MsNevermind: Nooo they have to speak French more to make you confused muahaha =P Thank you as always :3
AssassinsVow2012: And thank you for reading it! Muahaha what they say isn't important. I didn't translate it so that the readers can know how Eleanor felt like XD But yes, they are quite the little trouble makers... But then again, with Eleanor as a mother, you can't be surprised really XD I'm glad you're enjoying this :)
Victory Goddess: Thank you! :3 Yes I just had to put it in there that she couldn't speak French. Haytham had to get his own back at some point XD But yes, I feel proud of the way they've all grown up. I feel like I'm the mother of all of my characters XD
Kaytee33: Thank you! :)
So... HERE IS CONNOR! Finally :D I'm a bit hesitant about this chapter. I feel like some of it isn't really clear? I don't know, it might just be me. And I hope I got everyone's reaction right because... Well, it's kinda major really. Anyway, thank you to everyone who has stuck with me. You have no idea how wonderful you are! And there is a link to Nora's outfit on my profile :)
Oh, and if you're wondering, this is taking place in 1773, which is eight years after Eleanor settled in with Haytham. Just so you're not confused :)
December 1773
Nora and I had travelled to Boston like we did every Christmas so that we could visit her parents' graves. I was glad of the distraction this year as Charles Lee had recently returned from the army in Europe and had decided to buy land only a few hours on horseback from where we lived, much to my annoyance. Whilst I was in Boston I promised myself not to think about that and enjoy the few days away I had with Nora - though she had ran off as she always did, her short skirt tangling itself in her legs as she ran across the rooftops at ease. She was eighteen now, something that I found very hard to get used to because I still saw her as the little innocent girl who ran around playing with wooden swords. Nora was a stunning young lady and she knew it, using it to her advantage with a pink corset over a low-cut white shirt, a white and brown skirt that only came down to her mid-thighs with pale brown tights and knee-high boots. As it was winter, she 'covered-up' with a brown cape and a short pink jacket but I still thought it was a little thin. She insisted she was fine and continued on just as she did. She knew she was beautiful and used it as a weapon - one of the many she knew how to wield.
Boston has been the centre of quite a lot of business in the last few years, ever since the Boston Massacre in 1770. Haytham and I had been at home that day and only heard about it a few days later when Nakoma and Nora came to tell us about it - or more specifically about Charles Lee's involvement in it. Haytham went to speak to Charles after that and I didn't know exactly what was said between the two men but it was evident that tensions were high between them. I worried about it constantly, and it was beginning to show - a few wrinkles had appeared on my face and I hated it. It was a reminder that I was now forty-five years old and a mother of three. Well, technically a mother of two as Nora wasn't my real daughter but I still had to look after her, which was more hassle than my own two combined. Jim was eight years old, his wavy ginger hair as long as his father's and he was quickly learning to keep up with his sisters - in physical activities with Nora, and intellectual activities with Mary. He was a quiet boy, struggling to assert himself in a house dominated by women. Despite everything, Haytham always put his children and I in front of his own needs because he was the most wonderful father and husband anyone could ever ask for. He had changed a lot in the eight years we had been a proper family, and I was proud of him. He was happy, truly happy, and I don't think he had been that happy since his father had died when he was ten years old. It was hard to believe Haytham was the Templar master I had met all those years ago.
I strolled through the dark streets heading back to the inn for the night when I heard a commotion down by the docks. Intrigued, I made my way down there to find a crowd of people cheering on a fight that was happening on one of the ships. I frowned, trying to make out what was going on, and saw a small group of men throwing tea overboard into the ocean whilst a man and - Oh dear lord, you have got to be kidding me.
" NORA! " I shouted, pushing my way through the crowd. " NORA! What do you think you are doing girl? " I called to the young blonde as she battled redcoats side by side with a stranger I had never seen before, dressed in white robes with blue - Oh dear. This was getting worse and worse. They were Achilles' robes! The boy couldn't possibly be an assassin could he? " NORA! " I unsheathed a dagger from my boot, pushed my cloak out of the way and fought my way through the redcoats to stand by her side. " What the hell do you think you're doing? " I hissed when she saw me.
