hp772222: Yeah at first Charles is okay, but in the end he's a really horrible person Thank you for sticking with me! :3
Victory Goddess: Exactly! I think Haytham would have been much happier away from the Templars, and actually be a proper father to Connor. I'm glad you're still enjoying this :3
AssassinsVow2012: No one messes with the Kenways! :D I'm so glad you like Nora, it took me a long time to figure out how I wanted her character to be. Thank you for your ongoing support!
MsNevermind: Nora is just really bossy XD Poor Connor, he doesn't know what he got himself into! And Haytham is just full of swag :D
lala: I don't see what your problem is. If you hate this so much, why are you still reading? You should have stopped the first time you complained, back on chapter 12. Go be a troll somewhere else - or better, don't be a troll at all.
I know this seems like the end but it's not. There are still a few ups and downs to come yet! And thank you again to everyone. No matter how many times I say this, I can't possibly explain how much it means to me that so many people are enjoying this :3
I closed my eyes to try to block the pain out but soon I heard rushed footsteps and I looked up to find Haytham running towards me, landing on his knees in front of me. " How are you feeling? " He asked desperately, dropping his bloodied sword to the floor and putting his hands on my injured leg, assessing the damage.
" I'm fine. " I shrugged. " It's only a scratch. " I groaned, biting my lip as his fingers brushed over my makeshift bandage.
" Stop being a martyr. " He snapped, looking up at me. " You are not alright. What happened to you? Let me know so that I may properly dismember them all. " He hissed.
" They didn't hurt me. " I reassured him, noticing Connor and Nora come to stand behind Haytham. " They merely took me by surprise, knocked me unconscious and strapped me to a chair. "
Haytham's eyes narrowed menacingly. " Bastards. " He muttered as he stood. " They shall pay for what they have done. I told them not to touch you, any of you. "
" I don't think they care anymore about what you say Haytham. " I sighed.
" No. " He answered, turning to look at Nora to check that she was alright as well. " I did not expect the officer to attack me but clearly he had orders to do so. " He said solemnly.
" They banished you from the order? " Connor asked him. " Why? "
" Because I preferred to protect my family than assure the order's supremacy. " He snapped back. " Because I've grown soft, and distant from their cruel ways. "
" Good. " Nora said, her lip curled up as her face became dark and angry. " Now we can pick them off one by one and make them wish they were never born. " Her voice was darker and more menacing than I had ever heard it before, and I could barely recognise the happy girl I was used to, but I agreed wholeheartedly with her.
" You're on their list as well. " I told her. " They wanted you to join me in there but I won't let that happen. It took me a lifetime to bring this family together, I cannot and will not let a bunch of twisted, sadistic, heartless bastards tear us apart. " Haytham looked down at me at my words, his eyes betraying how confused he was feeling. " I'm sorry my love, but they are all going to die. All of them. "
Haytham paused for a while, all of us looking at him whilst he frowned, deep in thought. " Good. " He eventually said, picking up his sword and sheathing it. Connor opened his mouth to speak but Nora nudged him to tell him to shut up, and I watched my saddened husband as he removed his cape, brushed his fingers over the Templar insignia that was sewn onto the back. He suddenly threw it onto the ground, abandoning it. " Come, we need to find some water to clean your wound. " He said softly as he turned to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and another beneath my knees as he lifted me into his arms. " Which way? " He asked the other two, who could only watch curiously.
" Follow me. " Connor took the lead, his expression softer than it had been before, no longer shooting daggers at his father like he had been previously. He and Nora walked ahead of us, walking confidently side by side through the forest, talking quietly together.
" I love you. " I muttered, kissing Haytham on the cheek, feeling his soft stubble against my lips. His hair was completely grey now, the lines on his face deeper but he was still every bit as handsome as when I had first met him. He was mine, all of him, and I loved him so much that it hurt. He was so beautiful, both physically and mentally, and was the reason that I breathed.
" I love you too. " He smiled sadly, surprised by my tenderness.
" I'm sorry things turned out the way they did with the order. " I said sympathetically, knowing how important the order was for him. It had been hard at him the first few years, juggling the order and his family, but eventually he realised that his family was more important and that had been his downfall, causing him to loose not only his high position among the Templars but loosing his allegiance completely. I knew that it was going to be hard for him to accept as he bad been in the order since his father had died, when he was but ten years old. Forty years of his life, gone in a moment.
He bit his lip, deep in thought. " It is worth it. " He nodded. " You are worth it. "
We eventually made it to a small stream and Haytham sat me down on the sand a few feet away from the water. Connor bent over to have a drink and Nora began cleaning the weapons - hers, Connors and even Haytham's. I hissed as I removed the bandage which was now soaked in blood, but I sighed in relief when I realised that the bleeding had stopped and the blood had started to dry. Haytham's lip curled up but he said nothing as he took the bandage from me and soaked it in the river. The water turned red before floating away as he cleaned the bandage as much as he could, before coming back to me to clean my wound. He ended up tearing most of the trouser leg away, leaving me more or less without any trousers on, just enough to cover the important area. Connor looked away politely, helping Nora with the weapons.
" It's not as deep as I had feared. " Haytham told me as he went back to the river to clean the bandage again. " But it is big and will leave a nasty scar. "
" It won't be the first. " I rolled my eyes, inspecting the wound for myself. It was indeed big, wide enough for me to press two of my fingers inside without stretching it, and was longer than my hand, wrist to fingertips.
