Well this took longer than expected. This is probably the longest chapter I've written in a while. I've been wanting to write a chapter like this for a while now, and with Thanksgiving coming up I think it's appropriate. Both of my families have cancelled Thanksgiving due to the Covid outbreaks happening in our area. My aunt and cousin are recovering from the Covid, one of my uncles passed away because the hospital let him out too early and didn't give him enough oxygen, another uncle of mine has Covid, and my cousins are in quarantine waiting for results to see if they have it or not. So for my family and all the other families who can't be together during this troubling time, I like to dedicate this chapter to them. I hope everyone enjoys it.
Chapter 10: Dream Sequence
Jerusalem, 1209
Altair blended in the crowds of the market, his eyes focused on two individuals. The two of them hid in the shade from the hot sun, their eyes watching the vendor selling bread across from them.
Altair was sitting on one of the benches, shoulders hunched as if he was waiting for someone as he kept an eye on the two. They were both young, in their early teens. The younger of the two had lighter skin than most people here in the market with a mix of Syrian and English features and a pair of golden eyes. He seemed to be the more anxious of the two, rocking on the heels of his feet nervously. The older of the two seemed bored as he leaned against a wall with his arms crossed over his chest. His features were similar to the other boy's that they easily marked him as his brother.
"When Maria told me that you were taking Darim and Sef to Jerusalem to spend time with them, I doubt this is what she had in mind."
Altair turned his head to see his best friend and right hand join him. A smile appeared on his scarred lips. "It's good to see you too, Malik."
Malik rolled his eyes, but there was a small smile on his face as he sat down next to Altair. He nodded his head towards the two boys. "May I ask what you are doing here while your sons are over there, looking as if they're about to rob someone?"
Altair was silent for a moment. "Do you remember Jabir?"
Malik's eyes became solemn. "Jabir al-Dhuki? Yes, he was a good man and a good Assassin. He died almost a year ago I believe."
"One week from today by the hands of slavers," Altair confirmed. "His wife died shortly afterwards. Broken heart, or so they say."
"What does this have to do with you and your sons?" Malik asked, curious.
"Jabir had a child around Darim's age. Before he went out on his last mission, he asked me to bring them into the Brotherhood and watch over them. I've finally found word that they live somewhere here in Jerusalem, but love to visit the marketplace frequently. Darim and Sef have been complaining about being cooped up in Masyaf, so Maria convinced me to take them with me."
"Twelve and fourteen-year-olds? Your children?" Malik asked with a raised eyebrow.
Altair shrugged. "It gets them out of Masyaf and into the real world for a while. This is an easy mission, just to find someone. No death. No trouble. Besides, it's a good way for Darim and Sef to practice their observation skills, practice patience in waiting for your target, and get some real world exposure." And get him away from the Apple of Eden. Altair had to admit, it was nice to be out and about with his boys, and seeing to their training. Even though he loved spending time with his family, he still felt the calling to go back to the Apple and continue studying it. Yes, this break would be good for him.
"I wouldn't be so concerned if it wasn't your sons. Like you, trouble follows them," Malik said.
"That's why I'm hiding nearby in case there is. Nothing will go wrong though."
"Are you sure about that?" Malik nodded towards his sons' direction.
Altair followed his gaze. A young person, a teenager most likely, dressed as a boy stood close to the vendor's stall of bread, eyeing it and the vendor as he talked to someone. Altair used his special vision to see the person in gold. They had found them. He looked at his sons, still worried and bored, but keeping an eye on the stall.
Darim stood taller, interest beginning to creep in his eyes as he watched the young teenager steal a piece of bread. But before they could leave, the vendor grabbed the teenager's arm, and pulled them roughly back and shouted at them.
Altair winced in sympathy. To be caught stealing, the penalty was to lose a hand. He had no doubt the teenager was Jabir's child, and he was ready to step in if it came to that, but he needed to watch and see how his sons dealt with the situation.
Darim came up to the vendor and seemed to be doing some smooth talking.
Altair's lip curled upwards. His son had practiced smooth talking his way out of many punishments in Masyaf.
Sef took a piece of jewelry out of the teenager's pocket and handed it to Darim despite the teenager's protests.
Malik leaned closer to whisper. "You did tell them Jabir's child was a girl, correct?"
Altair didn't answer, his attention on Darim as the boy seemed to give it to the vendor, but with a slighted hand, switched it with an apple he had on him into the vendor's pocket. The brothers took the teenager away from the now satisfied vendor, and headed in the direction of the Assassin bureau.
"Wait for it," Malik said, watching as the vendor realized what had actually happened and called for the guards.
The three children took off, slipping through the crowds and down alleyways.
The one-arm Assassin chuckled. "I'll admit, I'm impressed and amused."
Altair grinned. "They still have much to learn, but I am pleased to see how they respond on their own."
"One of the most important lessons I have seen since you became Mentor is teaching our novices how to think on their own. I see this is what you were planning for Darim and Sef when you took them on this mission. It was good for them," Malik commented.
Altair nodded. "Thank you, brother. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must go find them. I have no doubt that they'll escape from the guards, but just to be certain…"
"Of course, I will see you at the bureau."
000{{*}}000
Florence, 1524
The night air was cool as Ezio sat on the rooftop of his home. It had been two days since the house invasion, and two days since Shao Yun had left to return to China to rebuild the Assassins there. In that time Ezio's family had returned after he, with the help of other Assassins, had buried the dead, cleaned up the mess, and repaired the damage the Chinese Templars had caused. He did not want his wife and children to return home to all the carnage.
Now was the first moment in days since Shao Yun had come that he had been able to relax without any tension.
