A huge thank you to everyone who are following this story and those who have added it to their favorites. It brings a huge smile to my face!
GracieClaire: Thank you, hope you like this chapter as well! :)
DR34M3R: Aww thank you so much! I was worried this might end up the same as everything else, so I'm trying my hardest to keep it all away from that.
Kaytee33: I just love Haytham's sarcasm, it's the best thing about him x)
Deception is Decepticon: How can I not realize how brilliant Haytham is? I only started AC3 over christmas and I was instantly awed by him. I loved him so much that I was annoyed when I had to switch and play as Connor x) I want a whole game where I can play as Haytham!

I've been playing around with this thing called RPG Heroine Creator by DollDivine and I've made Eleanor's outfit which I've posted on my tumblr in case anyone wants to see :) My tumblr name is dream-countess and the post is "post/42096482423/eleanor-van-etten" (I hate that we can't post links on here )

Hope you like this chapter and please review :)

Six weeks later, I was finally able to take those dreadful, itchy bandages off. The renovations on my house were underway so I was staying at an inn for a while. I bought a deep red sleeveless waistcoat and I was now looking rather good if I did say so myself, but my money was running short again. I'd be able to finish renovating my house but after that, I wouldn't have much left. I tried thinking about what I could do to get some money, and tried helping people about by delivering letters for them and doing shopping for old people, but it didn't pay much at all.

Little Nora was a handful and Mary often needed me to baby sit whilst she did the housework. If truth be told, I think Mary just wanted to do something other than be a mother from time to time because a baby was a lot of work, thus further deepening my wish to never have children. Don't get me wrong, I loved Nora to bits, but she was far too much work and tired me out in only a few hours. I don't know how mothers cope with their children, much less when they have several. Imagine that! When I could, I escaped from Boston and took long walks in the Frontier.

One day, I decided to pay Achilles a visit. We hadn't spoken in over a month because he constantly refused to speak to anyone, preferring to mourn his family in peace. Nora's birth helped me get over Connor's death, but it wasn't so easy for Achilles. Luckily, he opened his door for me that day, and we spent a few hours just talking as we sat by the fire, reminiscing about his deceased family. I felt bad for having left him alone, but he bore no grudge and was happy to see me.

" My dear Eleanor " he sighed, " I think it's time we doubled our effort against Templar rule. They are slowly taking control over every city, gathering more supporters by the day. " I nodded, waiting for him to continue. " There are only eight of you left now, so I'm afraid you are going to have to take bigger contracts than usual. "

" That is no problem. " I smirked, eager at the prospect of sinking my blade into Templar flesh. " Just tell me what to do and I shall do it. "

My contract was Victor Wolcott, a British doctor who worked for the Templars and who killed people so that he could dissect their bodies in order acquire more knowledge and power. My first job was to locate him so I went around Boston investigating every doctor's establishment I could find with the excuse of needing bandages or ointment. Eventually I found him in the north district in one of the richest and most lavishly decorated shops I had laid eyes on. Victor was intimidating, dressed all in black with a top hat, black glasses and a large beard covering most of his face so that only his nose and cheeks were visible. He also had a deep husky voice devoid of emotion as he sold me some herbs and I left the shop feeling a little nervous. He was the first independent killer I would have to assassinate, all the others had been bosses that hid behind their guards and who weren't all that good at hand to hand combat. But this man was different. He operated independently and was obviously very fit. Achilles had warned me about him as he was sleek and cunning and you never saw him coming until it was too late. So I needed him to be in the dark about my attempt on his life until the very last moment otherwise I would probably be killed.