" Helping! " She cried, breaking a man's arm and kicking him in the back. " Making a stand against the British! " We had to speak loudly to be able to hear each other over the commotion.
" By getting yourself killed? " I cried, disarming a red coat and pushing him into the water. My back ached from the movement, my body not as fit as it used to be, but I pushed through it - ducking and swinging around behind another red coat to dig my dagger into his neck and watch him fall to his knees before me.
" Eleanor! " Nora scolded me, using my full name like she only ever did when she was angry. " I'm a grown woman now, I know how to defend myself! "
" Will you two stop fighting? " The assassin hissed as he passed us, the last of the redcoats finally dead. I looked over to him and froze in shock as my eyes took in his features in the moonlight. His skin was darker than mine, though not as dark as a native's. It was the same shade as Khan's, proof that he was - no, no, he couldn't be. But it was painfully obvious - he had the same nose, the same eyes, the same expression as Haytham. Whoever this Mohawk boy was, he was Haytham's son, and my mouth dropped open as I realised that my husband had an illegitimate son he didn't even know about. He must have been Kaniehti:io's son, as I remembered Haytham telling me about his short relationship with the Mohawk woman I had met briefly once - the woman who had warned me about the attack that had claimed Nora's parents' lives. How ironic that the two were now fighting side by side.
" Ella? " Nora asked me as she saw the look on my face whilst the boy spoke with the men who had been dropping the tea in the ocean. " What's wrong? "
" I need to talk to Haytham. " I swallowed heavily, fear rising inside of me as I saw the boy drop the last crate of tea in the ocean as he stared defyingly at Charles Lee, John Pitcairn and William Johnson, who all shot death glares at the boy. I had hoped they wouldn't notice Nora and I but John made eye contact with me and glared even harder. I looked over to Nora as she understood the same thing as I at that moment, and her face fell.
" I'm sorry. " She muttered, realising just how bad the situation was. " If I had known, I - "
" You need to think before you act! " I scolded her as we left the ship. " Look at the trouble we are in now, all because you didn't use your head! "
" Excuse me? " The Mohawk boy interrupted us, his face set in the same harsh expression Haytham wore when he was angry. " Your daughter did a good thing tonight. " He said.
" Her heart may lie in the right place but things aren't as black and white as they may seem. " I retorted, my face softening when he seemed taken aback. " Sorry. What I mean is that any political activity is difficult for us because of our… Situation. " I explained briefly.
He shrugged. " My name is Ratonhnhaké:ton. " He said, extending his hand to me. " People call me Connor because it is easier to pronounce. "
I laughed, shaking his hand. " Nice to meet you Connor. I'm afraid you'll have to excuse us, we have somewhere to be. Goodnight. " I smiled, forcing myself to be nice to the boy.
" I hope we meet again, Ratonhnhaké:ton. " Nora smiled brightly, bidding him goodnight and I bit my lip. What was she playing at?
When we got back to the inn, I waited until we were in our small room until I burst. " What were you thinking? " I cried, pacing the floor backwards and forwards as she sat on the bed. " Why did you agree to get yourself into a fight against god knows how many British troops to aid people you've never even met before? "
" Ella! " She protested. " Please, let me explain - "
" Explain? There is nothing to explain, you were selfish and acting completely - "
" MOTHER! " She shouted, catching me off guard. I looked down at her, frozen to the spot as the word 'mother' escaped her lips. She only rarely called me that and I loved it. " Please, listen to me. " She begged, and I sighed heavily, taking a seat next to her on the bed. " I know you've told me time and time again about the Assassins and Templars, and I know that Ratonhnhaké:ton is an assassin, but hear me out. " She cocked an eyebrow just as I opened my mouth to protest.
" Go on. " I shrugged, rolling my eyes.