A thud from the side of the house caught Ezio's hearing. It could have been an animal, but then he heard a cry that was definitely not an animal.
"PAPA!"
He immediately went over to the edge of the roof, looked down, and saw his eleven-year-old daughter, Flavia hanging half-way up the side of the house.
"Help me! I can't get up!"
Fear caused Ezio's heart to beat painfully in his chest as he moved closer to reach his daughter. His muscles were old, but still strong enough to grab Flavia's hand and lift her the rest of the way onto the roof to safety.
"What were you thinking?! Climbing up the side of the side of the house like that?" he scolded.
Flavia bit her lip and Ezio could see tears shining down her cheeks in the moonlight. She was dressed only in her nightgown, and she was shivering. Ezio wrapped his arms around her and held her close to him as he sat back down on the roof.
"You frightened me a great deal, Tesoro, seeing you hanging like that. The fall might not have killed you, but it would have hurt you a great deal," he told her more gently.
"I'm sorry, Papa," Flavia hiccupped.
They sat there for a few moments, Ezio holding her, and rubbing her back as he kept her warm from the cold.
"Now, what are you doing up at this hour?" Ezio asked.
His daughter looked up at him, the moon shining on her dark brown eyes. "I had a nightmare."
"Of what?"
"The bad men came back and took you, and Mama, and Marcello," Flavia whispered as she wrapped her arms around Ezio's neck and buried her face in his chest.
Ezio felt his arms tighten around his daughter protectively. It had always been a great fear of his ever since he'd married Sofia and retired from the life of an Assassin that the Templars and all the enemies he had gathered over the years would come after his family. Especially now that he was older, and could barely help with the harvest without going into a coughing fit. His body still ached from the fight he put up a couple of days ago. If another attack were to happen in the future he worried that he would be unable to protect his family on his own.
He listened as Flavia continued talking. "When we were staying at Uncle Nicolo's, Aunt Claudia came to visit. At night, I heard her talking to Uncle Nicolo and Mama that she was afraid that you would be taken like Grandfather, Uncle Federico, and Uncle Petruccio."
Ezio felt his heart stop at the mention of his father and brothers. Even after five decades, the pain of their loss was as fresh as if it had happened yesterday. He could still remember Petruccio's innocent smiles, Federico's teasing, Father's kind words of wisdom, the sway of the rope… Ezio shut his eyes, and took a deep breath to steady himself.
"Flavia," he spoke, looking down at her. "I can't promise that I will be here forever, but I can promise that I will never truly leave you."
"Hai promesso?"
"Lo prometto. You're my brave little girl," Ezio tweaked her nose, causing Flavia to giggle. Ezio smiled, standing up on the roof, and holding tight to his daughter's hand lest she fall. "Now, let's get you back to bed before your mother comes looking for us. She'll have my head if she finds out what you had been up to.
Flavia Auditore's giggles echoed in the night air.
000{{*}}000
Aquila, 1778
The seas were quiet at night. Most of the crew were below deck, exhausted after a day of fighting traitors, securing stolen supplies, and repairing damages that the ship had obtained during battle. Some were still above deck to help maintain and steer the ship at night.
Haytham Kenway was exhausted, but he felt no desire to go to his bunk yet. After months of hunting down the traitor Benjamin Church, he felt a lot of the tension and stress that had built up in him had been released after killing the fallen Templar today.
He looked up and saw the Aquila's captain manning the helm at the first watch tonight.
Connor Kenway, his son.
Haytham had to admit it, the boy had done well today. Destroying Church's ships, fighting his crew, and ultimately killing Church himself while also keeping a good control over his emotions. Even though the boy looked as though he had wanted to throw Haytham overboard for taking control of the Aquila and damaging it to where they were lucky it still held together.
Haytham climbed to the quarterdeck to stand beside Connnor, hands clasped behind his back as the wind caused his cloak to flutter.
"Connor," Haytham nodded.
"Father," the boy replied with cool politeness.
The deck hands could be heard singing a tune, the breeze carrying their words over to father and son.
"I dreamed a dream the other night
Lowlands, lowlands away me John.
My love she came all dressed in white
Lowlands away."
The song brought nostalgia to Haytham. Memories of his father and sailing the seas with Shay hit him before he could stop them. He sighed, his eyes closed. A memory of his father playing this tune on piano came to his mind.
"Is there a problem?" Connor's voice broke through the memory.
Haytham opened his eyes. "No, none at all."
They were silent, listening to the men's faded song and the wind blowing.
Haytham took a glance at Connor on the helm. Instead of his usual white Assassin robes, his son was dressed in a deep blue captain's uniform with a tricorn hat. His skin was fairer than the average native and with his strong English features he could pass himself off as a gentleman. He certainly reminded Haytham of himself when he was his age as well as his lover, Ziio. He could also see a bit of his father in the boy which was surprising. Personality speaking, the two of them couldn't have been more different. Where Connor was shy and quiet, Edward Kenway had been boisterous and free-spirited. They were both strong leaders of their men and were both in their element while at sea. Haytham had the feeling that Edward would have adored and been proud of his grandson.
"When I was a boy, my father… your grandfather would sing this song," Haytham admitted. He felt Connor looking at him from the corner of his eye.
"Edward Kenway, the pirate?" the younger man asked.
Haytham looked at him, surprised. "You know about him?"
His son looked embarrassed. "I… when Achilles and Charles Dorian began our training, they wanted us to study the history of the Assassins. When Catherine heard about an Edward Kenway, she got me interested in learning more about him. He sailed in Nassau during the early 1700s when piracy was at its finest didn't he?"
