Hello!
This is going to be a pretty fluffy chapter. I just wanted to write fluff! And also thank you so much to the people who reviewed or followed or favourited my story, it means so much to me! I am becoming more confident in my writing, and it's all thanks to you guys, so keep all the support coming! I can't tell you how happy writing makes me, and when people like it, it's so great!
Anyway, I really hope you like this chapter and I'll see you soon!
CHAPTER 20
Ratohnhnaké:ton ran through his burning village, his tiny legs carrying him as fast as they could. His head still hurt from when the men had hit him.
"Ista!" Ratohnhnaké:ton shouted, terrified.
Ratohnhnaké:ton ran into a hut, but was stopped by a flaming plank of wood. He lifted upwards with every ounce of strength he could, and then dodged underneath it.
"Ista!"
Ratohnhnaké:ton ran to his mother's hut. He could see her through a gap in the burning wood. "Ista!"
"In here…" She called back weakly.
"I'm coming!"
Ratohnhnaké:ton ran around the hut, searching for a way in. One of the walls crashed to the ground, and Ratohnhnaké:ton ran inside. He saw his mother, pinned to the ground by a heavy wooden beam.
"I am here. I am here. It is going to be fine." Ratohnhnaké:ton said to his mother, desperately trying to life the beam off his mother.
"No, my son. You must leave. Now!" His mother said.
"Not without you!"
"It's too late for that." Ratohnhnaké:ton's mother said sadly.
She grasped his hand, then pushed it away. "You must be strong, Ratohnhnaké:ton. You must be brave." She said, her voice thick with emotion.
"Stop! Stop it!" Ratohnhnaké:ton exclaimed. His mother couldn't say that. It broke his heart.
"You will think yourself alone, but know that I will be at your side. Always and forever." His mother said, crying.
Tears poured down Ratohnhnaké:ton's face. Suddenly he felt someone grab him from behind and drag him away, away from his mother.
"No! Stop! Let me go! Let me save her!" He screamed, kicking and crying.
As the man continued to drag Ratohnhnaké:ton away, his mother said her final words.
"I love you." She said. The wood fell on top of her, and Ratohnhnaké:ton saw her burn.
"ISTA!" He shouted.
"Ista!" Connor shouted. He thrashed around in his sleep, a sweat covering his forehead.
"Ratohnhnaké:ton, wake up!" Clara said loudly, trying to pin him down and failing. She put her hands on his cheeks, and Connor stopped thrashing as much. His eyes slowly opened, and he panted as if he'd just relived his mother's death. A single tear rolled down his cheek, making Connor embarrassed; he didn't want to cry in front of Clara.
"Are you alright?" Clara asked, concerned.
"…yes. I am fine." Connor replied, still shaken from his dream.
Clara lay down next to Connor, planting a kiss on his jaw. "It's okay." She said soothingly. "I am here."
Connor sighed, and put an arm around the girl next to him.
"Clara… why did you become like me? An Assassin? We could both die, at any moment."
"I was a Templar for years. I did so many bad things… I guess I just wanted to make up for it. As for us dying… As long as we're together." Clara said, resting her head on Connor's chest. Connor kissed her head, taking her hand in his and falling asleep there, slipping into a world of dreams.
~!~
I wake up, unable to move. Connor's arms are locked around me tightly, making it impossible for me to answer the door. The moon shines faintly through the curtains.
"Ratohnhnaké:ton. Wake up." I say, nudging him.
He stirs, and tightens his arms, forcing a laugh out of me.
"Let go. I have to answer the door." I laugh.
Connor opens his eyes, and I give him a kiss. "Let me go." I say.
"No." He says.
I roll my eyes at him, and try to push myself off him. Unfortunately, Connor's stronger than a bear, so I have no hope of getting him off me. Eventually he takes pity on me and lets go, and I quickly comb through my hair, trying to look half presentable. I open the door and suddenly I have an odd, violent impulse towards the figure standing in front of me.
"Go away." I say, attempting to shut the door.
George blocks it, and sways slightly on the porch.
"You're… You're Clara." He says, slurring his words and giving an odd giggle at the end.
"Are you drunk?" I ask.
"No… 'Course not. I'm just handsome, and… ya know…" George trails off at the end and hiccups.
"George, leave now or I'll make you." I say angrily. I hear footsteps at the top of the stairs, but I raise a hand behind me. I want to deal with this myself.
"Oh, will ya?" George slurs.
"Yes. Now please leave."
George steps forward. "Let's get a bit rough, then, love!" He exclaims. He begins to unbutton his shirt, so I grab his hand and twist until I hear a loud crack in his wrist. I grab his shirt and haul him off the porch, and he lands at the bottom of the stairs.
"Why'd ya do that, love?" He asks sadly.
"Go away. Now!" I roar.
He staggers off, and I sincerely hope he falls off the cliff. I walk back upstairs, into Connor's bedroom. I sit down on the bed with an angry huff.
"Why do you court me?" I ask Connor, who stands in the doorframe.
"… I don't know how to explain." Connor says.
"Is it because of my face? Do you just like the way I look?" I ask.
"No! It is much more than that."
"So you're saying I'm ugly?"
"Clara, calm down. You're being illogical."
"Says the man who feels like crying every time someone dies."
Connor stands there, shocked. I'm so angry, I don't feel guilty.
"Why are you acting so childish?" He asks.
"I'm childish?" I ask incredulously.
"Yes!"
Our voices raise to a shout. "You think you're so mature-"
"And you don't?"
"You're so-"
"Childish?"
"You got it!"
I give a frustrated growl and storm out of the room. I enter my bedroom and change into my hunting clothes, taking my bow and arrows and heading out of the house. I run into the forest, not caring that I probably won't bag anything tonight.
As the hours wear on, my anger fades slightly and is replaced by guilt. I shouldn't have said those things to Connor. As the sun rises I head back to the house, feeling guilty. I enter the house, heading upstairs into my room. I fall onto the bed and lie there until the sun's risen, then I head downstairs again. Achilles is sitting in the living room, and as he sees me a curious expression takes his face.
"What happened last night?" He asks curiously.
"It doesn't matter." I say dismissively.
"Yes, it does. If you two are to work together as Assassins you can't be distracted by other thoughts. Now, you have until the end of the day to make up with the boy or you'll have to go on separate missions."
"But, Achilles-"
"No. You can't allow your pride to get in the way of your work."
I make a face, and head up to my room. Connor catches me in the hallway.
"Clara, I want to say something."
"So do I." I sigh. "Connor, I'm sorry about what I said last night. I was being childish. Can you forgive me?"
"I was childish too. It's not all your fault."
"But you have to understand I didn't mean anything I said last night." I assure him.
"Nor did I." Connor replies.
I walk towards him and he wraps his arms around me. I hug him back, and deep down I feel like everything is right again. Connor kisses the top of my head, and I sigh happily.
Fluff! I just felt like Connor and Clara needed to have an argument because no couple in the history of the world has never had an argument. Even Twilight has arguments, although I'm not sure if they count because it's just Bella begging Edward to do her.
I can't believe I just made a Twilight reference. Shoot me now, please.
Anyway, remember it'll be 5 reviews before my next chapter!
Love from Jenna!