Hello readers! Sorry if it took me a bit to put this up, there was stuff and things with the holidays. And any Kanien'kehá:ka/Mohawk vocabulary was found online, so if any knows Kanien'kehá:ka I'm sorry I make do with what I can (same go's for Germen)! Secondly, I don't own Zoboomafoo's theme, nor Galadriel's song of Eldamar, Ai! Laurië Lantar. Zaboo is to PBS, and Galadriel to Tolkien, and Mr. Jackson. (I highly recommend listening to the song before reading, it's beautiful beyond wards.)
Enjoy! And please comment, they really help Writer's confidence.
The two days that followed where much like the others before; soft clouds casting shadows, birds flying north for the summer, and sang in the trees with young leafs. Elinana sat on a rock as she rubbed a forming bruise on her arm, and sucked on a cut on her hand from a branch. She listened to the soft wind, and the birds; enjoying the peacefulness of Davenport. Connor had left her some time back for her to have a brick, and she sighed out of growing bored of the quietness.
"While walking in the woods one day
Chris and Martin saw something strange
A little leaping lemur who liked to bounce and play
They followed their new bouncing friend
Not knowing where this adventure would end
The animals were headed just around the bend…"
Elinana sang, and tapped her foot on the rock.
"Where they going? I don't know
How do we get there? Come on, let's go!"
Leaping to her feet she danced to the memory of the music in her head.
"Me and you and Zoboomafoo
Come along and see what's new
We're doing the things that animals do
New animal friends to see
Animal junction's the place to be
Elephants charging baboons are leaping
Wild dogs are running and nobody's sleep—!"
Elinana abruptly stopped as she twirled around to see Connor watching her from the tree line. She stood still as a statue gazing at him with the growing awkward silence. Stretching out of her dance form, Elinana coughed.
"Hi," she gave a small wave. "Um, how-how long have you been standing there?" she tentatively asked.
"From the start." Connor replied as he tried to hide his own embarrassment. Elinana nodded and looked at the grass, then back at him and saw an open letter in his hand.
"Who's that from?" she blurted out to change the subject.
"From our Brothers in New York," Connor replied and strolled up to her. "It is encoded, but do you wish me to interpret it for you?"
"Yes please, the only code I even remotely know is Matrix; even that I just barely liked!" she chuckled, and received a curious look from Connor. "It's a math thing that is hard to explain because I hate math."
"Well, just a day west of New York is a mining sight with slaves as the main labor force." Connor informed, and began to stroll back to the Manor with Elinana at his side.
"Let me guess, we're going to go and free them?"
"Yes, and kill the Templar running the operation."
Elinana nodded, and puzzled to a sudden question.
"What do you think they're looking to get with it all, or do you think they're looking for something else?"
"That is an excellent question," Connor nodded in thought. "It is difficult to say at present. It could be that they wish to build up the order after the war, or as you have pointed; after something more than just that."
"Guess we're going to have to go sneaking around their stuff, ha?" she smiled mischievously. "When do we go?"
"Tomorrow at dusk," Connor replied. "And by midday tomorrow we should be joined by our Brothers from Boston."
"Cool! It'll be nice to meet more Brothers, I just hope they like me."
"Do not worry, they will. But before we start to prepare for the journey, there is something I wish to give you."
"What is it?" she asked.
"Come." He replied then kicked off at a sprint with Elinana on his heels. They raced from the deer paths, to the stone steps of the Manor, and Connor slowed to a walk once he reached the door.
"That was not a race by the way." Elinana smirked, and followed him into his office. On the book cluttered desk was a pair of long moccasins, and fingerless leather gloves. Connor pulled out his desk chair and motioned for her to sit.
"I thought new footwear, and gloves would help you climb trees better." He stated as Elinana took off her old fingerless gloves to try on the new pair, that he requested Ellen the Seamstress to make. The new gloves fit perfectly, and she sat down to try on the moccasins.
"I must be worse at tree climbing then I previously thought." She joked as she took off her old boots that had come with her from Syria.
"On the contrary, you have improved much over the few short days." Connor replied, not getting her joke as he removed her socks to help properly put on the moccasins. Once both where on, Connor stepped back so she could get a feel of them. She walked back and forth, then twirled.