Haytham covered up his surprise and nodded. "Yes, although when he was alive I didn't know about that. I knew him as the man who gave me my first sword and taught me how to fight, who told me stories without telling what they really were."
"I remember asking Mister Faulkner about him once to see what he had heard about him, and he said that he was a mad bastard who ever sailed the seven seas," Connor said to which Haytham chuckled, surprising his son.
"He probably was. I learned about his past when I was older, and read his journal."
They lapsed into silence.
"I don't know how I would have reacted to him, but I wish I could have known him," Connor spoke solemnly.
"So do I, Connor," Haytham agreed, his heart heavy. "So do I."
They were Templar and Assassin, enemies who allied only to destroy a traitor. Haytham wondered if things would have been different if… his father hadn't died? If he's known about Connor before? If they were on the same side? 'Damn you Ziio. You should have told me about the boy.' As much as he wanted to blame his former love, he could not. Better to silently mourn what might have been now. Their truce wouldn't last forever. He had to accept the fact that his duty to the Order would require him to kill his own son if he could not be swayed. But not tonight. Tonight he would indulge himself this one occasion to feel like a true father.
"Lowlands," a deep voice broke his thoughts.
He turned his head in surprise at Connor.
His son kept his gaze ahead. "Lowlands away me John."
He never heard his son sing before. He didn't think he could, but the half-mohawk and half-Englishman's voice reminded Haytham of songs he had heard from the men of Ziio's tribe. It was… nice.
"She made no sound
No word she said."
"Lowlands, lowlands away me John," Haytham joined, surprising Connor.
"And then I knew my love was dead
Lowlands away."
000{{*}}000
Davenport Homestead, 1796
Connor stepped outside to assist in the training.
It was a beautiful day. The sun was out and there was a cool breeze from the ocean. Perfect day to be training. He looked around the grounds, seeing novices perform different tasks whether target practicing, sparring, sharpening weapons, or any activities that could come in handy on the field.
Since the war, with the Templar Order all but destroyed, Connor with the help of his wife had been able to rebuild the Assassins in the American colonies. They had recruited over a dozen people into their Order, and their European brothers and sisters had even sent a few recruits to help with the reestablishment. It had kept both Connor and Catherine busy, especially with their growing family. Connor usually took the brunt in training the novices with Catherine keeping in touch of political and Assassin affairs whether here in the colonies or in Europe along with keeping an ear out for word on Pieces of Eden. After learning from Achilles' mistakes and from the incident when General Washington had given them the Apple of Eden, they didn't want to take any chances of someone, whether Assassin, Templar, or civilian finding a Piece of Eden and using it to harm people whether intentional or not. Today however, Catherine was taking a break from all her paperwork to enjoy the nice weather and assist in the training.
She was with their eldest daughter Kahsemenhawe or Ava since most people had trouble pronouncing her Mohawk name, and she was showing her how to hold her old friend Orla, a golden eagle. Since he had known Catherine, she had a special bond with birds, especially Orla. not only because of their many years together and the adventures they shared, but she had also been a gift to Catherine from her mentor Charles Dorian, and ever since word of his death had reached them, the bird had become all the more precious to her. Catherine showed her daughter how to position her hand and arm as Orla perched comfortably on her mistress' arm.
Connor saw that his son Tekaranhio:ken or Dorian was on the ground next to Mister Faulkner. The old sea dog had retired years ago and was now teaching the young boy how to tie knots, determined to turn the boy into a sea lover like he did his parents.
Connor walked closer to the end of the training grounds where novices were target practicing. A young dark haired girl with skin fairer than her father's ran up to Connor, grinning in excitement.
Connor couldn't help but smile back.
Today he would be teaching Io:nhiote or Iris how to shoot a bow and arrow. He had taken her hunting a few weeks ago because he had suspected that his youngest had the natural ability of Eagle Vision like many grown Assassins. The hunt had proven that she not only had it, but that she also possessed the even rarer ability to see through a bird's eye just like her mother Catherine could. Since then he had been teaching her how to use it with help from his wife. He had fashioned her a bow for her size. Soon he would teach her how to make her own.
"Remember Io:nhiote, keep your body aligned with the bow," Connor instructed.
Her right arm was shaking as she pulled the arrow back. Several of her arrows had fallen short from the target, and now, she was trying to pull as close to her cheek as she could with her father gently instructing her. She let go, but her aim had been too high. It soared over the target and into the woods.
"I missed," she said, disappointed.
"Go fetch it then," Catherine, who had crept up on them gently told her, taking her bow.
The eight-year-old girl went off into the woods to retrieve her arrow.
Catherine looked at Connor and smiled.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her close, his heart light and happy.
000{{*}}000
Queen Anne's Square, 1735
It was late, but Edward couldn't sleep. His mind was full of chaotic thoughts. The Assassins and Templars, the search for Precursor artifacts, his daughter's courtship with Birch, Haytham's training, but most of all, the absence of friends.
Today marked the fourteenth anniversary of his old friend, Mary Read's death. The date had snuck up on him when he read the paper this morning and saw the date. He had been distracted while training Haytham until he had dismissed him to go play, and had told his valet Jack not to disturb him while he locked himself in his game room and lamented.
With the memories of Mary, came all the other memories of Thatch, Vane, Rackham, and all the other friends he had lost back in his pirate days. He still kept in touch with Adewale and Anne though courier, but it had been years since he had seen them.
After hours of brooding he had finally come out. He had taken an old sword and gone to the ballroom where there was more space. He held his sword up in a salute, taking a deep breath before letting himself loose. He lost himself in a flurry of parries and thrusts he had learned from his years of piracy and as an Assassin. The full moon's light illuminated through the ballroom's windows and he could see his shadow mirroring his dance.
