotional response to what had happened. And I suppose in a way, it was.
I soon found out that Catherine knew how to play the violin so she would give me lessons. She was horrified at how I held the violin, and when she asked me which idiot had taught me I frowned and told her that I had taught myself. She laughed and we started again from scratch. It drove some of the sailors mad during the first few weeks, when my playing sounded like a cat screeching. Even Khan and Charlie would keep as far away from us as they possibly could to get away from the noise, which made me laugh. I played and played, desperate to play something nice, and after a month I managed to play several simple tunes fairly well.
I had been worried about taking Nora onto a ship full of sailors, but she was such a sweet little girl that they all grew to care for her and would often steal biscuits for her and she would hide when I caught her eating them. It was sweet and I didn't mind at all, though Catherine would tell her that it was bad. Khan on the other hand found it difficult to adapt to sea life. Though he had been brought up on Achilles' homestead among Europeans, he still had deep roots in his native American way of life which made him attached to the earth and the creatures that roamed it. But all in all, I felt happier and I could see that Nora was happier as well, so I knew that I had made the right decision even if I didn't find Pierre Duchateau. Or at least, that was what I was telling myself because deep down, I knew that I was only running away. And I hadn't even told Haytham that I was leaving. Was I just being selfish or was this genuinely a good idea? I couldn't decide, but I tried not to think about it. It only upset me.
One evening, Catherine, Charlie, Khan and I ate dinner around a small table at the back of the ship once we had put Nora to sleep. But I found myself unable to eat the food, the smell making my stomach churn. " Do you want me do find something else for you? " Khan suggested, concerned.
" No thank you, I'm not hungry. " I shook my head, rubbing my stomach.
" You should eat in your condition. " Catherine said, sipping her drink.
" Condition? " I repeated, confused. I looked over to Charlie and then to Khan, both of whom shrugged. " What do you mean? "
" Do you not realize? " She blinked, surprised. " It is quite obvious that you are pregnant. "
My mouth fell open and Khan's fork fell out of his hand and landed on his plate. I stared at the dark-haired woman, completely at a loss of what to say. Surely I couldn't be pregnant! I had always made sure that I used birth control, Haytham and I knew that bringing a child into the - Oh. OH. " Shiiiiiiiiiit. " I cried, my eyes wide. I hadn't even thought about it the last time Haytham and I had - Oh dead god. " I - I'm going to - I think I'll go to bed now. " I stammered, scratching the back of my head as all three of them stared at me. What the hell was I going to do now?
A while later I heard a soft knock on my door and Khan let himself in, making sure he didn't wake Nora as he did so. He sat down in the chair next to me as I watched the little blonde girl sleep. " What are you going to do? " He whispered softly, taking one of my hands in his.
" Become a mother, I suppose. " I shrugged, not having any other answer. He left it at that and wrapped an arm around me to comfort me. What was I going to do? I would have to give birth in London, there was no way I could get back to America before then even if I wanted to. And even then, what would I do? Scout the streets in search of Haytham and tell him that he is a father? How would that go down? No, I had to sort myself out before then. I couldn't go back in the state that I was in, I had to find a way to prepare a good life for both Nora and my future child. My child… Was I really going to be a mother? Me? Up until a few years ago I couldn't even look after myself, and now I was to bring up a child? Life certainly had a way of changing everything unexpectedly.
The rest of the voyage passed in the same way as it had started, but clouded by my growing concern for my child and I began questioning myself. How was I going to be able to bring up a baby by myself? Of course I had Khan with me, and I had no doubt that Nora would help because she was just too good to be true. But children needed their parents, both of them, and I worried that when he or she eventually met Haytham, they would never forge a real connection. But I would rather risk that than risk them growing up under a poor, sad roof in Boston whilst I drowned in misery, which is exactly what would happen if I went back. No, I had made my choice already, the child would be born in England.