So I spent the next few days watching him, dressed in various different clothing that I had acquired, varying from poor people's clothes, rich noble dresses, military uniforms and beggars. He spent his days at his workshop either dealing with the public or cutting up corpses. When night fell he prowled the streets for a victim which he led into an alleyway and cleanly slit their throat to limit physical damage. Every few days he visited the Green Dragon Tavern but I never dared follow him inside as I often saw Charles Lee or Haytham Kenway enter or exit the building. As both of them knew me, I risked exposing my mission if either of them saw me. After a week's worth of spying, I formulated my plan. I was to sneak into the upstairs room of his workshop during the day and wait until nightfall when he would go up to fetch his coat and use the dark and surprise to destabilise him and strike him down. I readied myself at midday, dressing in a long black cape with a large hood that hid my face in shadows. I covered myself in knifes and cleaned my hidden wrist blade. I attached my belt around my waist, complete with the brand new buckle decorated with the Assassin seal and jumped out of my window. I kept to the rooftops as I made my way to the north district and arrived a little while later at Victor Wolcott's establishment. I pushed open the window to the upstairs room and quietly slid inside. The sky was turning pink already so I would not have long to wait.

I was in a very small, square room and the door opened directly onto the top of the stairs. Inside was a large coat hanger, a bathtub and a tall wooden dressing screen which I hid behind. From there, I could hear voices coming from downstairs, coming and going until eventually it died down. Soon after, I could hear footsteps coming up the stairs, slow, heavy footsteps and I readied myself to the attack. I would wait until he was in the process of putting his coat on so that he would be in an impractical position, rendering defence a difficult task. Sure enough, the footsteps directed themselves over to the window and I could see the doctor pull the curtains at the window, making the room very dark except for the light shining through the door from downstairs. I smiled to myself, thinking this was far too easy and listened to his footsteps as he picked up his coat. I crept out from behind the screen and extended my hidden blade and I watched him from behind. Just as I was about to strike he turned around and kicked me in the knees, causing me to loose my balance and let out a small yelp of surprise. He acted quickly and took out a large butcher's knife from his pocket and slashed at me in the dark, but I was quick and managed to duck, sinking my blade into his thigh. Victor fell, growling like a rabid dog as he continued to slash at me from his kneeling position of the floor. I kicked his blade out of his hand and positioned myself behind him, grabbing his hair in my left hand to pull his head back.

" You have killed your last victim, templar. " I growled as I held my hidden blade across his neck, ready to slice it open the same way he sliced his victim's necks.

The man laughed darkly in response and I heard footsteps coming up the stairs. Panic rose inside of me as I looked for who it was and saw a familiar hat appear. I lost no time and ended Victor Wolcott's life at the same time as Haytham appeared at the top of the stairs, his hands behind his back as he inspected the scene, completely relaxed as he looked at the bloody man at my feet in the darkened room. I froze, unsure of what was to happen. Should I pounce on him and end his life? Or should I flee through the window? Unsure of myself I ended up doing neither and just stood there, staring at the man who had three times saved my life.

" Eleanor. " He greeted me, coming into the room to look at his fallen ally.

" Haytham. " I answered, taking a step away from him.

He did not feel threatened by me at all as he came towards me and took hold of Victor's hand to remove the ring from his middle finger, cleaning the blood off it and slipping it into his pocket. " I didn't expect you to be able to carry out something this big. Victor was a hard man to surprise. " He commented as he stood up again.

" I told you I'm good. " I retorted as I watched him wearily, still holding my blade in my hand, expecting him to attack me at any moment.

" It seems I had mistaken you for an incompetent whore. I apologise. " He nodded in my direction and turned to leave.

" Excuse me? " I cried out, anger rising inside of me. " I am far from incompetent and I have never been a whore! How dare you! " I shouted at him.

He chuckled and continued down the stairs, ignoring me. I couldn't believe it, who did he think he was? Out of stubbornness I followed him and grabbed hold of his arm before he could make it to the door, making him face me. " Just because you're a rich Londoner Templar master doesn't mean everyone else is beneath you. Especially not me. " I warned him. " Never underestimate me again or it'll be the last thing you ever do. "

Haytham merely smirked. " I give you my word, Eleanor. " He sounded honourable, as if he was speaking to a friend he was promising to help. His attitude infuriated me, I wanted a reaction from him rather than the usual I-don't-care attitude he always seemed to bear. " Am I bothering you? " He raised an eyebrow as he looked down at me.