He heard a sound and stopped. He spun around and pointed his sword toward the entrance to see Haytham jump back, colliding with his sister who had been holding a candle. The two of them fell backwards with a cry, Jennifer dropping her candle as they landed hard on the ground. The candle went out, and Edward heard his daughter swear an oath that she must have heard him mutter at some point. He lowered his sword and approached them.
"What are you two doing out of bed?" he asked, holding out his hand.
Haytham took it and allowed his father to help him back on his feet, but when he offered it to Jenny, the young woman ignored it and picked herself up.
"You disappeared after training. Not even Mother or Jack have seen you," Haytham answered. "Are you angry with us?"
His son sounded scared and worried. Edward looked at him in surprise. "What? No! What the- I mean- why on earth would you think that?"
Jennifer rolled her eyes in the moonlight. "That's what I told the little devil, but he insisted on checking up on you."
As much as she tried to come off as uncaring, Edward could tell that she was worried as well. It bothered him how distant they had become. They use to be close but ever since he had begun Haytham's training, Jennifer had become resentful when Edward had refused to train her as well. It wasn't that Edward loved Haytham more than her. He loved them both equally. His Jenny was a beautiful woman with the fire and spirit of a true Assassin, but she reminded him too much of the many strong and brave women he had loved and lost.
Her mother, Caroline Scott who had defied society's expectations and married a scoundrel beneath her class, and raised a child on her own for several years.
Anne Bonny, his quartermaster who barked loudly at men and fought just as valiantly as them.
Mary Read, who disguised herself as a man, led men into battle, and made herself into a pirate legend.
Brave and strong women, all three of them just like his daughter, but women who had gone through pain and suffering because of it.
Caroline left to die by her own father.
Anne losing her lover, friend, and her own son.
Mary dying from childbirth fever, her last moments spent in a hell of a prison.
Jennifer struggled enough in society due to Edward's history and her choice to use her mother's surname. Edward had not been able to protect Mary and Anne from the painthey'd endured, or provide Caroline the stability she needed, but he'd be damned if he failed to protect Jenny. Marriage to Birch would provide her a stable living and protect her from the whispers of Edward Kenway's scandalous past.
"Today's the anniversary a dear friend of mine passed away a long time ago. They were one who helped to straighten my arse and stop being a bloody fool," Edward explained to them.
Both of his children's eyes widened, but then softened in understanding, Haytham coming over to hug his father around his waist. Edward ran a hand through the lad's dark hair, and shared a nod with Jenny.
An idea suddenly popped into his head. "I want to show you both something."
His children followed him curiously as they crept down the halls, through the kitchens, and out into the gardens. Edward had taken a blanket with them to lay on the damp grass. His children were in their nightgowns and he didn't want to risk either of them catching a cold. They laid out on it with Jenny and Haytham on either side of Edward. The night sky in London wasn't as good as the open sea was but Edward could still see the stars.
"See there?" he asked, pointing to a cluster of stars. "That's the Aquila. See the wings and the tail?"
He went on pointing out to several constellations, telling the stories behind them, and how they helped in navigation. Haytham asked a bunch of questions, and even Jenny asked a few to which Edward was happy to answer. As the night went on, Edward realized that both of his children had fallen asleep on his sides. They had both curled up and wrapped their arms around him for warmth, each of them snoring softly.
Edward felt his heart lifted for the first time since this morning. He'll have to wake Jenny and carry Haytham back to bed, but not now. For now, he would pull them in close, protect them, and warm them.
The servants ended up finding them all asleep in the gardens at the early hours of the morning.
000{{*}}000
New york, 1759
Shay woke to a small body landing on him in bed. His first instinct had been to reach out for his knife to take out who had disturbed him. It lasted for only a second when he registered who the intruder was as they lightly bounced on him.
Shay grunted as they hit a small injury he had gotten on his side a couple of days ago. "Careful, little un'. We don't want to wake your mum up yet," he nodded to his wife on the other side of the bed.
The bouncing stopped.
Rose Cormac was still recovering from the injuries she had sustained over a week ago, fighting off Assassins and escaping with her daughter to find Shay at the Templar headquarters in New York.
Their little daughter Catherine looked down at him with the big brown eyes she had inherited from him. "I want to go to the beach. Miss Matilda said that there are a bunch of seashells down there."
Shay groaned, wanting to sink further into bed, but unable to refuse with the way his little girl looked at him with her pleading face.
"Dress and breakfast first, and then we'll go down to the beach."
The little red head beamed at him, and scampered off of him to head back to her room.
Shay brushed his dark locks away from his face, but he smiled. He had been busy taking out Hope's gangs for weeks now. A day at the beach would be a nice change of pace for him. And he rarely got to spend time with his little girl.
His wife shifted in her sleep, but didn't wake. Shay leaned over to kiss her on her brow before getting up to get dressed.
The sun was beginning to rise, but it was starting to get cooler this time of year. He would have to make sure Catherine bundled up well. He put his heavy coat on, and grabbed his hidden blade, his sword, and his pistols just in case. After leaving a note for his wife, he made his way over to the little bedroom Catherine was staying in to find her struggling to put her dress on. Shay smiled.
"Hold still, Little one," he said as he kneeled down to help straighten her dress and tie the lacings. He contemplated whether to pull her hair back and tie it, but he had watched his wife enough to know that the unruly red locks were untamable, and Catherine seemed impatient to get going. He decided to leave it, and followed his daughter down to the kitchens to see the servants already setting things up for the day. The cook gave father and daughter a bowl of oatmeal with a tinge of molasses mixed in it.