When we arrived in London, we said goodbye to Charlie and Catherine. Charlie was to work at the docks so I would be able to find him fairly easily, and Khan, Nora and I made our way further into town. We settled in a small establishment that rented us a room for a small fee and we had to pretend Khan was Spanish else he would be kicked out. I hadn't realised just how bad tensions were between people with different coloured skin, and it was a shock to me when people looked at Khan like he was from another planet. Thankfully he seemed to take it in his stride, and most people accepted his presence when they saw him with Nora and I, especially as I was beginning to show a small bump in my stomach. I was three and a half months pregnant and prayed that Pierre Duchateau would show up before I became too fat to be able to murder him.
I found a job at a small factory sewing buttons onto dresses. It was long and boring but we needed the money, and there was no way anyone would employ Khan. I hated every minute of it, but it was the only thing I could do in my current state, and I waited patiently, keeping an eye on the bank I knew Duchateau worked in. It took two long months of waiting until one day, I saw him.
Time had not been kind to him, his skin was dry and wrinkly, and he attempted to hide it underneath his long white beard. He used to be a muscular, handsome young man but now he was frail and ageing. Twenty years of travelling the world and hiding, dealing in slaves and assassinations had cost him dearly, though he was covered in expensive jewellery from head to toe. It was obscene. But I recognised him nonetheless, his face etched into my mind since I found out that he had murdered my family, and I followed him home. I overheard him telling his guard to prepare a coach for ten o'clock the next morning and I headed back to the inn where Khan was growing worried about my absence.
" I've found him. " I announced, making sure that Nora was asleep. " Pierre Duchateau. I know where he lives and I will take him in the morning before he leaves. " I explained, recounting everything I saw and heard.
" But Ella… " He whispered when Nora moaned in her sleep. " Look at you. You're nearly six months pregnant, you're not agile enough. "
" Please. I want to do this by myself, I have a plan. " I then explained it to him.
I awoke at dawn and hurried to get dressed. I tied my hair in a bun and borrowed Khan's cape to use to hood to cover my face. I made my way through the misty, dirty streets of London, heading straight for Duchateau's house. He lived not far from Queen's street so I promised myself to visit Jenny, Haytham's sister, sometime soon, but right then I was mentally preparing myself for revenge. I wasn't sure what I felt. The last time I had felt anxious, exited and a little frightened. This time, I felt calm and collected, perfectly at peace with the murder I was about to commit. I found his street, forced myself up the wall to the first house, with a lot of difficulty considering the huge bulge in my stomach, but I managed to pull myself up onto the roof and made my way across the rooftops so the guards positioned both sides of his house wouldn't see me. I quietly broke one of the windows and let myself in. The house was quiet, a few muffled voices could be heard from downstairs - servants no doubt - and I searched through the house for the right room. I found Pierre in the third room I looked in, the man only in his long undershirt that hung around his knees, his grey and white hair in a mess as he stretched and yawned, his back to the door.
I smirked at the simplicity of it all, and rushed in, pushing the knife against his throat to cut off any scream he might let out. " Good morning Pierre. " I whispered into his ear.
" Who… Who are you? " He muttered, his French accent still as heavy as I remembered it.
" You might not remember me. " I answered coldly. " Eleanor Van Etten. "
" I remember your father. " He said, his voice frail. " Is that why you are here? "
" Partially. " I smirked. " If you make a sound, I will hurt you in more ways that you can imagine. Is that clear? " I hissed, turning him around when he nodded. I held the knife towards him and ushered him out of the room and into his office, which was the room I had looked in before. " Sit down. " I ordered him, and he obeyed me without question.
" What do you want from me? " He asked.
" I want you to put in official writing that everything my father owned - that is his position at the bank and the trading company - now belongs to me. Then I want you to sign it. " I demanded, and the man swallowed hard.
" Never. " He spat. " It is worth a fortune, the very thing I live off! "
" Tell me, would you mind if I cut off your balls and fed them to you? " I smiled darkly, not recognising myself as the words escaped my mouth. I found myself blaming this man for everything that had happened to me, and when I looked at him I didn't just see my family's murderer, I saw the clueless, ignorant young girl I had been before meeting Haytham, the girl who never questioned anything and blindly followed orders. His death would open up a new life for me.
