Chapter 20
13th of August 1775
I couldn't understand any of the sounds I was listening to. I slowly opened my eyes and it was as if people were screaming and calling from me from several meters of distance. But that was not the case. They were standing close to me, worried. I looked down and realized I was being dragged. After a couple of seconds, I looked up and Will was lifting me, taking me inside our ship. The pain had returned. I groaned out loud as he took me inside and yelled for me to stay awake. I remained conscious merely for another second, in which I saw some crew men attempting to keep Connor away from the ship.
I woke up once more, this time while lying on a high bed. There were many men of our crew around me and our doctor, Christopher, was arranging some bandages to place around my waist, along with some tools to try to remove the bullet.
-Hold her hands! – He yelled.
Jacob and Will came to my sides and held my arms down, making me unable to move. I groaned once more and looked towards the door, where Connor was despairingly attempting to come in, against the men's will. Chris sat beside me and pulled my shirt up, taking a look at the wound.
-Ye hang in there, Carter. – He said, preparing his tool.
-This is it. – I cried – It's fine…
-Not today, Eve! – Will yelled – Not today…
-Let me in! – Connor kept yelling.
Chris began to take the bullet out of me and I screamed out loud, then trying to control myself, although groaning. In that moment, I wished I was dead. It lasted almost half a minute before Chris stopped and sighted, since he was not succeeding. Will asked someone else to grab my arm and went to the door. I followed him with my eyes and gasped when suddenly, out of nowhere, he punches Connor in the face, who replies with a punch in the nose.
-Hey! – I yelled and then groaned because of the pain.
-This is your fault! – Will shouted – She better live, ye hear me?!
-It was not me! – Connor replied, attempting to grab Will.
Luckily, Jacob and another crew member stood between them and kept them from fighting, although they still would not allow Connor in.
-You ready, Carter? – Chris asked, ready to try again.
I nodded and shut my eyes, preparing myself. He attempted to remove the bullet once more and I did my best not to scream. After only a few seconds, he had done it and I sighted with relief. Then he used the bandages and cleaned the blood.
-I don't want ye here, mate! – Will kept yelling.
-This is a warning. Let me through. – Connor threatened.
-I hope I never have to see a Kenway stand before me again. – Will said.
Little did he know that Haytham himself walked towards the door.
-I have been told what happened. Let me see her. – He said, as calm as always.
-Are ye serious? No! – Will yelled.
-F… Father? – Connor asked, although Haytham didn't even look at him.
-Let me in.
-No one is going in. Get the hell off my ship! –Will yelled.
-What happened? – A new voice spoke.
My father.
He took a look at me and gasped, putting his hands on his head and yelling.
-Alright, can you sit up? – Chris asked me.
-Aye.
Chris helped me sit as the men kept arguing by the entrance. He put the bandages around me and sighting, saying that all we could do at that point was wait and pray that the wound would not infect.
-So it didn't hit any vital organs? – I asked, trying as hard as ever not to cry.
-It seems it didn't. But Carter…
-I know. – I groaned, looking away. – I know, it's fine.
-Let us hope for the best.
All I could do was look at Chris and wave my head in a «no». He sighted and got up. The crew and the others were sill shouting.
-What do I tell them? – Chris asked, cleaning his hands.
-Tell them to come here, it's fine.
While Chris walked to the entrance and told Will to let them in, a tear fell down my face but I immediately cleaned it away.
-Eve… - My father ran to me and held my hand.
Haytham, my father, Jacob and Edwin stood around me. Connor and Will stood farther away, Will obviously more frustrated than ever.
-It's fine… Doesn't even hurt that much! – I lied with a fake smile.
-How did this happen? – My father asked, already crying.
I looked at Haytham with a threatening look and he kept the strict expression.
-I did not order this. – He whispered.
-You saved my life… - Connor said from where he stood. – You did not have to do that.
Haytham realized then what had happened and his eyes widened. I had risked my life for his son's.
-I know… - I said. – Goodness, everyone get those sad faces away from here. Why are you all so afraid I'll die?
-Hey, ye know me, Carter… - Will smirked. – I'm not afraid of anything.
-Everyone is afraid of something… - I laughed.
-What am I afraid of, then? – Jacob asked, clearly trying hard not to cry.
-Me. – I said and he laughed, with a tear falling down his face. – I looked at Will. – Bears!
