Henry watched his sister walk up the stairs slowly, as though weighed down heavily by an invisible weight.

"Your sister looks exhausted." Cordelia stated softly as soon as they heard the door to Margaret's guest room close.

"She's carrying the weight of the world on her shoulder."

"All those who travel down the Assassin pathway become an Atlas in their own right, Henry. There is so much that we hold inside of us, so many secrets we are told to hold, that when we look around at the people who are unaware of what is being done in the shadows of their world, the weight is felt more." Cordelia took a deep breath through her nose before expelling it slowly. "That is why I left the Brotherhood. Some are meant to bear the burden. But I….I was not that person."

Henry was silent before asking, "Is that why you never married?"

Cordelia smiled softly. "Part of the reason. The other is that my Father would chase off any suitors that came calling my way with his pistol."

The three of them cracked smiles, and Henry even chuckled a bit at that. Cordelia turned a bit more serious after that, her steel grey eyes hardening as though remembering something dreadful from the unspoken past.

"My Father didn't see things the same way as the Assassin Council saw them. Often times, and more often then not, they would butt heads on a lot of issues. Most of the issues being bringing the Brotherhood and the war to light. To make it known to the world that behind the scenes the Templars still thrived and had the desire to rule the world. Your father and I, we were ashamed of him. Saw him as a maverick, along with the rest of the Assassins. But after he had passed, I saw how right he really was. But there was no way I was going to change the minds of those who were as stuck in tradition within my lifetime. So, I left while your Father stayed to carry on the tradition of our family."

Henry wasn't sure how he felt after that brief explanation of his family's history, but it did give him something to think about. He knew that his grandfather had left his family a harsh legacy to contend with but never knew why. None of the older Assassins wanted to tell him.

"You'll have to pardon the question, dear nephew, but….is this the first time that Margaret has shown, not hatred, but disillusion with the Brotherhood?"

Henry racked his brain, trying to think of any times when Margaret said something, or did something that set off alarm bells in his mind.

"When she got the summons to meet me at the Battle of Antietam, Margaret wrote directly to me and pleaded that I write to the Mentor to get her exempt from duty. Margaret has always been so dutiful."

"She has a family to consider. Children, a husband that has currently fighting his fellow countrymen. Not to mention that…..vulturous woman that is her mother-in-law." Cordelia took a sip. Henry did the same, only to wince upon finding that his drink had turned bitter and cold. Miriam smiled at him as she stood and made her way towards the kitchen with all the dirty dishes.

"We should all follow Margaret's example and retire, I believe. A long day lies ahead of us, and it's better faced with a good night's rest."

Henry nodded, seeing how tired his aging aunt was. "I agree."

"Tomorrow, we shall see which way destiny takes us." Cordelia stood and Henry rose with her. "Henry, I wish you a good night and I shall see you in the morning. Should we leave the house at around, say about eleven?"

Henry became seriously confused. "Eleven? For what?"

"Christmas shopping, of course. No matter what your sister says, I'm going to spoil my grandnephew and nieces rotten. And you are going to assist me with this."

"Don't worry," He assured her, with a mischievous smile of his own. "This is the only thing I'm comfortable aiding and abetting."