" I don't know what to think about you. " I admitted. " You're polite and seem kind, which is the opposite of what a Templar is supposed to be, yet the only emotion you seem to possess is sarcasm, which isn't really an emotion. And you've not killed me despite the multiple occasions you've had, and yet each time you have chosen to save my life. " I blabbed, unable to contain my frustration towards the man's abnormal attitude. " What is your problem? "

Haytham only stared deep into my eyes. I would have expected him to smirk again like he always did, yet he only looked at me. I thought I saw sadness there for a second but I must have been mistaken. " Do not believe what your mentor is telling you. Templars are not the enemy. " He stated before exiting the building and leaving me standing on my own, once again questioning not only his attitude, but my hatred against the Templars. Were they truly not as bad as I was told?

I told Khan about my fourth encounter with the grand master and he could only shrug. " He's probably playing with your mind Ella, don't listen to him. " He said, patting me on the back as we sat on the edge of the harbour, our legs dangling over the water.

" But what if he's being honest? I mean, why hasn't he killed me yet? He even knows where I live and yet he's not once been hostile towards me. " I insisted as I leaned my head on my fellow assassin's shoulder.

" I don't know. " He sighed, wrapping an arm around me. " It seems like this war between Assassins and Templars will never end. All I know is that we have to keep fighting because without us, hundreds of innocent lives will be taken. "

I nodded slowly, agreeing with him. Khan was like an older brother to me, we had known each other for over ten years. He had been the fist boy I had ever beaten up and once he was in the mud looking up at my fourteen year old snarling face, he smiled and offered a truce. His wedding was two weeks away and I had yet to meet his fiancée, but in all honesty I didn't really want to meet the woman that was going to steal my best friend away from me. Though I had never told him, Khan knew how I felt about it all and tried not to talk about her too much around me, but sometimes he just couldn't help himself and his eyes would light up with such love and happiness that I felt genuinely happy for him. Just a few years before we had a conversation when we decided that neither of us would ever marry because we were just to darn difficult and annoying, so we had given up on love. Now it seemed that I was the only difficult person.

" Come on, let's go have dinner in your new home. " He suggested, standing up and extending a hand to help pull me up. " I've not seen the finished result yet! "

He started jogging and looked over his shoulder at me with a sly grin which meant he wanted to race me. We got half way there and Khan bumped into someone and fell on the floor. I started laughing, making use of his mistake to get ahead of him but stopped and turned when I heard shouting. When I looked around, Khan was in a verbal argument with a mean looking man dressed in a similar coat to me except his was green, pushing Khan backwards.

" No one pushes me out of their way like a piece of dirt you savage! " He was shouting.

I didn't hear what Khan answered but it enraged the man and he swung a punch at my friend who blocked it easily, head butting him in return. The people in the street stopped to watch the fight, some people gasping and other people cheering them on as I ran up to them and pushed them apart from each other.

" Enough! " I cried, eyeing Khan meaningfully and he sighed and let it go. The other man however, wasn't so clever.

" And who are you to tell me what to do, hey? " He tried provoking me, grabbing my collar and looking me in the eyes. I lowered my eyes to look at his hands and inhaled sharply when I saw the ring around his finger. It was the same on Haytham had picked off Victor's corpse, bearing the mark of the Templars. " What's wrong, scared are you? " He mocked me.

" I'm more scared of the dark than I am of a child like you. " I spat at him, pulling away. " What's your name anyway? "

" Thomas Hickey, who's asking? " He replied, still in an offensive stance as he watched Khan and I wrap our arms together.

" Tell Haytham I said hello. " I winked at Thomas as Khan and I took off, leaving the man confused and without words. Khan told me that I shouldn't have said that because it might anger the grand master but I could only shrug.

" Maybe I'll finally get a proper reaction out of him. " I smirked as we entered my new home.