" America deserves it's freedom. I fought by those men's side not because they were assassins but because they want freedom, liberty from the British. We may be fairing alright at our Homestead, but the ordinary people, the people who live here, they are all poor. They are thoroughly discontent about all the taxes that the crown is imposing and these people are drowning in them. And if things had happened differently, then my parents would be those unhappy people drowning in taxes. " She explained. " I don't care about who is Assassin and who is Templar - I only want to see this land free, independent. I want justice. "
My expression softened as I understood. " You have a good heart princess. " I smiled sadly.
" Stop calling me that, I'm a grown woman now. " She frowned.
" You'll always be my little princess. " I mocked her, making her groan. " Come, let's go to sleep, we have to get back to Haytham quickly. "
" Ella? " She asked as we got under the covers of the bed we shared. " Why did you look shocked when you saw the Assassin? " She yawned.
" Did you not notice? " I asked, and she shook her head. " I'll tell you when we get home. " It took me a long time to fall asleep, the boy - Connor's face haunting me. I wasn't sure about how I felt about it. I couldn't bring myself to be angry at Haytham - after all, he had been with Ziio before even meeting me properly and he had no idea that they had a son together. It wasn't his fault. But… He had another son. A son that was running around proclaiming himself an Assassin and causing trouble for the Templars. Causing trouble for Haytham. I realised then that Connor's appearance into our lives was going to cause a lot of trouble - he had already sucked Nora into the war I wanted to keep her away from, and I had no idea if Connor even knew about his father being a Templar. Would it be possible to make peace between them? Or would they forever fight against each other? I had so many questions.
In the morning, Nora and I made our way to the docks to go home, but it was not so easy getting back to Virginia. Charles Lee found us as we made our way through the streets and stepped in front of us, effectively blocking our way as he glared down at me. " Eleanor. " He sneered.
" Charles. " I spat. " What do you want? "
" I wanted to know if dear Master Kenway knows about your… Activities. " He threatened me. " I hope you realise that you just declared yourself an enemy to our order once more. "
" I did but defend my daughter. " I hissed. " And yes, I will tell my husband everything as soon as I get home. "
" Your husband? Just because you are officially recognised as his partner means nothing anymore. " He scoffed. " He made a grave mistake, getting involved with you. He should have cut you down the moment you met. "
" As he should have done with you. " I spat. " Now, if you would please let us through, I'll make sure he knows everything about the tea incident, as well as this conversation. " I grimaced, pushing passed him as I grabbed hold of Nora's arm to pull her with me.
" You can't continue forever! " He called after me, but I ignored him.
" Why does Haytham associate himself with that pig? " Nora hissed once he was gone.
" Because Charles used to admire Haytham. " I sighed. " But now he had gained power among the order, he's showing his true colours and Haytham is too blind to see how corrupted his order is. "
" Can't we do something? " She insisted.
" What do you think I'm going to do as soon as I get back? " I smirked.
" Haytham! " I called as soon as I pushed open the double doors. " Haytham! "
" Mother! " Mary called, flinging her arms around me as she appeared from the kitchen. " I have missed you. " She was thirteen years old and beginning to look like a fully grown woman. She was already nearly as tall as I, her shiny black hair flowing down to her waist, her lips covered in faint red lipstick. She was every bit as feminine as Nora, but in a very different way. Where Nora flaunted off her femininity with revealing clothes, Mary was always covered from head to toe, showing how soft and reserved she was, with long dresses and corsets always in tones of dark green and red.
" It's good to see you sweetie. " I smiled, kissing her on her forehead. " Where is your father? It's urgent. " I asked her.
" Outside with Jim. " She rolled her eyes. " They are playing with their swords. " She sighed.
" It's serious business, sword fighting. " I countered, but she only shrugged and walked off. She thought violence was pitiful and preferred to lock herself away in her studies.
Sure enough, Haytham was out in the thin layer of snow teaching our son how to properly wield a sword. Jim was tall for his age, the top of his head already to my shoulder, his ginger hair hanging to his shoulders as he gripped Haytham's sword in both of his hands. " No, one hand. " Haytham instructed him. " You get used to the weight. " He smirked when Jim couldn't hold the sword with only one hand. " You will become stronger with age. "
" But I want to be strong now! " Jim whined. " It's too long to wait! "
Haytham chuckled and smiled when he saw me emerge from the house. I ruffled Jim's hair and smiled down at him when he pouted. " I couldn't lift a sword properly until I was sixteen. " I reassured him. " Give it time son, and find another weapon until you are strong enough. "
" Fine. " He sighed heavily, giving Haytham his sword and trudging back inside.
