Oh gosh, I never imagined I'd get such good feedback on this! Thank you so much, all of you!
Laura201112, I'm really glad you like it, hope this chapter is up to it! :)
AssassinsGurl2012, Connor will show up but not for a long time yet. He's not born until 1756 and doesn't leave his village for 14 years after that! But don't worry, he'll become an important person later on :)
Kaytee33, Thanks! Glad to know I'm not the only Haytham fan out there :D
Lohce Azcry, Thanks for the feedback. I've corrected the mistake now. It's just that the software I use to write this uses the " symbol instead of the " when I type. Don't know why so I've had to come back and change them.
GracieClaire, Thank you for reviewing! Hope you like this chapter as well!
If I Can Be, As I said above, I've changed the symbols. It's Microsoft Work's fault! x)
Eleanor, Yay, another Eleanor! Be easy for you to put yourself in my Eleanor's place then =P Thanks for the feedback, so glad you like it!
I've finished reading Forsaken... It's horrible. Really really horrible, WHY DID HAYTHAM HAVE TO SUFFER LIKE THAT? It's just made me love him more, poor guy. He just really needs a hug. Anyway, that makes my writing a lot easier now that I have the full picture. A few things will be slightly modified but the over all will be as canon as I can make it. Don't hesitate to ask any questions or point out anything that's horribly wrong. Hope everyone likes it and thanks for reading!
I went straight back to Homestead to talk to Achilles about the new development. On the way I bumped into Khan, a fellow assassin who just got back from an assassination in New York. He was half native, half French so he had dark skin, dark hair and dark eyes. But his personality was the complete opposite of his appearance as he was a warm, happy individual that I had met barely a year after arriving in the New World and who had been my best friend since that day. He had a scar on his right cheek where he was once thrown out of a window by one of his targets but he remained a very good looking man even if I considered him my brother. We caught up on the last three months of our lives and he explained that he had met a beautiful young lady called Cassandra, who he hoped to court and possibly marry.
" But you can't do that, I'll be the only one who isn't married! " I whined, making him laugh.
" Well find yourself a man. " He shrugged. " You're getting old you know. " He teased. I gasped and pushed him, and he pushed me back and we laughed all the way up to Davenport mansion. Achilles was in his office going through paperwork when we caught up with him.
" Kahnawà:ke, it's good to see you. How fares the job? " He asked whilst I pinched an apple from Achilles' desk and took a bite.
" He's dead and his followers are dispersed. They are no longer a threat. " Khan spoke professionally as he always did with Achilles. He was completely different in and out of work, whereas I was always the same no matter where I was or who I was speaking to.
" Good. And you Eleanor? How fares Silas? " He asked me, rolling his eyes when he realised I was eating one of his apples and not my own.
" Dead. But… I didn't kill him. " I frowned, unsure about how to tell him what happened. " I pretended to be a prisoner so that I could infiltrate the Fort but we were attacked on route. "
" By whom? " Achilles seemed very unhappy suddenly, and Khan crossed his arms to listen.
" Haytham Kenway and five of his men. " I said. " They infiltrated the fort, freed all the prisoners and killed Silas. " I shrugged. " I don't know why. "
Achilles turned around, deep in thought so I turned to Khan who shrugged and took his leave. I waited for Achilles to speak to me again but he simply left his office and left me standing like an idiot so I huffed and decided to go home and recuperate my new clothes. Luckily, when I found the correct roof, my bag was still intact and once I got home, I took a bath and put my new clothes on again, this time parting my hair in the middle and twisting both ends so they hang out of my face.
Several months passed after that, during which time nothing much happened. Khan and I hardly had any missions to do so we often ran around Boston together, racing each other and practicing our fighting techniques. Mary got bigger and bigger, now six months pregnant, and was unable to do much of her housework so I helped more and more, having nothing better to do with myself. The weather started changing, the wind getting colder as we neared the end of the year and I always kept an eye out for master Kenway and his friend Lee. I often saw Lee scan the streets of Boston but he never looked at me twice. I wondered if he knew who I was, if Kenway had told him about me, but when he once excused himself after having brushed passed me rather forcefully, I decided that Kenway had kept quiet. Why though? I discussed this with Khan and he could find no explanation either.