-Hey! – He shouted. – That was one time and at least I have an excuse! Those things are huge.
I looked at Connor next.
-Fire.
He made a confused face and Haytham looked down.
-I noticed when we went to your village. – I said. - You always stood away from the fire. Is it because of what happened to your mother?
Connor did not answer and Haytham sighted discretely, then lifting his head.
-We should speak alone, Evelyn. – He said.
-Who do ye think ye are, mate? Ye… - Will began.
-Will! – I shouted – It's fine. Give us one minute. And then he leaves. – I said.
To my surprise, he agreed and everyone except for me and Haytham left the cabin. He kept the strict face and posture and I attempted to find a more comfortable position, groaning with pain when I wasn't able to. He looked at me with pity.
-What am I afraid of? – He asked.
I just had to show a smirk.
-Your son.
Haytham let go of an ironic giggle and began to walk around the room, with his hands behind his back. It was time he knew.
-You are afraid of him because… - I started and had to pause for a second, feeling terrible. - …because he reminds you of that Mohawk woman. I can tell by the way you refuse to look at him. You think of her. He reminds you of the life you two could have had.
-Do not speak of what you do not know, Evelyn.
-But most of all… - I ignored. - …you fear him because you see in him everything your father wished you to be.
He stopped walking and threatened me with his eyes.
-I'm sorry. Once, I walked into your room to speak with you, back in Boston, and your journal was simply sitting there. I took a look at it. – I said and his eyes widened – You fear Connor because you see in him the life you would have had if things had gone well, in every single way.
-Enough! – He yelled and showed his hidden blade, making my heartbeat race – Connor is nothing more than just another Assassin to me. He will die and his kind shall lose this war. Your life, however, would have been spared if you had done the job I told you to do yourself.
-None of that matters now, Haytham. I will die and your son will live.
-You are in love with him, are you not? – He yelled.
I said nothing.
-Are you not?! – He repeated.
-I want you to know that I believe in you when you say you took me to protect me. I believe you and I forgive you. Forgive me.
-For what? Betraying your Order?
-Leave.
Will came in, yelling how the given minute had passed and taking Haytham away from there, who did not put much of a fight. I asked for Connor, but according to Will, he had left. That made me feel even worse than I already was. Will sat there with me, holding my hand. He was crying and I was trying to get him to understand my death was near.
-Is that a tear I see, Will? – I asked, almost shedding one myself.
-Shut up! He said you stood between him and the bullet. How stupid can you be?
-He deserved to live.
-So did you! What the hell crossed your mind?
-Will, I don't want to die! – I yelled, not fighting the tears anymore – But he deserved to live so much more than I do!
-No! That is not true! – He shouted back – And you will live!
And then I cried. I cried.
I couldn't even believe it until I wiped the tears away and looked at Will, who was as surprised as me.
-Look at that… After all this time… - I said – You finally saw me cry.
And cry I did. I cried like a baby in his arms.
…
14th of August 1775
I was resting in my cabin when my father walked in. After holding my hand and asking the basic «how are you questions», he told me of the plan. He had spoken to Connor, who, apparently, had returned to speak with my father. My father, Will and Connor gathered and made the plan. I was not happy with it, but they would not change their minds. I would stay in Connor's house for some time, during my recovery. My father was to go with Will to find that treasure he had spoken of. I frowned when my father said it. Heaven knows how long they would be away, or even if they were to return… But it was the plan. When they returned, my father and I would use his share of the treasure to do whatever I wanted: go to England or find a house in the New World.
At least that part made me happy. And I could see Maria while I was recovering. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad plan.
…
25th of August 1775
I was in Connor's extra room, lying on the bed – where I had been for the past days. It was time for the men's journey.
-You come back, you hear me? – I said.
-I'm not leaving you behind, Eve. Not this time. – My father replied.
He kissed me on the forehead and left the room, telling Will to come say goodbye. And that damn tear I had been holding for hours found a way down my face when I looked at him. I had been very sad and vulnerable for those days, which did not please me at all.
-How are ye, love? – He asked.
-Better than I expected… - I tried to forge a smile – At least physically.
Will approached the bed and sat on the chair beside it. He grabbed my hand and smiled.
-I can't even put to words how boring this journey will be without our lady.
-Oh please… You have been trying to get rid of me since I joined the crew. – I laughed.