" How was your trip love? " Haytham smiled, kissing me softly on the lips.
" Interesting. " I raised my eyebrows, laughing slightly. " I spoke to Charles. " I smirked when he shot me a questioning glance. " Apparently I'm officially your enemy again. "
" What? Why? I never agreed to this! " He protested angrily.
" That's because you weren't there. " I proceeded to explain everything that had happened, from Nora fighting alongside an assassin to Charles threatening me. Haytham was outraged that Charles had permitted himself to threaten me, but he was also angry that Nora had taken such liberty and done what she had. " But that's not all. " I called, grabbing his arm as he went to go inside to find Nora. " I learnt something far more important. " I said softly.
" What is more important than my family being in danger? " He growled.
" Nothing. " I nodded. " That is exactly what I found out. " Haytham frowned, indicating that I explain myself. " The assassin I told you about, the one Nora was fighting with... His name is Ragon - Ratan - Connor. " I shook my head, unable to pronounce his name. " He's seventeen. He's only half Mohawk. " I tried to make Haytham understand, but he didn't.
" What has this got to do with anything? " He cried, still angry.
" Haytham, he looks exactly like you. " I said and his face fell.
" What? " He whispered. " No, that cannot be. "
" It fits. " I countered. " He's the right age, he's definitely only half native and his mother was an ally to the Assassins. " I explained.
" But I would know if I had a son! " He cried, shaking his hands in the air as he began pacing in the courtyard, his eyes wide in frustration.
" I would recognise your face among a million others. " I protested. " He looks as much like you as Mary does. " I said soothingly, putting a hand on his shoulder to try to calm him down. " I'm sorry you had to find out this way. "
" I'm sorry you had to as well. " He sighed, looking down at me. " It was so long ago Eleanor, I never imagined - "
" Shh. " I soothed him, brushing my lips against his. " It doesn't matter. What matters is that we have a problem. "
" A problem called Charles Lee. " Haytham nodded.
Later that night, Haytham and I called a family meeting to tell our children about Connor. They deserved to know they had a half-brother, and Nora needed to know exactly who Connor was. The three sat on the sofa in front of the fire. Nora crossed her arms, bored already. Mary crossed her legs, her back straight as she waited patiently, and Jim was still playing with two of his little figurines as he sat in between the two girls. " Your mother and I have something important to tell you. " Haytham started, unsure of himself. " We have recently made a discovery that has come as quite a shock. " He paused, frowning as he searched for the right words.
" I met someone interesting in Boston. " I started, helping out.
" What? " Jim cried.
" You are separating? " Mary questioned, echoing her brother's worry.
" No, no! Never! " I shook my head violently.
" Are you talking about Ratonhnhaké:ton? " Nora asked, suddenly interested.
" Yes. " I nodded. " He is an assassin. Half-Mohawk. " I started.
" I know, Nora has told me. " Mary told us, ushering us onwards.
" He is my son. " Haytham blurted out suddenly, making me roll my eyes. We had agreed on finesse, slowly making them understand. But no, he just blurted it out.
" WHAT? " All three of them exclaimed at the same time. " Who's the mother? Why didn't you tell us before? Why doesn't he live with us? " The three of them came out with so many questions at the same time that it gave me quite the head ache.
" Will you calm down? " Haytham barked, imposing himself. When they had all settled again, looking down shamefully, he continued. " I never knew I had another son. He is from a short relationship with a Mohawk woman that I met before your mother. It was a long time ago. " He explained. " But this will not break our family up. I assure you. "
" Are you alright with this mother? " Mary asked me.