" Fine, fine! " He squeaked, and started writing. I peered over his shoulder to make sure what he wrote was correct, and he hesitated before signing. But he quickly put feather to paper when he felt my knife around his groin and he sealed the paper in an envelope, melting some candle wax and pushing his seal down upon it.
" Thank you. " I said politely, feeling a weight lifted from my shoulders. " Now how do you wish to die old man? "
" Oh just do it you cunt. " He spat, his attitude changing when he realised that no matter what he did, he was going to die.
" I just have one question first. " I forced myself to remain calm despite the insult. " Did you murder my family for the un-translated book? " I asked, the question swimming in my head since Haytham told me about the precursor book two years ago when we were in France.
Duchateau laughed. " So you figured it out. " He smirked. " The trading company was the main reason, but yes, the book would have been a nice addition. An associate of mine wanted it. "
" Reginald Birch? " I asked, and then smiled evilly. " He is dead. "
" So am I. " He countered uncaringly. I nodded and stabbed him though the heart, ending his life quickly. " I hope that in death you find the peace you did not find in life. " I whispered to him as the life faded from his eyes. He seemed to hear what I said and his eyes softened before closing, the last breath of his life escaping his lips.
" Ella! " Nora cried happily when she saw me enter the inn. She was sitting at the bar eating pancakes. I panicked for a second before noticing that Catherine was sitting next to her.
" Hey princess. " I greeted her, ruffling the young girl's hair. " It's good to see you Catherine. " I smiled.
" As you. " She replied. " My husband and your friend are speaking in private. " She explained. " I hope you do not mind me buying Nora some breakfast. "
" Not at all. " I nodded. " It's very kind of you. " I still felt somewhat awkward around the woman because of her polite yet distant manners. She was kind, in her own way, but I just couldn't get used to used to her strictness. At the same time, the men emerged from the stairs and greeted us.
" Good lord Eleanor! " Charlie exclaimed, taking a good look at me. " You look huge! How much longer? " He grinned, making me blush awkwardly. I still felt unsure about this pregnancy and hadn't come to terms with it, preferring to ignore the growing bump.
" Ten weeks left. " I muttered quietly. " What brings you here? " I changed the subject.
" My employer! " He chuckled, ruffling Nora's hair much as I had, making her nervous. She was still intimidated by the large, loud old man. " He is looking for strong men to work for him, lifting heavy crates and so on. I thought your Mohawk friend would be ideal. "
" Too much ale got in the way of your strength? " I smirked, teasing the man who laughed heartedly. " Your employer, is he captain of the ship? " I asked, weary of sending Khan to work, afraid he would be mistreated because of the colour of his skin.
" No, no, he is first mate, a Frenchman named Kevin Roux. " he explained.
" Kevin? " I grinned. " Kevin Roux? A ginger Frenchman around my height and age? " I asked, hardly believing my luck. I thought I would never see the man again!
" You know him? " Charlie asked, frowning.
" Yes, he is the man who taught me how to navigate a ship. " I smiled. " Is he at the port now? I would very much like to see him again. "
I picked Nora up and we headed to the port. I whispered to Khan that my mission had went well and he relaxed. As we passed near where Pierre Duchateau's house was, policemen and guards bustled around, people shouting murder and I had to hide a smile. I held onto the letter he wrote in my pocket, and felt like justice had finally been served and that my family could at last rest in peace. " Are we going on a boat again? " Nora asked when we arrived at the port, overlooking dozens of large ships.
" Boat? Sacrebleu, these are ships girl! " the unmistakable French voice of Kevin Roux sounded from behind me and I turned around, a large smile on my face.
" Kevin! " I greeted him happily, glad to see the man again. He looked the same, his ginger hair cut short and a small ginger beard covering his pale face.
" Mademoiselle Eleanor! Oh regarde-toi! Pregnancy suits you! " he smiled, hugging me. " Is this the father? " he asked, turning to Khan.
" No, I am simply her friend. " He grunted, shaking the Frenchman's hand.