So one day I decided that I'd talk to Achilles about it again. He disliked talking about it for some reason, as the last few years he and I had grown rather distant for some reason. When I arrived, I wasn't greeted by Connor playing in the garden like he always did. I dismissed the occurrence but I couldn't help but feel as if something was wrong. I felt worse when no one answered the door so I went in anyway, calling out to Achilles. " Upstairs! " He called, and I went up to join him. I found him in his bedroom, sitting on his bed while his wife slept in bed. He put a finger to his lips and waved for us to speak out on the landing.
" Abigail and Connor have fallen ill. " He whispered. He hadn't shaved nor washed, and his eyes no longer shone with happiness like they usually did.
" What do they have? " I asked quietly, not wanting to upset my mentor.
" Typhoid fever. " He sighed solemnly. I swallowed, knowing what that meant. Hardly anyone survived the illness, and I couldn't help but wrap my arms around the man and hug him.
" I'm sorry. " I whispered, feeling him hug me back. " I wish I could do something to help. "
" We can only hope. " He sniffed, pulling away from me. " Is there a reason for your visit? "
I shook my head. " It's of no importance. Is there anything I can do for you? " I queried, deciding that his family was more important than my silly questions, but Achilles only shook his head and went back to his wife. I popped my head in little Connor's bedroom and found him scratching his arms vividly, a frown ruining his beautiful face.
" Don't scratch sweetie, it makes it worse. " I murmured as I went to sit next to him. He stopped and smiled at me as I brushed his hair back with my fingers. " How are you feeling? "
Connor frowned again. " Horrible " he croaked. I noticed how bad the rash on his neck and arms were and felt horrible myself. He was a sweet little boy and I felt very protective of him. It broke my heart to see him in this state and I couldn't bare to think about how much time he had left.
It turned out that he only had three weeks left. Achilles buried Abigail and Connor at the bottom of his garden, Connor's favourite place, and then locked himself up, refusing to speak to anyone. I grieved silently, not letting anyone close to me after that. Khan announced his marriage for early January and I couldn't bring myself to care. Instead, I threw myself into more and more boxing matches, betting all of my money and risking loosing everything I had. On several occasions I found myself crawling back to Edmund and Mary's house, bruised and broken with a huge sack of gold in my hands. They scolded me for my behaviour but I couldn't bring myself to care. I could only picture little Connor playing in the garden without a care in the world, his bright brown eyes shining with adventure and laughter when I tickled him to the ground.
On one such night after a boxing match, I was teetering through the streets of Boston with my sack of money pressed against my chest. I could barely walk and my vision was blurred, and so it came to no surprise when some thugs decided that steeling my money was a good idea. For what it's worth, if I had been in their position I would have probably done the same. But stubborn as I am, I didn't let my money go and tried to put up a fight but they had me on the ground and kicked my sides. I cried out in pain, knowing at least two of my ribs had broken. I had made up my mind that I was going to die, and breathed in deep awaiting whatever it was that came after death. As the pain eased I opened my eyes, wondering where I would be. But instead I was greeted with the same wet, dark and smelly backstreet of Boston full of thugs. But there was also a tall man wearing a cape and a fancy hat, swinging his sword around as he ended the lives of the ones who nearly ended mine.
The man put his sword away and bent down to look at me. His grey blue eyes shone in the moonlight as he extended a hand to me, offering to pull me up off the ground. Haytham Kenway. I frowned, and then started laughing for reasons unknown to me.
" What's so funny? " He questioned, pulling his hand back and crossing his arms.
" Grand Master Kenway. " I mocked, pushing myself off the ground to slump against the wall, clutching my side as it hurt like hell. " Why are you saving me yet again? "
I saw his chest rise and fall heavily, his features hidden in shadows underneath his hat. " If I'd have known it was you I was saving, I wouldn't have bothered. " He stated. " May I ask what on earth got you into this position? "
" Boxing. " I cheered, lifting a fist into the air. " It was fun. " I grinned sarcastically.
Kenway scoffed and picked up my money from the puddle it had fallen into. " Well you've certainly earned enough money to see you through the spring. " He marvelled. " I would be impressed if you hadn't needed saving just now. "
I stuck my tongue out at him and waved my arms at him. " Well pull me up then. " I nagged and he immediately helped me up. I could just about stand on my own and he raised an eyebrow as I snatched my bag of money off him and stuffed it in my coat pocket. " Mine. " I sneered.
" I don't need your money, I have more than enough as it is. " He replied. He watched me as I tried to walk away and caught me as I started to fall not two feet away from him. " You're not going to get anywhere in this state, not on your own. " He pointed out uncaringly.