" Of course I am sweetie. Why wouldn't I be? " I shrugged. " It was before your father and I were even together. And he is your half-brother. "
" Brilliant! " Jim suddenly grinned. " I have a Mohawk assassin big brother! That's so good! I have to go tell Romulus and Remus! Can I meet him? He has to teach me how to fight! " He was already so excited about it all and ran off suddenly. I let him go as I had already informed Khan and Nakoma about it so it didn't matter if Jim told his friends.
" I'm not sure. " Mary frowned. " He isn't from our family. I do not want him to think he can suddenly come into our lives and change everything. He has no right to do so. "
" Everything will be fine. " Haytham reassured her, brushing her hair with his hand. " You are still the first child I truly had and I will always love you. " He kissed her forehead and she seemed to relax. The two shared such a strong bond. She left afterwards, leaving Nora sitting on the sofa as she frowned deeply, her hair dangling over her eyes.
" Are you alright? " I asked her, sitting next to her.
" He didn't tell me. " She whispered.
" Maybe he didn't know. " I suggested, patting her on the leg. " Don't hate him for it princess, the world is full of strange ironies. Talk to him. "
" I will. " She decided, striding off to her room.
The next day, Haytham called for a meeting with the Templar leaders, the six original ones that I had fought against over fifteen years before. He travelled to Boston alone, deciding that it was safer so I stayed behind and continued to train our son in his absence as Khan duelled with Nora.
" So what's happening? " Khan called from the other side of the courtyard as Nora attacked him. " What are the Templars going to do about the boy? "
" I don't know. " I sighed, watching Jim as he slowly climbed up the side of the house. " Haytham won't want him dead, that's for sure. But I don't know if they are going to listen to him anymore. " Jim's fingers slipped and he fell backwards and I caught him easily in my arms.
" Shouldn't he just leave the order? " Nora interrupted us as she fell to the ground when Khan kicked her backwards. " I mean, if they're all bastards, shouldn't he just leave them all behind? "
" Ella's been trying to get him to leave for eight years. " Khan explained. " He is the Grand Master, he has duties. And leaving would declare him a traitor and they would try to murder him, as well as every single one of us. "
" It's gotten very complicated. " I agreed, wondering if I had made the right choice in marrying him. But when I looked around and saw my family, the family that I only had thanks to Haytham, I knew that no matter what difficulties we had to face - it was worth it. I thought back to the boy, to Connor, and wondered what his life was like. Was it his mother who introduced him to Achilles? Did he know that Haytham was his father? I pitied Haytham for the position it put him in - married to an ex assassin, the adoptive father to a girl who had been seen fighting alongside Connor, and now he was also father to the first Assassin sighted in ten years. He was a Templar surrounded by Assassins - his life never got easier.
Upon his return Haytham was even angrier. " I am sick of them, of all of them! " He shouted that night once everyone had gone to bed. " It's their fault that my son is our enemy. They disobeyed my direct orders and went to seek out Ziio's tribe and instead found the boy. "
" What? " I frowned. " But I thought they respected you, I thought - "
" Apparently not. The boy supposedly threatened Charles and he responded the only way he knows - violence. Shortly afterwards his village was burnt and his mother died. " Haytham grimaced unhappily, pacing backwards and forwards in front of the fire.
" Ziio is dead? " I asked, worried about him as he nodded.
" It was George Washington, but the boy thinks it was Charles - and rightly so. " He sighed. " And that is the better news. " He looked up at me, worry filling his eyes. " They refuse to accept our marriage any longer. "
" What? " I breathed, not believing it. " How can they do that? You're their leader! "
" They are as sick of me as I am of them. I barely know what to do any longer, what with the revolution that is taking it's roots, the order turning against me and now I discover I have another son! " He cried out in frustration and fell into his armchair, burying his face in his hands.
" We'll make it through my love, we always do. " I whispered as I sat on his lap, pushing his hands away from his face to make him look at me. " No matter what life puts in our way, we're in it together. " He smiled sadly and sighed. " I love you Haytham, remember that. "
" As I love you little one. " He smiled again, kissing me passionately. That was one thing that the years never took away - the passion. No matter how often we kissed, no matter how many years had passed since we had first met, the passion still burnt like a raging fire, wild and untameable.