Catherine had her bowl cleaned in no time, and Shay had barely even finished his own before she grabbed his wrist and started tugging him towards the backdoor leading to the gardens.
Shay managed to swipe Catherine's cloak and a couple of apples for a snack later on before thanking the servants for breakfast. Then after making Catherine stand still long enough to put her cloak on, they made their way out into the gardens, and down the path that would take them to the beach.
The sea breeze was so refreshing and it made Shay feel like he was right at home. He kept an eye on Catherine as she skipped down to the sand. She looked at it curiously, reaching her hand down to feel its texture, oblivious to it getting her dress dirty.
The waves were crashing on the beach before receding back into the ocean. Catherine watched them, intrigued and slowly approached the water with Shay sticking close behind her. Catherine was small and if the waves got hold of her, her skirts would become an anchor, and she would have no chance if she were swept away.
Catherine jumped as a big wave crashed onto the beach, hitting Shay's legs, the man grabbing onto her shoulders to balance her. She looked up at him and giggled.
After that, Shay began to relax. He sat down on the sand and watched as his daughter explored the beach, digging through sand for shells, and kept far enough from the waves to where he didn't have to worry about her being swept away. He took out one of the apples he brought, and using his one of his knives began to cut slices from it for Catherine when his daughter came up to him, her fists full of shells she must have found.
"Do you think Mum will like them?"
"She'll love them," Shay assured her, looking through the many different shells. A good find.
"Papa look!" Catherine pointed to a bunch of seagulls gathered down the beach. She took off, and Shay was immediately on his feet following her.
"Catherine, wait!"
For a toddler in damp skirts she moved pretty fast.
The gulls flew as she neared them, and Shay picked her up, and saw what they had been flocking about for.
"Sea turtles?"
Sure enough, there were a couple of baby sea turtles slowly but surely making their way towards the ocean. They were cute little things.
Catherine squirmed in Shay's arms. "Can I touch them?"
Shay shook his head, remembering his own father when they had once found something like this when he was a lad. "No Catherine, they need to go to the ocean where their mother is. She's probably worried sick for them."
"Oh," Catherine realized.
It was nearing luncheon. They gathered their things, and Shay carried Catherine back to the Templar headquarters. With his daughter safely wrapped in his arms, Shay Cormac felt happy and content for the first time in a long time.
000{{*}}000
Paris, 1796
Inside, Arno was struggling to stay calm as he walked through the hidden tunnels of Notre Dame towards the Assassin headquarters. The tiny and dainty hand inside his big and calloused one helped to keep him from falling apart.
It had been two years.
Two years since that horrid year of '94 when he had been thrown out of the Assassin Order, killed Germain, and lost the love of his life Elise in a single breath, and discovered the news that had changed his life forever.
After losing Elise, he had gone into a drunken stupor as he mourned her. It had taken doing a favor for Marquis de Sade which ended in him helping an orphan named Leon find and secure an Apple of Eden from Bonaparte to get him out of his funk and destructive path, and reach out to the people who had known and loved Elise as much as he did. Once he had come to their home, he had learned the news that had shakened his world.
He was a father!
Elise had given birth to a daughter in the year 1788 in late August.
It had shocked Arno as if he had been hit by that Sword of Eden Germain had been using all over again. He'd done the math to know that his daughter had been conceived on Elise's Christmas break before she had returned to the Academy. Elise had never told him. She hadn't even written about it in her journals. There was no mention of a child, no baby, not even any mention of pregnancy sickness or suspicion. It had ripped open the pain he had felt at Elise's death and added the salt of betrayal to the still fresh wound.
Oh Elise.
Why didn't she ever tell him while she was still alive?
Before they went to face Germain?
When she found him drunk in Versailles?
While they were hunting Germain?
When he escaped the Bastille and found her shut up in her family estate?
When she returned from schooling?
Even sent a letter the moment she discovered that she was carrying their child?
Oh Elise, why?
Arno wanted to grab her and shake her, and ask her these things but he could not.
Then the fallen Assassin Ruddock had attempted to take his daughter and Elise's handmaiden Helene for the bounty the Carroll's had placed on them for Elise killing their daughter. Luckily, Arno and Elise's former teacher and protector Weatherall managed to kill the traitor, and neither child nor the young lady were harmed.
Arno learned that his daughter's name was Juliette Marie Dorian. Elise had named her after their mothers, and had given her Arno's family name.
She was beautiful.
She had his dark hair with an auburn tint to it and his charming smile. From Elise, she had her blue eyes and that slim nose. A beautiful mixture of Arno and Elise.
After Ruddock was killed and the dust settled, Helene and Jacques had offered Arno a place in their home so he could be near his daughter. Arno had accepted, knowing that despite just learning about her existence, he didn't want to suddenly uproot his daughter from the only home she had ever known. The girl had recently lost her mother, and had just met her father for the first time in her life. That was enough to deal with.
Weatherall had given Arno one last letter from Elise, this one explaining Juliette's existence, and why she had kept her secret from him.
"My dearest Arno,
Of all the letters I have written, this one is the hardest to write. I pray that I have found the courage to tell you in person about Juliette, but if not… please forgive me for telling you about her and my reasons for keeping her a secret by letter. I have no doubt that you remember that Christmas night in '87 before I returned to school when we acted on our feelings for the first time. If you have already read my journals then you probably realize that I was carrying our child when I went to England for my mission to spy on Jennifer Scott. In fact, it was Mademoiselle Scott herself who told me that I was pregnant. She had been a concubine in her youth, and therefore knew the signs. I had begun to mistrust the Carrolls and feared them discovering my condition and using it to their advantage which is why I made no mention of my pregnancy in my journals.