" Shut up. " I snarled, pushing myself away from him again. " I'm perfectly capable on my own. " I was trying to reassure myself more than him, but it didn't work. Before I could even attempt to walk away, Kenway picked me up and started carrying me. " What do you think your doing? " I cried out, kicking my legs in the air and trying to make him drop me.
" Taking you to a doctor. Now stop flailing and obey. " He ordered rather dryly. I ceased moving immediately and crossed my arms as he carried me through the empty streets in silence. After about ten minutes I had had enough of listening to him breathe so chose to start a conversation.
" Why am I still alive? " I asked.
" Because I saved you. " He stated as if it was obvious. Well it was but still.
" Why did you save me? " I continued, annoyed that he had saved me and curious as to why he had done so.
" I've already told you, I thought you were an innocent bystander. Are your silly questions going to on for long? " He complained.
I smirked, glad that I was annoying him. " As long as I want them to. " Kenway groaned and I grinned even more. " But your still saving me now, yet you know who I am. " I pointed out.
" It's my good deed of the year. " He proclaimed uncaringly. " Now it's your turn to answer questions. Why do you spend half your life boxing? "
" I need the money. How do you know I do it a lot? " I explained, looking up into his eyes.
" Can't you just get a job? " He continued, ignoring my question.
" I don't want a job, jobs are boring. " I complained. " Are we nearly there yet? "
" Ah, to be young and impatient. " He mocked me.
" I'm not young. " I protested. That was the second time he had called me that.
" Then how old are you, young one? " He smirked as he looked down at me.
" Twenty six. " I grimaced. " How old are you then, fifty? "
" Twenty nine. " He said simply. " You look and act about eighteen. " He added, looking me up and down. " Maybe you should grow up. "
" Maybe you should shut your mouth! " I cried, offended by his words. This made him laugh and our conversation came to and end when he opened a door and went inside a building that looked just like any other. I covered my eyes with my hands as the harsh candle light nearly blinded me after the darkened streets and I felt Kenway lay me on a hard surface.
" Haytham, good evening. Who might this be? " It was an old man's voice, and I blinked as my vision adjusted to the light. He was bent over, obviously because of back problems, and he was wearing his nightgown. He had short white hair and glasses that he peered over as he looked at me.
" This is Eleanor. She's just come out of a boxing match and then beaten up on the streets. " Kenway explained as he inspected bottles on the shelf behind the Doctor's desk.
" Well, well, a busy lady then. " The Doctor smiled reassuringly to me. " My name is James Smith, I'll take good care of you Eleanor. What a beautiful name by the way, my mother was called Eleanor. " The old man mused as he inspected the cuts and bruises on my face. " She was a stern lady, very proper. Would have disowned you if you had been her daughter. " He smiled as he picked up a basin of water from his desk.
" Mine probably would as well, if she was still alive. " I answered politely as I scratched the back of my head.
" When did she die, if I may ask? " James was now cleaning my face with a cloth, and I grimaced as it stung the cuts on my eyebrow and lip.
" Years ago, when I was eleven. " I explained, stifling a yawn.
" Your father brought you to America then? " James continued to make small talk. Usually I hated talking about myself to people, but something about the old man put me at ease.
" No, he died as well. So did my brother. I came to America on my own. I stowed away on a ship, no one noticed during the whole trip. I was quite proud actually. " I grinned, and Kenway scoffed from the other side of the room.
" Always the trouble maker then. " He added, coming to stand next to James. Again, I stuck my tongue out at him and he rolled his eyes. " How much do these cost? " He asked, showing a few bottles to James.
" Five pound for that one, three for the other. " James waved his hand. " Now go away, I need to tend to her ribs. Young Eleanor needs privacy. "
Kenway smirked at me, an evil look in his eyes. " I'm not going anywhere, I don't trust this woman. " He proceeded to pull the chair out from behind his desk and sit down, his arms leaning on the table as he watched me intensely.
" Don't you dare watch! " I protested, outraged at the man. I didn't want him to see me half naked! Who knows what sort of man he was, he was a Templar, he was the enemy.
James sighed heavily as he fetched some bandages and shrugged. " I'm sorry Eleanor, once Haytham has an idea in his head there is no point in trying to dissuade him. " He apologised.
" A bit like you. " Kenway added, smiling at me.