"How do the fit?" he asked.
"Nice," she replied examining the deer skin leather that was held perfectly to her leg, reaching up past her knee held up by the leather tie. "Real nice! Makes me want to go for another run."
A smile grew, then she quickly taped his arm then ran for the door as she called: "Tag, you're it!" Connor arched an eyebrow, but took off after her.
With the rising of the sun the next morning, the small band of two set out on the road. Elinana admired the sights of the water fall, and river that they road by for a short time. The frontier woodlands teemed with life of animals, and plant life; they couldn't go twenty paces without seeing a rabbit or two, or a deer every forty.
Wolf howls called through the trees to the far right, and Elinana looked at Connor. But he didn't show any concern, which brought some comfort to her. If she trusted anyone, it was Connor; born, and bred on this vary untamed land. And Elinana suddenly realized just how much she trusted Connor. A man that she hardly knew, and only just spent hardly a week with. However, she trusted many Assassin's before him, knowing just as little.
"What on earth would Mom think, or say to me?" Elinana wondered in her mind.
"Is something wrong?" Connor inquired, snapping her from her thoughts.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing." Elinana replied. "Just wondering…"
"Wondering what?" he asked, braking the growing silence.
"What are they like?" she asked.
"Who?"
"Our Brothers. And how many will we meet?"
"Three from Boston; Stephane Chapheau, Duncan Little, and Clipper Wilkinson. We will also meet three more in New York."
"Is that all, only six?" Elinana asked out of disbelief.
"Yes, but I have been meaning to see about recruiting more into the Brotherhood."
"We are lucky to have survived the war with such a small number!" she exclaimed more or less to herself.
"Actually it was during the war that the Brotherhood rose again, here in the Colonies," he informed, and she looked at him with surprise and curiosity. "When I was still an infant the Brotherhood was nearly completely whipped off the face of the Colonies, accept for Achilles; but he was wounded, and grew old."
"How did it happen?" Elinana asked feeling some sorrow for the dead Brothers she didn't know.
"Meany years ago—before the fall of the brotherhood—one of our brothers was sent to retrieve an artifact, but in disturbing it a city was destroyed. Enraged, he placed the fault on the Brotherhood, and betrayed the creed by joining the Templers. And thus killed many he once called friends."
Elinana closed her eyes, and shook her head with a sigh.
"When will the fighting end?" she murmured with hints of sadness, and anger in her voice. "Let's change topic; it's a beautiful morning for traveling, and I have no intention on wasting it on stupid Templers." She informed, and dug out her violin case and carful balanced it on her lap as she took out the instrument and bow.
"Let me, think…" she murmured in thought as she put the case back so she wouldn't have to worry about it falling. "What song will you like, and is suitable for the road…?"
Elinana soon decided, then breathed deeply as she prepared to sing. But instead of words, it was the soft sound of her voice. Connor had heard many sing voices in taverns—most of which were off key, but not Elinana. Her voice flowed like honey to his ears. She soon started to play her violin, then sang in a language he had never heard before. But it was beautiful, and spellbinding.
"Ai! laurië lantar lassi súrinen,
Yéni únótimë ve rámar aldaron!
Yéni ve lintë yuldar avánier
mi oromardi lisse-miruvóreva
Andúnë pella, Vardo tellumar
nu luini yassen tintilar i eleni
ómaryo airetári-lírinen.
Sí man i yulma nin enquantuva?
An sí Tintallë Varda Oiolossëo
ve fanyar máryat Elentári ortanë
ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbulë;
ar sindanóriello caita mornië
i falmalinnar imbë met, ar hísië
untúpa Calaciryo míri oialë.
Sí vanwa ná, Rómello vanwa, Valimar!
Namárië! Nai hiruvalyë Valimar.
Nail elyë hiryva. Namárië!"
Elinana finish singing, and playing. She finally glanced at Connor to see him gazing at her as if she a placed a spell in him.
"Okay, if you keep staring at me I'll put the violin away, and refuse to sing for you again." She threatened, braking the spell on Connor. He turned away, and bowed his head.
"Sorry!" he apologized. "I—what was that language you just sang in?"
"Quenya," she replied. "And if you were wondering, no I don't speak it. I just love the sound, and feel of it."