When I didn't come home for summer break, my father tracked me down and that's when he discovered my secret. It took some creative talking from Mr. Weatherall and myself to prevent him from going after you and castrating you. I already loved this child growing inside of me. Getting rid of it was out of the question. I wanted to tell you this in person, but then my father warned me about your ties to the Assassins. I hadn't even told you about the Templars and my father wanted to turn you into one of us. I was destined to be the next Grandmaster of France, and I was dealing with enough criticism due to my sex and youth. To have an illegitimate child my father feared that no one would ever take me seriously. I loved you, but I didn't want you to marry me out of obligation.
Then I gave to our Juliette and fell in love again. She was so perfect in my eyes that I knew I would fight Templars and Assassins together to keep her safe. She was kept out of the public eye with only my father, Mr. Weatherall, Madame Levene, Helene, and Jacques knowing about her existence.
Then my father died and everything fell apart. I knew that my father's usurper wouldn't stop until everybody in my family was dead, including Juliette. I worked even harder to protect Juliette and keep her a secret from the ones who called themselves my allies since my father could no longer do it. Then I learned that you had joined the Assassins. I can't tell you the conflict I felt in whether to tell you about Juliette or not. She reminds me so much of you, and you remind me of her. She's inherited your charm, your innocence, and your compassion, and it makes me love her all the more for it.
Every time we met I would open my mouth, believing that I should tell you… and then shut it. I can't tell you the guilt and shame I felt every time I kept quiet. The thought of you dying without any knowledge of her made me sick. There's nothing that can excuse me for keeping her from you even when I blamed you for not warning my father in time. Perhaps that's why I could never lead the Templars here in France because I was too much of a coward to even tell the father of my child that he had a daughter.
Which brings me to this: whatever anger, betrayal, and even hatred you must feel for me now, I beg of you, do not take it out on Juliette. She's a wonderful girl, more than I have deserved, and she deserves to at least have one parent who will raise her with love and protect her. I have told her stories about you and she knows that you are a good man. When she asks about me, tell her I love her and that my last thoughts were of her and you. Tell her our story. Tell her that unity between our two orders is possible because our story is proof that it is possible.
That brings me to my last request: when you finish reading this letter, burn it. The Templars know nothing about her and I know that they will never accept her due to her father's identity. Tell no one, but those you absolutely trust who her mother really is. They can speculate all they want, but you and she will know the truth and that's all that matters. I love you, Arno, and I know that Juliette will love you no matter what.
Jet'aime,
Elise"
In those two years, Arno had raised Juliette and had fallen in love with her. She was wonderfully patient with him, and had a sense of mischief which was expected given who her parents were at that age. He had also been inducted back into the Assassins. Members like Sophia Trenet had been reluctant to welcome him back due to him living with a former Templar, despite Weatherall now being in retirement. However, Beylier and Quemar, and friends that Arno had made over the years argued that Arno deserved to come back due to killing Germain and preventing Bonarparte from getting his hands on an Apple of Eden. Arno could deny it, but he missed the Assassins, the people who had given him purpose after the death of Monsieur de la Serre.
His purpose for bringing Juliette here today was because Helene was on bedrest with her and Jacques' first child, Weatherall was unable to keep up with the lively child, and Arno didn't have enough time to ask Madame Margot if she could watch Juliette. Besides, Weatherall had argued that this would be a good experience for her to learn both sides of her heritage. One day, Juliette would decide what path she would follow whether that was an Assassin, Templar, or a normal life. Whatever she decided, Arno would stand by her and support her decision.
They entered the hall where the Assassins were meeting and several eyes were on them. He felt Juliette move closer to him, and he squeezed her hand in reassurance.
"Mesdemoiselles, Messieurs," his voice rang loud and clear to all. "May I present my daughter, Juliette Marie Dorian," he proudly introduced.
His daughter took a shy step towards them, and with her father's charm and her mother's poise, curtsied. "Mesdemoiselles, Messieurs."
Arno knew that from everybody's expressions, his daughter had just charmed the entire Assassin brotherhood, even Sophia Trenet.
000{{*}}000
Whitechapel, 1869
Jacob narrowed his eyes fiercely at his opponent. There were few challenges Jacob had faced that he struggled to overcome. This challenge was so reckless even for him. His men had wisely stayed out of it, only keeping an eye to make sure their boss didn't lose a limb to his opponent.
"It's a bad idea."
"I think it's a wonderful idea, Jacob Frye," his wife, Elena Reed-Frye told him, her tone telling him not to push her on this.
They were in their favorite pub with their friends and allies. The only people missing were Evie Frye and her husband Henry Green who were picking up the twins' former teacher George Westhouse from the train station. The Rooks had all sat down at a distance from the arguing couple, Inspector Abberline watched in worry, Clara curious to see who would win, and Charles Dickens with amusement.
Elena Reed was a formidable woman. Half-Italian and half-English, she had grown up the daughter of Templar Grandmaster Crawford Starrick and his wife Serafina Venier, an undercover Assassin who had been sent by the Italian Brotherhood to undermine Starrick until she had been discovered and was poisoned when Elena was only eleven years old. She then ran away and lived on the streets of London for the next three years of her life, learning the ins and outs of the city, how to steal, who to trust, and how to survive until she was discovered by the Brotherhood when she helped save "The Ghost", Ethan Frye, and George Westhouse from the Templars. She became Henry Green's apprentice, and took to the Assassins like a fish to water, becoming the Ghost's blade when he needed it. She helped him gather allies and spy on the Templars as he trained her up until the Frye twins came to London to take down Starrick's control.