I bit my lip to stop myself from shouting out profanities at him and let James pull my shirt up to reveal my bruised ribs. He worked in silence as he bandaged me very tightly and the only sound that was heard was when I moaned in pain from time to time. Kenway didn't watch, simply fiddled with some papers he had in his pocket, for which I was thankful. Once James had finished, he pulled my shirt down again and stood up. " There, you'll have to leave the bandages on for six weeks. Come back to me when they need changing and hopefully you'll heal quickly. They're not actually broken, just cracked and badly weakened. So no more fighting, no running and no lifting any heavy weights. " He warned me, waving his finger at me.
" Thank you James. For everything. " I smiled to the man as I stood. Kenway took this opportunity to come to my side and inspect me.
" Yes you look less like a corpse now. " He nodded. " Thank you James, I bid you goodnight. " He bowed to the old man.
" Goodnight, and take care! " The Doctor warned as we exited his establishment.
The moon was high in the sky when we got back onto the streets. Kenway grabbed my arm and started pulling me after him, hurting my ribs. " Hey, watch it! That hurts! " I cried, releasing my arm from his grip.
Kenway looked surprised and muttered something inaudible before clearing his throat. " Follow me. " He groaned.
" No, I'm going home. " I retorted, not moving.
" That's where I'm taking you. " He snapped. " Good lord you are infuriating! "
I started laughing, fed up of him criticising me when I had never once asked for his help. " You're the one who's decided that you can't leave me. " I reminded him. " You can just go you know, I'm a grown woman. "
" Yes, you were the day you crossed the Atlantic ocean all on your own. " He mimicked me appallingly and sighed. " Why did you leave England? " He questioned me, his voice suddenly calm again.
" I… " I started, and then hesitated. It was none of his business but then again, I couldn't help myself as everything came out. " When my family died, I lived on the streets. Do you know how hard life is for an orphan in London? It was horrible, there was hardly any food, everything was dirty and miserable and I would have preferred to have died as well. And with all the talk of the New World I couldn't help but think I would have a better life here. " I explained as I started to walk home, Kenway walking beside me.
" And did it work out for you? " His voice was softer than I had heard it before, which I appreciated. I didn't want to be criticised when I talked about my life. It was bad enough as it was.
" Look at me Kenway. I nearly died tonight. I'm living in an abandoned house, earning my money by fighting for my life or stealing from the rich. I have no family, hardly any friends and the only person who cared for me tonight is my number one enemy. " I snorted. " A New World but not a New Life. Same old shit. " I spat, looking up at the stars in the sky in sadness.
We walked in silence for a long while and I was sure he thought I was an idiot. For some reason, it bothered me what he thought about me. I suppose the kindness he had showed me tonight softened my opinion of him and it hadn't crossed my mind once that I should kill him. I wanted him to speak, I wanted to know what was going on in his head, and it wasn't until we arrived at my 'home' that I got what I wanted.
" Haytham. " He said. " You can call me Haytham. Do you need help getting inside? " He proposed, waving at the half broken door that was jammed in the lock. When I nodded, he forced the door open with a push of his shoulder and the door broke and fell open.
" Thank you. " I whispered as he came back outside and looked down at me. " For saving me, and healing me and walking me home, and even opening my door. " I smiled, half laughing at how incapable I had been that night. " Thank you Haytham. " I repeated, looking up into his eyes.
" Goodnight Eleanor. " He muttered, before turning around and leaving hastily. I watched him disappear around a corner before making my way up the stairs into the only habitable room of the house. I opened the curtains slightly to let some moonlight into the room and then crawled into bed, still holding my money to my chest. With everything I had won, it was time I did something with my life. Talking to Haytham made me realise just how bad things were and I knew I couldn't live like this much longer. It would kill me.
I spent the next week hobbling around town talking to various architects about what I could possibly do to my house, first by making it structurally safe, then moving the walls around and redecorating. I also spoke to someone about actually buying it so that I legally owned it and was due to give the money on the 9th February, a few days later. I was still in pain but I kept myself busy and already felt better in myself. I went to dinner with Mary and Edmund nearly every night as Mary was about to explode. She was getting ever more bossy and rude, her moods going up and down without neither me nor Edmund understanding why.
" EDMUND! " She screamed one evening after supposedly having gone to bed.
Edmund ran into their bedroom and I stayed behind, not wanting to interrupt a possibly private moment. We had just finished eating so I gathered the plates up ready to wash them when Mary shouted my name. I rushed over to see what was wrong and found Mary lying in bed with her legs apart, a puddle in the middle of the bed as Edmund had panicked, wide-eyes.
" It's coming Eleanor, go get a Doctor, quick! " He said whilst ushering me out of the door.