"Where did you learn it?" He asked, and finally looked over at her.
"How I learn most songs; I listen, find the lyrics, and possibly music sheets online. But some of the times I can learn a song just by listening to it a few times."
"And Quenya, I never heard of the language till now."
"Because it technically hasn't been created yet," she smiled. "It's a language made up by one of my favorite writers, J.R.R. Tolkien. He made it for the Elves; who are tall, beautiful creatures."
Connor nodded, only just understanding that she must be talking about fairytales that she seems to enjoy very much. He had always thought that the Colonist's folk tales where odd, and nearly silly to him. But hearing them come from Elinana, he would be lying to say that he wasn't the slightest curious about them.
"What about you?" Elinana asked.
"What about me?"
"Do you know any songs?"
"Not as well as you know your songs." He replied looking ahead to the road that curved to the left.
"I don't really mind." She stated lightly pushing him to sing for her—and he knew it.
"I do not sing." He informed simply.
"Can't, or won't?"
"Both."
"You don't have to worry, I'm not a hard critic." She pressed.
"No, Elinana," he turned to her firmly. "I do not sing."
"Okay, okay I'll stop pestering you." She grumbled, then silence grew. "…Your grandfather wasn't a bad singer."
"Elinana." he huffed.
"Okay, okay!"
Silence once again grew as they followed the dirt, and grass grown road. Elinana sighed to her growing boredom, then plucked up the courage to ask Connor something she been wanting to for some time now.
"Can I ask you something personal?"
"What is it?"
"What tribe are you from?" she asked shyly, and Connor glanced at her, then turned back to the road.
"The Colonists call my people Mohawk." He replied.
"What do your people call themselves?"
"Kanatahséton." Connor informed in a soft tone.
"Kanatah—" she shook her head and cleared her throat.
"Kanatahséton." He repeated for her.
"Kanatahséton." She tried again. "Did I say it right?"
"Yes." He answered, and she grinned.
"The reason why I asked is because I've always admired Native Americans, and I've tried in the past to learn more about the languages, cultures and what not. But I could never find good sources!"
"Did you ever go right to a tribe member before?" he inquired.
"No, I hardly ever left my home town. And I never left North Dakota till I was struck by lightning. But when I was younger I had a friend that was a Lakota, but he moved away before my curiosity really bloomed."
"What do you wish to know?" He asked.
"Your language." She replied, and a small smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Hen." Connor agreed in his native language, then translated. "It means 'Yes'."
Later
Hercules, and Connor's black mare grazed in the warmth of the noon sun as Elinana and Connor had lunch, and continued the language lesson under the shade of a willow.
"Io'taríhen." Connor said for Elinana to hear, and repeat. But his hand automatically rise for her to be silent when he heard horse hooves approach. They both grew silent, and she followed his lead by remaining calm, and staying relaxed as she nibbled on her biscuit. The sound of the approaching horses grew, then finally from around the bend rode three men. Connor rose to the sight of them, and went to meet them on the road.
"Bonjour, Connor!" called one of the men with a French-Canadian accent. The trio halted, and dismounted to meet Connor.
"Brothers," Connor nodded in greeting. "It is good to see you all."
"You too, and I'm looking forward to foiling more Templers planes." greeted a man with a slight southerner accent, and a smirk. Then gazed at Elinana when she approached.
"Who's the bonny lass?" Asked the third man with the ginger hair, and heavy Irish accent. Connor turned to her as she approached his side.
"This is Elinana Doricent," Connor informed to his Brothers-in-arms. "Elinana, this Stephane, Duncan, and Clipper."
"Hi!" she smiled. "How do you do?"
"Very well, Missy," Clipper smiled as he reached for her hand, then bent to kiss it. "It's a pleaser to meet you."
"Oui, it is good to have another sister. I bet Dobby will be pleased." Stated Stephane.
"Who's Dobby?" Elinana asked.
"Our sister in New York," informed Duncan. "You should meet her by nightfall. But Connor, do you think the Templers are after more than just gold?"
"What else could they be after?" Clipper asked.
"I don't kin, I just have this feeling."
"Elinana and I wondered the same," Connor informed. "But we will discuss it more once we join the others."