On the outside it was just like every other house on the street. It was semi-detached, the house on the right belonging to a middle-aged French couple. There were three floors, one which was in the roof, and three windows on each level. Upon entering the white double doors I had fitted, a dark oak staircase was laid out in front of us. To the right was the living area where I had bought two French red sofas sitting upon the gold and red carpet that lightened the dark oak floorboards. I had red wallpaper on the walls and a large mirror on top of the white marble fireplace. On the other side of the stairs was the kitchen which had the same oak flooring but plain white walls and light maple cabinets, giving the room a bright cheery feel also thanks to the large windows that opened on two sides of the room: onto the street at the front of the house, and onto the small alleyway to the side. Up the stairs the dark oak floor continued, both in the plain green walled spare bedroom and the large office I had installed for myself. I had bought a second-hand black varnished desk with gold handles, as well as matching bookshelves. And finally on the top floor was the bathroom, which was nothing out of the ordinary, and my bedroom. I had two large windows, one on each side of the room, making it light and bright. The walls were a deep red and I had hung several paintings of the dockyard on the walls, my love of the open sea showing itself. A large brown and green carpet was half hidden under the teak bed that dominated the room. I loved every aspect of my house, and was prouder than I ever had been before.

" Wow, it's beautiful. " Khan whistled, utterly impressed as he looked around. " Almost worth the boxing injuries. " He smirked, nudging me in the stomach and winking.

Unfortunately the money had run out and I had no choice but to start boxing again. But this time I played it safe, only going up against the less fit, the injured and the tired to lessen the risk of my getting injured. I boxed once a week over the summer and into the autumn, making myself a reasonable income without hurting myself. At this pace, I had time to actually enjoy the fights like I used to, and had enough money to buy some presents for Nora who was growing faster than I could come to terms with. Achilles had more missions for me and I had to bring down various types of Templars, from merchants to sailors to hunters. I was getting better at planning my assassinations and grew more and more discreet by the day. Achilles and Khan were proud of me, and Mary and Edmund noticed the change in me though they didn't know what it is I actually did, and were glad that I was happier. I once bumped into Charles Lee on my way out of the boxing ring and he only sneered at me but other than that, he ignored me. I had no sign of Haytham though, except for a small note I found on my bed one evening at the end of the summer. I had spent the day with Nora whilst Mary and Edmund went off on their own for the first time since Nora's birth, and was eager to jump into my soft bed. But when I saw the folded white letter on my bed, I froze and looked around. The windows were shut and there was no sign of a break-in anywhere else in the house, so I opened the letter. It read 'Hello to you as well Eleanor. Forgive me for taking so long to answer you, I have been busy taking down your order just as you are mine. Nice work on Graham Johnson by the way.' and that was it. It was not signed but Haytham didn't need to, I knew he was answering me after I had mocked his accomplice Thomas Hickey. I didn't know what to think of it, but I couldn't help the smile that grew on my face at his sarcasm. Did it truly know no limits?

In fact I didn't see him for a whole year. By that time it was 1756 and the first spring flowers were blossoming. I was wearing a short sleeved white dress over my normal heavy black boots with a deep green cardigan that Mary had knitted for me over the top. My red hair was flowing in the wind as I happily walked through the streets of Boston after having spent the day with Khan down at the docks, playing the same silly games we had been playing since we were teenagers. Haytham suddenly stepped in front of me, making me gasp in surprise and he smiled at my reaction.

" Glad to see I still make an impression on you. " He greeted, bowing his head to say hello.

" You always will, Templar master. " I rolled my eyes at his smugness. " Haven't seen you for a long time. " I continued walking down the street and Haytham fell into step with me, looking around at the life that thrived around us.

" I've been busy. " He sighed. " You know what it's like, killing old friends and opening doors. " he explained vaguely. " I take it you heard of Edward Braddock's passing? "

I nodded. " That was you? " I questioned him. Haytham nodded and I chuckled. " And here was I thinking you only killed good men. Well done. " I smirked in sarcasm as he looked down at me.