Evie and Elena had gotten along splendidly due to their shared desire in freeing London from Templar control. Jacob and Elena however… let's say that cats and dogs got along better at their first meeting. She thought him to be a reckless and arrogant child. He thought her to be a know-it-all ice princess. They had pushed their animosity just enough to focus on the liberation of London. Within time, their animosity cooled. She saw that his recklessness stemmed from his desire to end the injustice he saw the Templars inflict upon the people. He saw that she was not the ice princess he thought her to be, and that she cared for the people of London from street urchins to the unfortunate women in the streets to those working in the factories for what meager pay they could earn to feed their families. They became friends even though they argued on what tactics to eliminate the Templars.
Then Jacob discovered Elena's history when he allied with Roth and it drove a wedge between them. Jacob still flinched whenever he thought about that time. How he believed her to be a Templar spy despite Green's reassurance that she wasn't. Elena had fought back just as hard, telling him he was taking the word of a cutthroat who eyed him like he was a piece of meat, and warned him that his alliance with Roth would end badly. On that end, she was right.
After he killed Roth and they were preparing to infiltrate Buckingham, he apologized to her and told her that she was right. She then told him about her childhood in the Starrick home, how she always felt frightened by her father's presence, how she watched him drain the life out of her mother, the only person who cared about her before he poisoned her, and the lonely years she had spent struggling to survive on the streets before Henry had found her. In return, Jacob told her about what had happened between him and Roth. The damage they inflicted, the poor children they had nearly killed, the screams and stench of smoke when Jacob had escaped that hellhole called Lambeth, and even his conflicted feelings when he assassinated Roth. Elena had listened to it all without judgement and comforted him the best she could. It was then Jacob realized that he was in love with her. After they killed Starrick and were knighted by the Queen, he discovered that she returned his feelings.
Now, here they were a year later married. They still had the occasional spat in how to run things, and he realized that she was deadlier than any pistol or blade he'd ever handled… and he loved her all the more for it.
However, Jacob had never been so happy to see his twin sister than he was now when she came into the pub with Henry and George.
"Evie! Thank God!" he had exclaimed as the newcomers sat down at their table. He leaned forward and pointed at Elena. "Will you tell Elena that we're not naming your nephew Marco?"
Elena was eight months pregnant with their first child. She should be on bedrest, not in a pub with a bunch of men and women notorious for getting rowdy after drinking too many. She had threatened to pull her blade out the next time somebody suggested.
Elena wrapped an arm around her protruding abdomen. "Why not? It was my uncle's name."
"Marco Frye? Children will make fun of him," Jacob told her.
Elena narrowed her eyes. "My uncle was a well-respected member of the Italian Brotherhood."
"Which is why nobody made fun of him," Jacob pointed out.
Elena sighed. "Fine. How about Serafina after my mother?"
Jacob leaned back in his chair. "I don't know how that will work for a boy."
"It might not be a boy," Elena reminded him.
"I think Serafina is a wonderful name," Evie said as she watched their argument in amusement. "It means 'fiery one' in Hebrew."
Jacob groaned, hoping it wasn't a girl, or he would have his hands full.
George chuckled. "I remember Ethan and Cecily acting the same way when they were expecting you two."
The Frye twins and their spouses perked up and listened to George with interest as he told them all the names their parents had thought about, their reasons and arguments over them with Cecily threatening to castrate Ethan once or twice. It gave Jacob and Elena a few more ideas.
At the end of the night, the Rooks all toasted to the names Jacob and Elena finally decided on: Emmett Jacob Frye and Serafina Evelyn Frye.
000{{*}}000
Amritsar, 1888
Evie felt the humidity of the air mix with the sweat on her skin. Her hair was soaked and her clothes clung to her skin as she sparred with her eldest daughter in their training courtyard of the Mir home with escrima sticks.
Her daughter Maria would be leaving in a few days to join her cousin Emmett and many other Assassin Apprentices on a European tour, learning the different cultures and Assassin methods with Master Assassin Thomas Wyatt leading the tour. Maria was excited and Evie was excited for her. However, she couldn't help but also worry for her. Her daughter had just turned eighteen, and she had only been on a few missions with Evie. Of course, Evie knew she was being ridiculous. She'd heard that it was normal for Assassin parents to worry when their children went out on their own for the first time. Her father had probably felt the same way when she and her brother had begun on their own missions. Besides, Evie herself had only been a couple years older than her daughter when she and her twin went out on their own to free London. Maria would be with her cousin and several apprentices who would watch her back, and a couple of Master Assassins who would make sure she stayed out of trouble.
Maria tried to do a drop kick, but Evie skillfully moved out of the way, returning a kick of her own into the young woman's stomach. She stumbled back, trying to catch her breath.
"Harder," Evie instructed. "You're stronger than this Maria. Again."
She was getting faster, Evie realized.
Her daughter had inherited her teardrop face and fierceness in battle, but she had also inherited her father's dark hair, his chocolate brown eyes, and a lighter tone of his bronze skin that glowed from the sun shining on her. She reminded Evie of a fierce warrior princess from the stories Henry used to tell their daughters when he was still alive.
She caught Maria's arm and pulled it back painfully, causing the young woman to drop her stick. She retaliated by swinging her other arm at her mother to which she released her in order to avoid her blow. They continued the fight until Evie managed to disarm her other arm and put her in a chokehold.
"Yield!"
"Never!" her daughter gasped.
All of a sudden, Evie felt both of her legs kicked out and she lost her balance, falling to the ground with Maria slipping from her grasp. She rolled onto her back with a painful groan, and looked up to glare at the culprit. Or culprits.