"Well we aren't getting there just standing around like this." Stephane pointed, and with the nod of approval from Connor, they all mounted their horses to continue on to New York.
By the time they reached the wooden wall of New York the sky had turned from gold, to pink plume, and now deep indigo. The Moon had yet to ascend, but the stars winked down to them as an owl took to the dark twilight sky to hunt.
They passed the wooden gate into the city, and it was nothing Elinana expected. Small farmer homes' windows glowed with warmth from the cool spring night. And past the small fields, and stone roads was the lights of the brick, and wood buildings of the city. The lights where not as bright as electric lights like it will be one day in the distant future. But oddly to Elinana it looked warm with candle, and hearth lights despite the chilly spring night.
Elinana followed Connor's ghost like form, and could just see her Brothers around her. The hooves of the horses clapped, and thumped on the stone and dirt road as Connor led the way west. They past some people. And most of the men they passed looked at her in a way that made her turn her head to the back of Connor, only to see him gazing at each man they passed. She couldn't see his face, but she could tell he was giving them looks of warning.
"Thank goodness we're on good terms!" Elinana thought.
Soon Connor led them to a simple little farm at the far upper corner of the city. The house was two stories high, but it was small, and painted white. They rod up to the barn, then dismounted to unsaddle, and let the horses drink. As Elinana relived Hercules of his saddle, she saw a young boy gazing dreamily at Hercules.
"Hi there!" she greeted, and he turned his jet black, curly head to her.
"Guten Abend verpassen!" greeted the germen boy.
"Ralf!" called a deep voice that got the attention of both Elinana and Ralf. "In English son, how many times do I have to tell you?"
"Es—Sorry, Father." Ralf apologized, but his father smiled as he strolled into the barn.
"Thank you Jacob for offering your home as a shelter for us all." Connor thanked as he approached the tall, and bald German man.
"We are all Brothers here, Connor," replied Jacob. "But there is a new face among us."
"Elinana Doricent—" Clipper introduced her, but Jacob cut him off.
"Let the woman speak for herself, boy!"
"Elinana Cleo Doricent," she smiled and shook hands with Jacob. "But fiends call me Elin."
"A pleaser Elin," He smiled, then addressed to everyone. "Wilhemina nearly has super ready, you can all eat once the horses are looked after!"
Elinana picked up her saddle to place it in a better spot, she stopped when she saw Ralf gazing dreamily at Hercules again. She smiled, and placed her saddle beside Connor's.
"His name is Hercules," she informed, and he turned to her. "You can pet him, its okay. He likes kids."
"Dankeschön, ah, I mean—"
"It's okay. Here, I'll show you his sweet spot." She stated, and walked up to the front of Hercules to rub the back of his ear. Hercules tilted into her touch, and groaned.
"Just like that." She stated, and let Ralf pet Hercules the same way, and watched as he had the same reaction.
"Narrheit does the same when I streichheln him." Ralf informed, speaking back and forth in English and Germen.
"Who is Nar-height?"
"Narrheit!" laughed the boy. "He is my dog, I will go find him!" he informed, then ran off. Elinana smiled, and shook her head as she continued to tend to Hercules.
Once all the horses where feed, they all proceeded into the house. As soon as Elinana stepped into the house she was hit by warmth, and the smell of the sausage in the stew that came from a great pot over the fire. She looked around at the assembly of people of both people she was newly acquainted with, and others she wasn't. Elinana felt like an out of place, shy cat in the middle of men greeting one another as well as a single woman in men's clothing. There was another woman marching around the crowded kitchen and dining room. She would cut through the chattering crowd like a blade in water to get various items like bowls, utensils, and extra.
Elinana mustered up her courage, and slowly made her way around the chattering crowd. Once she reached the other side of the table, she didn't have to speak up to get the attention of the woman.
"Dinner will be ready soon." She informed over her shoulder as she sliced up a loaf of bread.
"Is there anything you need help with?" Elinana asked in a mouse like voice.
Wilhemina turned her head to size Elinana up with her black eyes. Her jet black hair that was streaked with strands of gray, was pulled up in a bun, and the white apron she wore over her green skirt was nicely kept.
"Place this on the table please, then find a chair." Wilhemina replied once she placed the sliced bread in a small cloth lined basket. Elinana nodded, and took the bread basket to the center of the long table set for nine when there was ten people—counting her.