" I told you I'm not the enemy. " He repeated his words from the last time I saw him, knowing that it confused me. He looked amused as he watched an old woman swat her husband for flirting with a young woman and I suddenly realised that Templars weren't monsters. They were human as well.

" What do you mean by that? " I asked him. " When you say you're not the enemy? "

Haytham looked down at me again and smiled. " We seek justice, order, purpose, just as you do. " He explained openly. " You are the ones who fight so hard for nonsense you call freedom. "

" Freedom is not nonsense. " I cried. " It's what makes us who we are. It defines us. "

" By defining us, do you mean causing chaos and war? Because that's all it brings. " I had never heard such emotion in the man's voice as he spoke then, agitation and anger coming through.

" No, freedom is peace. It's what we fight for. When we have freedom, we are at peace. " I could only disagree to what he was saying, but deep down he was making me think.

" But without order or direction, how can you ensure peace? There was a time when the Assassins fought for peace, but no more. You have grown into fighting against us, nothing more. " He sighed, and I realised we were standing in front of my home.

" That is not true. " I argued, standing in front of the man and looking up into his eyes. " I don't fight against you, I fight for freedom and justice. "

He stayed silent for a while, studying my determined face. " If that's true, then why are you against me? " He murmured, staring at me defiantly.

I had no answer and could only frown. The truth was that I had been told to fight against him so I did without question. But I should be thinking for myself, making my own decisions. Should I really be against Haytham, the man who had three times saved my life and only ever shown sympathy towards me, speaking of the justice and order the world lacked so much? " Is this why you have kept me alive for so long? " I suddenly asked him. " So that you could talk me into betraying my order? "

Haytham looked taken aback for a moment, but quickly composed himself. " It is not of my doing if you are questioning your allegiance. " He said simply before turning to leave. " Good evening Eleanor. " he called without looking back at me.

I was frustrated and confused all evening as I made myself dinner. I then curled up in front of a fire with a book in my hands but I couldn't concentrate on the words. I could only hear Haytham's voice, repeating 'justice, order, purpose' over and over again. I had never had a conversation with a Templar before Haytham, I had never been exposed to their point of view before. I had always assumed that they were fighting for power, greed and riches. Achilles had once explained to me that the Templars were selfish people who wanted to control the world and abolish freedom and justice. He made them sound so cruel and inhumane yet all I needed to do was look at Haytham to know this couldn't be true for all Templars. True, he hated the concept of freedom, but what he said about it creating war and chaos was true, you could not deny that. And he was right, order would bring peace and justice if it was in the hands of the right people. But was peace worth the paying the price of freedom? I couldn't make up my mind.

As I always did, I related my encounter with Haytham to Khan the next day and I seemed to put him deep in thought as well. Just like I did, he had always thought the Templars power hungry and greedy, but Haytham's words made him doubt the truth in those thoughts.

" Do you think Achilles knows this? " I asked him.

" Of course, he told me once that one of his friends became a Templar and they fought about it for hours until Achilles killed him. " Khan told me. " Maybe Haytham's just trying to manipulate you into working for him. After all, he's always called you young and ignorant. Maybe he's making use of it. " He suggested.

" But I'm not young and ignorant! " I protested, growling at my friend.

" I know Ella, but Haytham thinks so. Maybe he saw it as the perfect way to infiltrate the assassins so be careful. " He was worried for me and kept warning me because he knew I wanted to talk to Haytham about this again. I just couldn't walk away from something I didn't understand.

" I'm always careful. " I smiled at my friend who burst out laughing.

" I've known you for over ten years and not once have you been careful! " He teased me. " Remember that time one of your shirts blew out of the window and ended up a tree? You didn't care that you couldn't climb properly, you still climbed up that tree. You're just so stubborn! "

" It was my favourite shirt Khan, I couldn't just leave it up there! " I whined. " Besides, you were there to catch me. "

Khan rolled his eyes and raced me back home before he got upon his horse to go back to his new wife, who I still had not met. I don't think she even knew I existed actually, but that was fine by me. I didn't want to meet her, because Khan was mine no matter what anyone said. He was my brother.