I hesitated a moment, trying to grip what was happening and then rushed out of the house and ran through the streets heading for the only doctor I knew - James Smith. Running hurt my bruises ribs to no end but I pushed through the pain and pushed past the people in the street until I arrived at his door which I flung open, nearly falling down as I entered the man's establishment.
" Good lord, what is going on? Oh, Eleanor, you shouldn't be running with your - " He started, standing up from behind his desk where he had been reading.
" Mary… baby… Coming… " I huffed, out of breath and panting.
" Who's Mary? " James asked. " I don't understand. Take a deep breath. " He advised.
" No time. She's having a baby. We need you, now! " I pressed, my voice rising. " Come on! "
James suddenly realised what I was talking about and rushed into a back room before emerging a few seconds later with a small bag. " Come, show me the way! "
We ran back to Mary and Edmund's house, though at a slower pace than when I was going the other way as James was an old man and not very agile. When we burst through the front door, Mary was screaming in the bedroom and I could just about hear Edmund trying to calm her. I went to follow James but he told me to stay outside and look after Edmund whilst he delivered the baby.
It was a long three hours until James finally emerged from the bedroom. I offered Edmund something to drink, a game of chess or anything that would stop him pacing back and forth in the living room, but he ignored everything I said and bit his lip every time Mary's screams grew louder. Eventually her screams stopped and James emerged from the room, sweaty and looking exhausted, but a large smile on his face. " You have a daughter. " He announced to an anxious Edmund.
Edmund nearly ran into the room to join his wife and new born baby and I made my way over to James who set his bag onto the table and went to wash the blood off his hands in the basin of water that was going to be for the dishes. " Thank you James. " I smiled to him. " I don't know what we'd have done without you. "
" Healed faster I suspect. " He joked as he looked over the bandages that had half fallen off my body after the running. " Come here, I'll change them for you. "
Soft voices could be heard from the bedroom as James changed my bandages and I looked out the window at the starry night sky and decided that I certainly never wanted children if it meant going through three hours of horrendous pain. I then paid James for his service and waved goodbye as he left. I knocked softly on the door and Mary muttered a small 'come in' and, as I opened the wooden door, a large smile appeared on my face. Mary looked exhausted but ecstatically happy as she watched her short, blonde haired husband cuddle their daughter. " We've named her Nora, after you of course. " Mary smiled up at me from her bed.
" You shouldn't have! " I exclaimed, grinning. " Thank you! "
Edmund let me hold little Nora, the sweetest little baby I had ever seen. I smiled down at her as she sucked on her tiny little thumb and then gave her back to Mary. " I'll be on my way now, if everything's alright with you. " I said the Edmund who looked on in amazement at his family.
" Of course. Thank you for your help. " He said, hugging me.
I walked back home feeling light hearted and happy until I accidentally bumped in to someone. I turned to apologise and came face to face with Charles Lee and my smile immediately disappeared. He was about my height, with a bushy brown moustache and a billowing brown coat. He scowled at me menacingly, angry that I had even dared brush passed him.
" Sorry. " I stammered, taking a step back from him.
" Sorry doesn't cut it you vile assassin. " He spat at me, smirking when my eyes went wide. " How do I know you're an assassin you may ask? Haytham may be keeping his mouth shut about it, but Benjamin Church isn't. He's told me all about you. " He warned me, coming towards me.
" Back off Templar and I'll resist slitting your throat. " I hissed, backing away some more whilst assuming my usual battle stance, slightly bent forward and keeping my hands ready to draw my sword, my feet ready to pounce.
Lee laughed, mocking me. " Stupid girl. " He shook his head. " You can't best me. "
" Want to bet on it? " I grimaced.
" Enough. " Haytham suddenly appeared out of the darkness from the backstreet to my right. He looked tired and short tempered, but I was relieved to see him. Hopefully he'd save me like he always seemed to do.
" But sir, she's the assassin. " Charles insisted, turning to his master.
" Well done Charles. If you want to kill her, then do so quickly. After all, she's only a frail injured girl, so if beating her makes you feel better, go on. " Haytham sounded very bored tonight as he looked up at the bright stars in the sky. Charles frowned at his words and looked back at me.
" Get lost then girl. You won't be so lucky next time. " He scowled.
" Good, I'll have the satisfaction of feeding you your balls. " I winked at him before walking off, leaving him fuming mad as Haytham walked in the opposite direction to me. I laughed to myself as I went home and wondered what they were up to as I fell asleep.