Six months later, I was in my old house in Boston when there was a knock at the door. The house had fallen into disrepair, covered in a layer of dust, the wallpaper peeling off the walls. I didn't want to sell it, but I didn't know what to do with it either. I opened the door to find Nora standing on my doorstep and I frowned deeply. " What's going on? " I asked.
" We need somewhere to stay. " She explained sheepishly, smiling nervously as she did so.
" We? " I repeated, looking behind her to see Connor as he hid his face beneath his hood. " Fine, get inside. " I groaned, opening the door wider as they both trudged inside. " What trouble have you gotten into this time? " I rolled my eyes as they both headed into the living room.
" I'm sorry. " Nora started. " William Johnson is dead. "
" William? " I whispered. I paused, feeling shocked. I used to like the man, he had taught me a lot of things and he had been the only other Templar to show me true kindness. But since I had left the Americas for four years, he had changed. He had become colder, crueller and no longer showed me any form of kindness. " How? "
" He wanted to buy the land my village is on. When the elders refused to sell, he opened fire on them. " Connor explained, his accent making him sound almost childlike. " I could not let that continue. " He defended himself.
" Good. " I decided. " He once aided Khan's elders by buying their land, back then he was nothing but a gentleman. I'm afraid the years have not been kind to him. "
" Who is Khan? " Connor frowned, pulling his hood from his head.
" Kahnawà:ke. " Nora explained. " The man I told you about. " Connor nodded, understanding what she meant. I looked from Connor to Nora, trying to figure out what exactly was going on between them. Nora had been going out for several weeks at a time, either on her own or with some of my crew, sometimes even borrowing the Warrior Princess. I trusted her abilities and gave her the freedom she wanted, preferring to do that than trying to cage her and find that she ran away. But I hadn't expected her to go looking for Connor again, and I couldn't recognise the look in her eyes when she looked at him - it wasn't the admiration she had in her eyes when she looked at Khan, Nakoma and I. It wasn't the protective look she gave Mary and Jim, nor was it the happy, fun loving look she gave everyone else. This was something else, something I couldn't identify.
" Thank you for letting us use your house. " Connor interrupted my thoughts as he took a step towards me. " You are very helpful for someone who disagrees with my mission. "
" I don't disagree. " I explained. " I used to be an Assassin as well. " I told him.
" But you gave up? " He questioned.
" It was a burden. " I nodded. " And I needed to look after Nora, I couldn't continue running around fighting Templars for the rest of my life. I needed more purpose. "
" But the assassin's have purpose. We fight for justice and freedom - "
" Freedom that I have only truly ever felt at the helm of my own ship, far from the war between Assassins and Templars. " I interrupted him, raising a hand in the air. " Save your speech Connor, I used to say the exact same things. "
" Then you have lost hope? " He frowned, not understanding.
" No. I found hope. " I smiled, winking at Nora. " Here, this is your house now. " I added, tossing her the keys. " It'll be of more use to you than it is to me. "
" Thank you! " She exclaimed, wrapping her arms around my neck.
I broke the news about William as soon as I got home, and Haytham took it rather well. Though he regretted that the Natives were beginning to refuse to sell their lands as they used to, he understood their point of view - William and several other Templars had tried to excavate one of their temples, a precursor site that Connor's mother had shown Haytham and as such they refused to let him continue his domination of their lands. " He brought his downfall upon himself. " Haytham decided. " He was never very good with negotiations. "
" I suppose. " I muttered. " But what does that mean for Nora? "
He swallowed, shaking his head. " I shall try to get the men to spare her. I will do everything I can to protect her. "
" And your son? " I inquired. " He's polite and kind hearted. He fights for justice and - "
" Just as you used to. " Haytham pointed out. " I refuse to start this conversation again. "
" But he's your son. " I insisted. " You can't ignore that! "
He frowned and I gave up. It was not my place to interfere, the boy had nothing to do with me. I was more worried about Nora as she was off gallivanting around with him, getting herself involved in the revolution that was coming closer and closer. I only hoped we would all make it out unscathed.