Her eight-year-old twins, Cecily "Sissi" and Serafina "Fina" Mir-Green were both grinning so mischievously that could only come from the Frye side of their heritage. Unlike their elder sister who obviously took more from their father's side, the twin girls took more from their mother's with skin only slightly more tan than their mother's fair complexion with freckles grazing atop their noses and cheekbones. Their eyes bordered on being hazel like Evie's brother and father. They even acted every bit as mischievous and wild as Evie and Jacob Frye had been at that age. It gave Evie a whole new respect towards her dear grandmama and father.
"Run!" Sissi screamed.
The three girls took off and Evie was on her feet and chasing after them. They went out of the courtyard and into the house, going down hallways and startling servants. They made it to the kitchen where Evie was forced to dodge pieces of fruit thrown at her until Prisha, their cook chased them out. The chase continued out into the gardens where they went through mazes of different plants Evie's mother-in-law grew. She could faintly hear her children's giggles around her, and had to use her Eagle Vision to find them, but every time she reached out for them, they evaded her grasp. She couldn't find Maria though. Where did she go?
She heard movement behind her and turned just in time to dodge a swing at her, but when she moved backwards she tripped on something, a body. One of the twins had tripped her, Evie realized as she fell on her back. Maria pinned her down, sitting on her chest, and pinning her arms with her knees, she brought a sharp rock to Evie's throat.
"Yield."
She was drenched in sweat and fruit juices, and if Evie was being honest, she felt sore and tired. She nodded her head.
Maria released her and helped her mother back on her feet. Evie saw her twins standing right beside their sister.
She raised an eyebrow. "Did you three plan this?"
The twins exchanged a nervous glance, and Maria shrugged. "Maybe."
Pride filled Evie. "That's my girls."
The three sisters grinned. She put her hands on the twins' shoulders and the Mir-Green women started heading back towards the house.
"Now, you two are going to go back to your lessons with Grandfather," Evie told Sissi and Fina.
The two girls groaned, acting exactly like their uncle in that moment.
Evie turned to Maria. "And you and I are going to take a bath and start packing for your trip."
The young lady smiled with excitement.
Her daughter would be able to handle herself on the tour. Of that Evie was now reassured.
000{{*}}000
Siwa, 49 BCE
Aya groaned as she felt something land in her and Bayek's bed, waking her from a peaceful slumber.
"Your son is awake," she mumbled to Bayek.
Bayek yawned as he too was rudely awakened."Before sunrise, he's your son," he mumbled back.
"Papa!" Khemu whined. "You said you were going to teach me how to use a bow and arrow today." He got off of them and lifted the tarp over their window. "Look!"
Aya lifted herself up and blearily looked to see the sun just peeking over the hills and mountains.
Bayek's groan told Aya he saw it as well. "Alright, I'm up. I'm up."
When Bayek left the bed, Aya knew that she wasn't going to get anymore sleep, so she figured she might as well get an early start on her studies.
As Bayek prepared for his and Khemu's day, Aya pulled out the papyrus papers and scrolls her parents had sent to her from Alexandria. As she began to read, her son approached her.
"What are you reading?" he asked.
"The goddess, Taweret," Aya answered. "In legends she brought the flooding of the Nile when the Eye of Ra became angry with her father and chased her out of Egypt. When she returned, she assumed the appearance of the Hippopotamus and became the goddess of childbearing."
Khemu sat at Aya's feet, listening to her story in awe.
"She brings children to families?" he asked.
Aya smiled. "In a way." There was no way she was going to explain to Khemu how children came into existence.
A thoughtful look came upon Khemu's face. "If I ask, do you think Rabiah would give me an amulet of Taweret?"
"Whatever for?" Aya mused.
"To see if Taweret can give me a baby sister," Khemu explained.
Aya froze as did Bayek who was filling his quiver with arrows. Aya didn't know how to explain it to Khemu. After Khemu had been born, they had been told it would be a long time before Aya could conceive again. Now, Aya was in her thirty-fifth year seven years after Khemu's birth and no more children.
"It's just that you're always so lonely when Papa and I go out on hunts. If Taweret gives me a sister then you won't be alone whenever we go out," Khemu explained.
Aya felt touched by the thought. She had to admit, at times when she was home by herself, she felt lonely after doing the chores. Her studies helped. She had accepted the fact that she couldn't possibly bear children now. She had planned on returning to Alexandria to continue her studies when Khemu came of age, but she knew that she would miss her time in Siwa raising her family with Bayek.
Bayek kneeled beside them, placing on Khemu's shoulder. "You are a good son. Tell you what: if your mother agrees to it, why not have her join us and then on our way back, we'll stop by Rabiah's and see if she has an amulet of Taweret?" he asked Khemu while also directing the question to Aya as well.
"Really? Can you Mama? Please?" Khemu begged.
She had chores to work on after her studies, but it would be nice to join her husband and son on a hunt. Maybe for a little bit. It was also difficult to refuse when they stared at her with their big dark eyes pleadingly. "Alright, just for a few hours."
"Yah!" Khemu cheered as Bayek chuckled.
He pulled out Aya's bow he had helped her make years ago as she put her scrolls away and took the bow.
By the time Aya returned home, it was nearing sunset and she was helping her family carry a large hyena with Khemu examining an amulet of Taweret as they walked. An exhausted but happy smile was on Aya's face.
It would be the time she would spend such a happy time with her family.
000{{*}}000
Happy early Thanksgiving to all of you who are reading this. I hope for all of you to stay safe and healthy with your families. I think we all deserved some happy family moments in Assassin's Creed during this time. Thank you all and again Happy Thanksgiving.