"Okay," she thought as everyone moved to sit at the table. "I could just sit on the stool near the fire."
As Elinana moved for the stool the woman in men's clothing gripped her wrist, and pulled her into a chair next to her.
"Hello little sister!" she greeted. "Clipper's been talking none stop about you."
Elinana didn't say anything out of shyness.
"Names' Deborah Carter, but most call me Dobby."
"Hi." Elinana murmured when a bowl of stew was placed in front of her. "Thank you!" she called to Wilhemina, but her voice was nothing more than a coin falling in a crowd.
"Tell me how did you meet Connor?" Dobby asked before she took a drink from her cup.
"Um, well, that's a funny story actually." Elinana replied still in her mouse like shyness.
"Really? How did it go?"
"Well, I was a stowaway on his ship, then he discovered me, and then I saved him from drowning during the storm that hit us."
"Saved him from drowning, ay? Why did you stowaway?"
"I, um… I am running…." Elinana thought as she hesitated.
"Running away from something, or someone?"
"More like trying to run towards someone actually." Elinana replied with her shyness slowly melting in the warmth of company, cozy fire to keep the night out, and steaming stew. "I'm looking for my father; you see, he was taken from me, and I've been from Syria, to Rona Italy, to the Caribbean, and now here. But it feels like it'll be ages before I ever get close to being with him again."
"Sorry Elin," Dobby said with pity. "Was it the Templers then?"
"I can't say." She replied. "But it won't stop me from doing what is needed."
Dobby nodded, and continued to noisily sip her stew. Elinana looked around at her Brothers-in-arms to see Clipper telling jokes to the other men, and he was reworded with thunderous laughter from all the other men—save Connor who sat at the head of the table at the far end from her. He sat quietly like her, but conversed more than her with the others.
Elinana then looked to the fire just past Dobby, and saw Ralf sitting by the hearth feeding bits of his food to a bloodhound that was far from being fully-grown. The twiggy legs clumsily danced when his young master would throw a sausage piece to the floor behind Elinana. Once the morsel was swallowed without being chewed, the pup would bound back with flopping ears, then sit and stare at his master with big brown eyes, and a hanging tongue.
"So this is Narrheit?" Elinana asked Ralf.
"Yes!" he replied with a grin. "Father mitbringen him home not long after mother, and I came here from Deutschland."
"That's sweet of your father." Elinana smiled, then tore a bit of her bread, and clicked her tongue to get the pup's attention.
His ears perked as his head turned to her, than bound for her hand that offered the bit of food. Once the bit of bread vanish, Elinana stroked the pup's velvety head and ears.
"Who's a good puppy?" she spoke to the pup.
"Son!" called Jacob. "Finish your supper, then go off with your mother for bed."
Ralf bowed his head in disappointment, and ate his stew a little faster. Elinana followed his lead knowing well why they were all gathered here in the first place. She downed the savory juice of the stew, then ate up the bits of potatoes, carrots, and sausage. Soon Ralf and Wilhemina left for the second floor, and Clipper rose to glance out of the windows then pull them tighter so no prying eyes could see in.
"Deborah, Jacob," Connor addressed to the quiet room with only the snapping of the fire. "You both called for this meeting, and are the ones to discover the Templar's mining operation; you both should be the ones to tell us the story on how you found it, and what you saw."
"Actually," began Jacob. "Dobby was the one that saw it first, then sent me back to inform you all."
"Aye I saw it first, but you saw the slave wagon that lead us out there," she pointed. "But yes, as soon as we saw the poor souls being all linked together, and being marched into a mine, and hauling rocks back out; we both knew that something had to be done. So Jacob went back, and I went to get a better look at things."
"Don't you think that was a bit rash?" Elinana asked, and they all turned to her. "I like a big brew of trouble just as much as the next girl, but Dobby. What if they had caught you, and killed you? Our numbers here are too few to needlessly rick."
"We didn't fight the Templar grip by sitting back, Lass." Jamie informed.
"I know, I just thought—,"
"You both are right," Connor stepped in. "We all took great risks during the time of the war, but now that only a few remain here we also must think of building the Brotherhood's strength here once more. But that is a matter for another day, first we deal with the mine, and free the enslaved." Connor nodded for Dobby to continue the story.