-Nah… - He laughed – Do not tell anyone, but I kind of enjoy it when you run through the deck yelling «put the rum down, you scallywags» - He laughed in an extremely feminine voice.
-I do not speak like that! – I laughed.
-Oh but ye do…
-Just come back with all the pieces, will you? – I smiled.
-Wouldn't dare not to! – He laughed – I know how much you love all my «pieces».
-Here we go… - I rolled my eyes, although with a smile.
-Sweetheart, I am about to be without ye for many months, I have to let out some for the journey.
When all of them left, Connor finally came to my side and sat with me for some time. Things were strange between us, but after explaining every single detail, although without saying so, I believe he forgave me. And that was all I could wish for.
6th of July 1776 (Almost a Year Later)
I was lying by the river, away from everything. My eyes were closed. The only sounds were the wind and the birds that flew around. My mind wondered, always through the same thoughts. Thinking of the same person over and over again is the worst and yet the best thing on this planet. Probably more for the worst thing, especially when that person may be sitting right next to me and yet we are worlds apart. But he wasn't sitting next to me, was he?
I suddenly heard footsteps, someone running towards me, and opened my eyes. I sat up and saw Maria emerge from the trees in a rush, stopping and sighting of relieve to see me.
-Eve… There you are… - She said as she tried to catch her breath. – I knew you'd be here.
-Breath first… -I murmured, lying down once more and closing my eyes. - What is it?
-There was a… In the harbor…
-What?
-They arrived.
I immediately sat up once more.
-Who?
-Your father… William…
My heart raced as nothing I had ever felt and I got up, running away, towards the Davenport Mansion, which was only a few meters away.
-Here we go again… - Maria despairingly attempted to breath and start running.
I ran to the back of the house, which had a privileged view to the harbor and smiled. William's ship… I ran like a crazy woman down the village to meet them, not even controlling the thoughts that flew around in my mind… I would see them again!
When I got there, I immediately saw Will, father and Connor fighting their way through the ship's exit, as usual, battling to see who came out first. Connor? What was Connor doing there?
I ran to them and Will and father did the same, hugging me as if the world ended the next day. They attempted to push each other away, but I hugged them both. We spoke of how much we had missed each other and how the trip had been a success. After a few minutes, they understood Connor (who had stayed behind) wished to speak with me and walked back to the ship, to retrieve some things. I had so much to discuss, it had been so long. But they left us alone. Connor walked up to me, twirling his hands in each other. It had only been a few months since our last encounter.
-Where is the Aquila? – I asked with a smile.
-William appeared in New York and offered to bring me. Mr. Faulkner will return with the Aquila whenever he has the supplies she needs.
-I see… And how was New York?
Connor looked at me for one short second and then back down, to his hands.
-I killed Thomas Hickey.
It had been so long since I saw that man.
-Of course you did.
-As he died, he said… - Connor started, obviously nervous. – He said that he and I were different because… Because my hands would always be empty.
-Connor… - I rolled my eyes. – Don't listen to him. I know now that your cause is noble.
-He was right. – He said – My hands are empty. And I know exactly what I want them to hold.
I kept the strict expression and he held both my hands with his.
-Yours. – He finally said.
I couldn't help to smile. I had been dreaming of that moment for so long. But I knew it couldn't happen. Not now.
-That is… - I said, smiling. – You are very kind. – I looked at Will from a distance. – But we both know that you need to focus on the Templars for now.
-My work would not affect…
-For now. Connor, I am recovered and I do not intend to return to England. You will rarely be around and I want to do what I love the most: sailing. – I said and he let go of my hands. – I know you don't approve piracy, but… I am thinking of convincing my father to buy a house here in the village, or in Boston. One day, you will put an end to this war. I know you will. And then… then I will settle, as I am sure you will as well.
We remained in silence for some time.
-So you do not want us together? – He asked.
-I do. But you and I know what you need to concentrate in right now. We will be together when we both stay. – I said and he looked around, mad. – Listen to your heart, Connor. I know you think of revenge at the moment. You do not want to stay here. What does your heart tell you?
-You tell me, you are the one holding it.
I smiled and put my arms around him.
-As long as you're not «confortable-ess»... - He murmured.
"We will be together, I know that. We belong together.", I thought but wasn't brave enough to say out loud.
-The End-