Chapter 16

Passing

When we returned, everyone greeted us warmly. We went to the manor and found Achilles in a chair.

"Old man."

He wasn't moving and my started to widen. Ratonhnhake:ton shook him gently.

"Achilles."

His hat fell to the floor and I slowly raised my hand to my mouth. Ratonhnhake:ton took the paper in his hand and read it. I went to Achilles and tears filled my eyes. Ratonhnhake:ton pulled me to his chest and I cried. Achilles was gone. I pulled back and looked at him one last time.

"We must see Father Timothy." He said gently.

I nodded and went with him. We made our way to the church and I held back my tears. Ratonhnhake:ton kept a tight hold on my hand. We approached Father Timothy and he looked at us. At first he smiled, but then he saw our faces.

"What is it?"

I looked at my husband.

"Achilles has passed."

The horror and pain that came to Father's face caused more tears to stain my cheeks.

"I am so sorry."

Ratonhnhake:ton put his arm around me.

"He passed peacefully and with dignity."

He put a hand on Ratonhnhake:ton's arm.

"A service then?"

I looked at him.

"Yes. Please prepare something…appropriate. I will see the grave is dug. Can you gather everyone?"

He nodded and we left. We went back to the manor and I looked at the letter.

"You can't read, can you?"

I shook my head sadly and he read it to me.

"Connor, if you are reading this, I have failed to say goodbye as I wanted, but the time never seemed appropriate. I leave this land and all it's resources to you and your wife, Sisika. I trust you now know this place has become something of great significance. A community to serve as an example of what this would-be nation could become. But the larger and stronger it grows, the more fragile and difficult to defend it becomes. I hope your friends who are birthing this infant country understand this truth. Your unwavering tenacity and honesty have burdened you with responsibility far greater than any one man should bear. This is why I am relieved to know that Sisika will always stand by you. And you two, if anyone, are capable. You have given an old man hope that all is not lost and for that I thank you. I ask that you lay my bones to rest on the hill overlooking the water, there is no other place on this earth I'd rather be. I am grateful to have met you, knowing you will guide this land and these people to a better future. Yours in brotherhood, Achilles." he read.

Silent tears fell and I nodded.

"I wish I could have talked with him more." I whispered.

"I know. I do as well."

It started to rain and I watched Ratonhnhake:ton dig the grave. Soon everyone had gathered and we stood outside around the grave. I stayed in Ratonhnhake:ton's arms.

"Prayer and sermon do not suit this occasion. Achilles was not a man of God. Not my God, at any rate. But certainly believed in a guiding force, and he is at peace now and for that we can be grateful. We lay him to rest here, atop the bluff where he made his honorable and dignified life, so he can remain that comforting presence- the old man on the hill- that we have all grown to depend on. You all had your own relationships with him, your own moments and I implore you to return here when the time is right for you and share those stories with the eaves and trees. Achilles. You will be missed but certainly not forgotten. Go safely, old man, safely to where your soul need rest."

They all put roses in the grave. After they left I lingered with Ratonhnhake:ton. He placed a feather in the grave.

"I will make you proud, old man."

I knelt down and placed a rose. This rose was tied with a beaded ornament I had made.

"Until next we meet Achilles." I said quietly.

I stood up and walked back to the manor. We ate in silence and then I went to our room. I stood at the window, watching the ran and lightening. It flashed across the sky and made a loud booming noise but it did not phase me.

Connor's POV

I stood in the doorway as my wife stared out the window. I didn't know what to say to her. I decided to try something else. I went over and simply put my arms around her. She leaned into me and I closed my eyes. The scent of her hair filled my senses and I took a deep breath.

"Monmouth will be alright for a few days. And Charles Lee won't be going anywhere. You come first." I said.

"Thank you."

He voice sounded empty. I knew she'd been closer to the old man than I was. She saw him like a father. In a way, he was to me as well. I slowly turned her towards me and found that tears were still rolling down her cheeks. I shook my head and wiped them away. She smiled sadly and hid her face in my chest.

"He is with his family now. One day we will join him there, and I will bother him once again."

She laughed a bit and that made me smile. She looked up and into my eyes. She put her hand on my cheek and I put my hand over it. I kissed her palm and we sat down in front of the fire. She laid her head on my shoulder and I kept my arms around her.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Ratonhnhake:ton." she said quietly.

I kissed the top of her head and then her shoulder.

"You won't have to know." I told her.

Sisika's POV

I started to think about all things we had been through together. Pitcairn, Hickey and his imprisonment. Church and now Achilles' death. Though we still had two more Templars to kill, I knew we would do it together. I moved so I could look into his eyes.