"Well for one thing, I got past the wall by swimming through a hole near the watermill; it was heard to swim against the current, but it should be easy for you Connor. Anyway, I poked around a bit in the Overseer's office, and found an old book hidden away. But all I could take without them noticing was this already torn page." She took out a wrinkled, old, and yellowed piece of parchment with not only ink and water stains, but old drops of blood as well. Dobby handed it to Connor to inspect, but he couldn't read the language it was written in.
"By the looks of it you can't read it either." Dobby pointed, and sighed. "All that trouble for nothing."
"Can I see it?" Elinana asked, and Connor glanced up to her, then gently passed it to her. She gingerly took it, then studied the language, and smiled to its mild familiarity.
"I hope that smile means you can read it." Clipper stated.
"Sì, mio fratello!" she replied. "But my Italian vocabulary is small, and much of this is ruined. But, I'll get what I can translate, just give me a moment."
Elinana then sat back down, and pored over the page. Gazing more, and more at it she grew grimmer.
"Elinana, what's on that parchment? You look like you've seen a ghost." Duncan asked with concern. She looked up at him then the others, then fixed on Connor.
"It's was written by a madman," she reported. "Much of it I can't read, but what I can is—is madness."
"Just tell us what you can." Connor gently replied. Elinana took a deep breath, then began to translate to while running her fingers along the lines.
"…Eve….
…My beloved…me…
Eve, you died….
…your Daughter, I know you sent Adam away with her…
I tried to follow, but he wore your cloak…"
"That is all I could make out," She informed with a bowed head, fighting her fears that hunted her. The kitchen felt colder, as if the house felt the unnatural madness hidden on the page.
"I'm sorry." Elinana apologized, not so much as about the lack of translation, but for dragging them a little into her dangerous, dark heritage.
"You're right to say that a madman wrote that." Dobby brock the silence, the cold spell, and darkness that seemed to have crept in.
"No argument from me!" Clipper smiled, and took a drink from his cup.
"But what does it even mean?" Jacob puzzled, and they all murmured in thought.
"It is late, Brothers," Connor announced, silencing the murmurs. "We shall discuss it more in daylight."
"I second that!" Jacob agreed, and rose. "All this talk of Adam and Eve, and this Daughter is no talk for night! Wilhemina has blankets for the men to sleep here in the kitchen, and the women can sleep in the spare room upstairs."
"Alright, come on Elin." Dobby smiled, and tapped Elinana's shoulder. Elinana jumped out of her skin, and placed a shaking hand on her knife. But once she saw Dobby behind her she sighed, and bowed her head as she tried not to shack like a leaf in autumn.
"El, are you well little sister?" Dobby asked with concern.
"Yea," she murmured the lie, and rose. "Just tired."
Elinana then stared to follow Dobby as she bid the others goodnight, but halted then turned back to the table. She gripped the page as if it was a venomous snake, and marched to Connor.
"Permission to burn?" she requested. Connor glanced at the parchment, then at her. He could see her fears, and the pain that the Sage had inflicted on her. They both knew that the words on the parchment belonged to the man that hunted her. So he nodded, and she quickly turned away and marched to the fireplace as she tore up the page, then threw it into fire.
Once the hot tongues of the flames ate away at the torn pieces, she breathed easily again, and followed Dobby once again. But Connor went after her, and gently gripped her wrist.
"Elinana—" he said, but she cut him off.
"I'm fine." She firmly stated without looking back at him. Then tore away to march upstairs with him gazing after her.
Elinana marched behind Dobby into the spar room. A warm fire burned, and snapped in the hearth, the bed was twin sized so it would be tight sleeping. But the warmth hardly reached her bones that still quivered. And she was too restless for sleep, but if she did manage to, nightmares where sure to visit her.
"Ah!" sighed Dobby as she relived herself of her boots, then lied on the quilt only waring her shirt and trousers. "I'm glade for once I don't have to hear our Brother's snoring, but we still might hear them through the floorboards!" she joked, but Elinana was too fixed in her fear to be in the mood for jokes. Dobby watched her remove her gear, and blue robes.
"It was just the wards of a madman El," she tried to console. "He's lone gone, little sister."