" Ah, so your heart is yet to be taken. " He winked, turning to Charles. " I am afraid neither of us have any work anymore mon ami, Capitaine Watson has been demoted and his ship given to some emmerdeur! " He frowned. " I am sorry. "
Charlie's face fell and Catherine frowned. " Do you not have another ship? Can you not buy one? " She protested, desperate to keep her husband in work to be able to support them.
" Nom de dieu, woman! Ships cost too much! " He exclaimed.
" How much? " I perked up, an idea forming in my head quickly.
" Too much. " Kevin frowned. " A decent ship costs several hundred thousand pounds! " He shrugged. " I shall have to find some madman to employ me. "
I grinned, and they all looked at me like I was crazy. " Fear not my friend. I have acquired something that could be of use. " I winked, letting all three men and Catherine read through the letter that Pierre Duchateau had read.
" Et beh! " Kevin exclaimed. " You should have enough to buy half a dozen ships! "
And that is how I found myself at the bank after having visited the lawyers. Kevin posed as my husband so as not to provoke the old men as they paid me the money due. I had nearly enough to pay for a ship with the money that had been in the man's bank account, but I also decided to sell the trading company, earning myself a fortune worthy of the richest tradesmen in the entire country. I grinned ear to ear, enjoying the festivities that night as Charlie, Kevin, Catherine, Khan and I enjoyed a drink in a rather more upper class tavern, Nora sitting on my lap and trying to understand the conversation. I was to purchase a ship to employ all three men, that way we would all be able to sort our lives out and we would be free to do as we wanted. It was a crazy idea, one that I had barely thought through, but I felt it was the right thing for me to do. I wanted to do it, I wanted my own ship.
Kevin ordered the ship to be made to following morning, and I gave him the liberty of choosing it's design as I had no knowledge of the domain. He told me it would take four months to build, and I was so excited that I could barely contain myself. With all the extra money, I rented a large house for all six of us to live in. Over Christmas, I was so fat that I could barely go anywhere. Catherine scolded me for calling myself that, saying it was cruel not only to myself but also to the baby, but it was only detail to me. Fat, pregnant, it was the same thing. I finally learnt how to play the violin properly and Nora began learning how to play the piano, so on Christmas day she and I played a duet, with Khan singing in his native tongue. Hardly a typical Christmas, but we were hardly a typical family - a French sailor, a freed slave, a native American, a five year old orphan, an ex-beggar, and me - whatever I was.
On the very last day of January 1760, I woke up feeling different and I knew my life was about to change. Sure enough, later that day I gave birth to the smallest, most delicate baby girl with blue-grey eyes and straight black hair. With all the emotions, I cried when I saw how much like Haytham she looked, but I also felt proud, relieved and just plain exhausted. " Never let me do that again. " I sighed, looking at Khan who laughed at me as I held my daughter in my arms as I lay sprawled out on my bed.
" Can I see? " Nora asked, her bright green eyes wide and curious as she climbed up onto my bed to inspect the newcomer. " What's her name? " She asked, holding my daughter's tiny hand.
I looked over to Khan and he shrugged, but I had made up my mind. " Mary. Mary Kenway. "
Two months later, I strapped Mary to my chest and made my way down to the docks, flanked by five year old Nora and Khan. My ship was ready and as my gaze fell upon her, it was love at first sight. The wood was painted black with a red strip across the two rows of cannons on either side of the bottom deck, and there was another row of cannons on the top deck. It was a large double decked frigate warship, carrying sixty guns with a long hull, built for speed and manoeuvrability. As I stepped onto the ship, I was awed by the sight of the gold plated helm and red painted balustrades, the three huge masts and the figurehead in the shape of a female brandishing a sword. It was perfect.
" She's beautiful. " I breathed, not tearing my eyes from the ship as Kevin approached.
" I thought you would think so. " He beamed. " All she needs now is a name. "
I looked down at Nora, knowing exactly what to call her. " The Warrior Princess. " I winked as Nora grinned at the nickname she had given herself several years ago.