"I will help you get Charles Lee. No matter what I have to do, I will help you find him." I promised.

He ran his fingers through my hair and smiled softly.

"You are the most special and most important thing in my life. You need to know that."

I smiled.

"I have always known that. Ratonhnhake:ton I can always see it in your eyes, how much you love me. I know it through your actions and your emotions. And I love you more than anything." I told him.

He ran his fingers through my hair once more and kissed me. He leaned back and I fell on top of him. My hair fell to the side and I looked into his eyes. I slowly and lightly traced my finger over his lips and then down to his chest. He sat up, picked me, carried me to the bed and laid me down gently. He slowly took off his coat and shirt. I reached my hand out and ran it all along his chest and abdomen. He stopped my hand and held it as he moved on top of me. He gently pulled my shirt over my head and looked at me. I pushed him back and moved so I was close to his lips and between his legs. He held himself up on his forearms and I slammed my lips to his. His tongue immediately entered my mouth and he moaned. His warm hand wandered down my back until he squeezed my backside. I smiled into the kiss and straddled him. I slowly started to run against him and he sucked in a breath. He grabbed my hips and I moved a little harder. He bucked his hips and I smiled slightly. I twined his fingers with mine and leaned down to kiss his lips.

Connor's POV

Before I'd met her, I never imagined anything like this. Her soft, warm, smooth skin against mine. The taste of her lips and her silky hair. She was everything I was not, my other half. And I loved her so much, words could never express my love for her. Her tongue stroked mine and I moaned into her mouth. She moved down to my neck and I close my eyes and tilted my head.

"Oh Sisika…"

She bit down softly and I breathed heavily. My chest was rising and falling rapidly as she licked over the bite. Her breasts rubbed against my chest and I put my hand between her shoulder blades. I pushed her closer to me and I felt her hand in my hair. I moved my hand to the back of her neck and the other to her breast. She pulled me up and I wrapped my arms around her waist. I looked into her eyes before kissing her shoulder and then laying her back. I kissed down her throat and across her chest. I gently squeezed her breast before taking her nipple in my mouth. She arched her body and I wrapped my around her waist to hold her there. I could feel myself getting harder. Her soft fingers traced over one of my scars and I shivered.

"Does it bother you?"

"No."

Her skilled fingers had my belt off in seconds. My pants hung low on my hips. She brushed her hand against me and my breath hitched. I let her go and then pulled her pants off and undergarments off. The firelight illuminated her beautiful body and I just looked at her for a moment.

"I could never tell you how beautiful you are." I whispered.

She smiled softly and I could see the soft blush on her cheeks. I removed the last bit of clothing from my body and she spread her legs for me. The feeling of sliding into her was incredible. I closed my eyes and moaned softly as I did so and she moaned my name.

"Ratonhnhake:ton…"

She was the only one who called me by my given name. She reached down and stroked me as I pulled out. I shivered with pleasure and pinned her hands above her. I kissed the side of her breast and then stroked the underside of it.

"Ratonhnhake:ton, do not tease me! I need you!"

I leaned closer to her ear.

"And you have me. All of me." I whispered.

I moved inside her and she stared directly into my eyes. Her hands wandered my body slowly and softly. I started to thrust harder, but she never looked away from me. I could see the pleasure, desire, lust and love in her eyes. Her lips parted slightly and I dropped my lips to hers. She kissed me hungrily and passionately. I could only respond in kind. I pressed her into the bed and went faster. I put my hand on either side of her head and her hands rested on my back. She moved them up to my shoulders and held onto me as I slammed myself into her over and over again.

"Sisika!"

She cried my name and I gripped her thigh and moved her so I could go deeper.

"Ratonhnhake:ton! I-I…."

"I know."

She moaned loudly and I went faster. I looked at her and she opened her eyes. I knew she was staring into my very soul. I buried my face in her shoulder and shouted her name as I came deep within her. Her essence mixing with mine. I gently kissed her shoulder, neck and then lips. I fell onto my back beside her. She lifted herself up and leaned on her elbow.

Sisika's POV

His chest was rising and falling rapidly and there was a fine sheen of sweat over us. His eyes were closed though I knew he did not sleep. I put my hand over his heart and felt the strong beat beneath my fingers. His hand covered mine, keeping it where it was. The only light was the light of the fire. The only sounds were our breathing and the thunder outside. I took a deep breath and moved closer to him. He immediately wrapped his arm around my waist and held me tight against him. My hand remained over his heart as I slowly drifted off to sleep.