But Elinana knew that she was wrong, the Sage was unlike any human. So long as she lived, he would hunt her to the end of the world, and time.
Elinana removed her moccasin boots, then lied next to Dobby on her side. She stared at the dancing light on the walls made by the fire. Time slowly passed, and Dobby started to snore behind her, and the fire grew dimer, and dimer. Elinana closed her eyes to try to sleep, but the words she read on the page still lingered with her.
The moon peered into the room with its pale glow. The only sound in the house was the snoring of the men below, Dobby, and from the room behind the wall from the master bedroom. Elinana sighed, and slowly slid out of bed, then put on her moccasins again quietly, and armed herself by strapping on her needle dagger. She slowly walked to the door, remembering her training to not tiptoe; the trick was to walk normally while making as little noise as possible. And with her new boots, she made it from the room to the foot of the stairs without making a single sound. But the hardest part was to get past the minefield of sleeping men that was trained to hear ghost walking—at least one anyway.
Elinana slowly walked to the edge of Jamie's snoring form, then lightly stepped over him, and continued one toward the door while lightly stepping over her sleeping Brothers. Once she reached the door, she carefully turned the handle, and slowly pushed it open as she held her breath with every squeak. Once an opening wide enough Elinana slipped through, and slowly closed it behind her.
With only the moon for company now she shivered in the cool night breeze, and darted to the barn. Sliding inside, she closed the door behind her, and strolled up to Hercules.
"Hay boy." she greeted in a whisper, and stroked his muzzle.
Her ears perked to the sound of the barn door opening, and she crouched for her dagger as she turned to face her follower. But she sighed when she saw the white ghost form of Connor.
"Hi Connor, sorry if I woke you." She softly said to him as she rose. "I couldn't sleep."
"I know you are troubled by the page," he kindly stated to her as he walked up to her side. "But you don't have to be, you are safe—"
"No," she interrupted. "I'm not, he's found me before—twice! He could do it again."
"He didn't find you in the Caribbean." Connor pointed.
"That was luck!" she laughed without merit. "I have more misfortune then actual fortune! Plus there is Eve's Daughter, I don't need a DNA test to know she was my ancestor. Ever since I was smaller, I always secretly wished to know where I came from, but now I don't think I want to know. Not with that damned Sage, and all this talk of Eve trapping his Beloved, and me destroying her!"
"Elinana!" Connor gazed at her fixedly, and firmly griped her shoulders. "I know you fear him, and fear the secrets of your heritage. I was afraid of what Juno wanted of me as well. But you don't have to be, not if I am near. I swear on my life that I will protect you."
Elinana gazed up at him, then shook her head.
"Please don't," she murmured. "Too many good people I care for are died. I don't want your name added to it."
"It will not be, that I can promise you." He assured.
Elinana broke his hold, and wrapped her arms around his firm middle in an embrace. He stiffened out of her sudden action, and didn't know what to do with his own arms. But she released him, and stepped back.
"Thanks." She thanked with the grimness lifted from her.
"For, what?" He replied slowly out of slight embarrassment, and held his hands.
"Being a much needed friend." She replied as Hercules nuzzled his face in her arm. "Oh you're a much needed friend too, you big doggy like horse!"
"Will you come back with me?" Connor inquired.
"I don't know. I've been around snoring people before, but you heard the snoring fest in there!" she jested. "You don't think the others will mind me sleeping here, do you?"
"No." Connor kindly replied. "Wait here." He said. Then left her in the barn for a short while, then came back with a blanket, and handed it to her.
"Thank you, again." She smiled, and placed it over her shoulders, then strolled to a pile of fresh straw to sleep on. "Good night, Ratonhnhaké:ton."
Connor's lips twitched in a small smile to the sound of his true name. But the smile was short lived. He strolled to her left, and lied on the straw some distance away.
"You don't have to stay here too." Elinana pointed.
"I know." He replied with closed eyes, and linked fingers across his stomach.
"Won't you be cold with no blanket?"
"The spring nights do not bother me, Elinana."
The blanket smelled like the forest, and the masculine smell of a man. And she knew that this was his blanket. Elinana smiled, and snuggled deeper. Grateful for his warm, and protecting presence.