I investigated the rest of the ship. On the first lower deck was the first and second mates' cabins, then the rest was a reserved for the large cannons. The deck was low and dark, but it would only be used in case of battle so it didn't really matter. The front end was where the live stock would be kept once we set sail. The second deck was similar, the middle reserved for more cannons, with the kitchen somehow laid out around them further at the front of the ship, and the gunroom - or reading room - at the back. The third level was the men's cabins as well as the sick bay at the front of the ship, and the fourth and fifth levels were used for storing provisions, spare sails, coal and anything else we might need to take with us. All in all, the Warrior Princess was a warship, large and beautiful.
Kevin promised to find me a good crew - one that was trustworthy and open to having women and native Americans on board. I thanked him and decided that it was time my small family purchased some sea worthy clothes.
For baby Mary, I bought a couple of simple white dresses. After all, she was only two months old and would grow out of them fast. For Nora, I bought her a pair of boy's white breeches and a red shirt for her to play in, as well as a pale pink dress that she begged me for. Khan picked out a white shirt with a V-neck, large brown breeches and a long brown coat with golden detail along the sleeves. As for myself, I bought a large white shirt, tight fitting brown breeches, a tight fitting grey blue low-cut waistcoat and a matching grey blue long coat with red cuffs and a red over coat around the top.
We decided to get out the next week for the ship's maiden voyage - a trip from London to Amsterdam, delivering packages and supplies. When the day finally came and I handed back the keys to the house we had been staying in, I knew I wouldn't be coming back to London. Not for a long time.
It took us ten days to get to Amsterdam and back. On the first day, Kevin made a point of naming me Captain of the Warrior Princess and presented me with a simple black tricorne hat. He took the position of First mate, his cabin on the first deck, and I named Charlie second mate, so he and Catherine took the cabin next to his. As for Nora, Mary, Khan and myself, we took the Captain's cabin, which was on the main deck. It was the largest of them all, at the back of the ship underneath the helm and was elegantly decorated. In the middle was a large wooden desk, and on either side of the would-be office were two bedrooms. Khan and I took one, and Nora and Mary took the other. Everything worked out perfectly.
Except for the fact that I had difficulty knowing what to do as Captain of the ship. The crewmen would ask for orders and I would be incapable of giving them any, but thankfully Kevin was always there to help me. He should have been the captain really, not me. He was running it all, all by himself. I watched the sailors at work, listened to everything Kevin had to say, and tried to learn and remember as much as I possibly could. I still felt a little weak from having given birth but I was slowly getting there. But I knew some of the sailors disapproved of me being their captain, and I would attempt to change their mind but some were just plain rude. I spent a lot of time sailing the ship, taking pointers from the sailing master as he stood by me and watched, and I found that I hadn't forgotten Kevin's lessons. I was trying my best to be a good captain, but it was hard. But I would never give up.
On our return from to London, some of the sailors decided to leave the ship, claiming to not want a female captain shadowed by a 'savage'. I was disappointed, but tried not to feel defeated. I was determined to make this work, and wouldn't give up, not unless it was my only option. So I chose Bordeaux for our next destination. Again, we were delivering letters and supplies, nothing particularly important but it was practice. My crew was down by half and hoped we wouldn't meet any pirates because there weren't enough men to sail the boat and man the cannons at the same time. This time around, I tried to spend all my evenings down with my crew, trying to bring us all together. After all, if I was to be a respected captain, my crew had to at least like me. So I joined in with their drinking, and even pulled out my violin and played a few songs for them whilst they danced and clapped. At first, they admitted to have been weary of a female captain. " But you're not a frail lass are ye? " One of them laughed one night. " I've seen ye when ye angry. Wouldn't wanna be on the receiving end of dat. " He winked. And so I slowly gained respect from my crew and by the time we arrived at Bordeaux three weeks later in early may 1760, I no longer received any bad looks from anyone. They finally approved of me as a captain and I could breathe a sigh of relief. But that's where the real stuff started, when we met a certain Mohawk woman who went by the name of Nakoma.
I've chosen not to translate Kevin's french because it's only a few words here and there and I think that, given the context, you can guess what he's trying to say. But if you would prefer me to translate, let me know and I'll make sure I do so in the futur!
Don't forget to check my profile for the link to Ella's new outfit :)