" Here. " Connor suddenly appeared by his father's side, his extended hand holding a clean white bandage. " I always carry some, just in case. " His lips curved ever so slightly upwards though his voice remained flat and unemotional. He reminded me so much of Haytham when we had first met, so sure of himself, never betraying his emotions.
" Thank you. " I smiled brightly, greatly appreciating the kindness.
" Yes. Thank you. " Haytham's voice was soft and caring as he looked up at his son, taking the bandages from him. The two shared a long, intense look before they turned away and went back to what they were doing. They had silently come to terms with each other, accepting each other, making peace. I had feared they would forever fight against one another but now that Haytham was no longer a Templar, that they had worked together to save me, they had realised that they were not so different from each other. It made me really happy to know that they may yet truly be father and son.
By that time it was midday so Connor went to hunt for some food whilst Haytham went to fetch some firewood. " He seems very protective of you. " I told Nora once they had both gone. " Connor that is. You've very close. "
" He's my best friend. " She nodded. " I think I'm one of the only people he trusts. "
" Friend? " I smirked, not believing that their relationship was so platonic.
" Eleanor! " She scolded me as she sat in the grass beside me. " Yes, friends. He's not interested in anyone like that. I've never even seen him look at anyone. "
" Well, as long as he keeps you safe. " I shrugged, letting the subject drop.
" I'm the one that keeps him safe. " She laughed. " He's crazy, he just runs straight into trouble without giving it a second thought. I remember when we went to kill Johnson, he wanted to just run straight into it all and take him down. But there were dozens of guards! " She recounted the memory with a happy look on her face.
" Yes, how exactly did you end up helping him? " I frowned, wondering how their relationship had turned into the close friendship they now shared.
" Well. " She started, pausing to think where to begin. " The first time we met, it was back in '72 I think, three years ago. I was with Kevin Roux buying some more cannons for the ship when I bumped into him. We shared a few words but that was it. Our paths crossed again the day of the Boston tea party. I was already talking to Samuel Adams when he came in, all serious and business like. You know what he's like! " She laughed. " He wanted to push the British away and help the Mohawks so I wanted to help. And I guess we've just not separated since. "
" That's really sweet. " I smiled, happy for her. She was obviously very attached to him, and I guessed she was falling in love with the boy. " So what brought on the Haytham and Connor duo? " I asked her, curious as to how they teamed up.
" Long story short, Haytham wanted to storm in there and kill them all on his own, just like Connor with Johnson. " She smiled. " I decided to go with him and Connor refused to let me put myself in danger. "
" That's it? " I asked, surprised that it was as simple as that.
" Yes. Funny how family can bring people together. " She winked. " They argued a lot on the way here though, but I think they've come to some sort of agreement. "
" I hope so. " I agreed. " We'll have to discretely push them together as much as we can. "
" Why discretely? I'll just tell Connor to shut up and be friends with his father or else. " She shrugged, brushing some dust off her legs. " He's not allowed to argue. "
" Nora! " I scolded her. " You can't boss everyone around all the time. "
" I can if I want to. " She laughed just as Connor emerged from the dense trees, carrying a deer on his back. She got up to help him carry the beast over to us and together they set about preparing it for dinner. Haytham arrived back shortly afterwards carrying the firewood and I helped him get a fire going.
" How did things go with Connor? " I asked him, looking over at the two youngsters as they laughed together, sharing a joke.
" What do you mean? " Haytham asked me, looking at me questioningly.
" Do you like him? Does he like you? Did you enjoy working with him? " I rolled my eyes.
" Oh. " He shrugged, setting back to work. " He is very skilled. " He said.
" That's it? He's skilled? " I shook my head. " Haytham he's your son! "
" He's naïve, rash and doesn't think. " He sighed heavily, giving me a proper answer at last. " He looks just like his mother and shares her short temper and determination. Working with him is like working with a child. Which he is. Was that the answer you were looking for? "
I rolled my eyes again, letting it go. They may have stopped arguing but it was still tense between them. I looked over to Nora, shaking my head to let her know that things weren't going well. She shrugged and shook her head as well, indicating that Connor was much the same. Like father like son I suppose, both of them too proud for their own good.
After having eaten, we managed to make our way back to Boston just before nightfall. Connor left us to ourselves, saying he had business to attend to. Nora wanted to go with him but he insisted she stay to help us. " But who's going to help you? " She retorted, crossing her arms unhappily.
" I will find you in the morning. " Connor replied calmly, not threatened by her bossiness. " Take care Eleanor. Father. " He nodded to us before taking his leave.
Nora muttered under her breath, unhappy that she couldn't stay with him. She took us back to her home - or rather the home Haytham and I had shared back when we had first met. It felt unusual for us to be back there, still together after twenty years. Who would have guessed it? A Templar and an Assassin, pushing through all the obstacles and making it out alive, well, and happier than ever. I still couldn't believe our luck, it was just too unbelievable, something that you only ever saw in fairy tales. But my prince charming was well and truly real and he hugged me to him that night as I fell asleep in his warm embrace. We would get a ship back home in the morning and put up extra defences around our estate to protect ourselves from the Templars, should they attempt to hurt anyone. As I told Charles, I would die before anyone hurt my children, before they lay a hand on Haytham. Men might be bigger, tougher, better fighters. But women fight harder when it comes to protecting their family. We fight dirty, claws at the ready, and won't rest until the threat is gone.
It was 1776, a year later, and not a single attack had been launched on the Kenway Homestead. We received a letter from Nora indicating that the Templars had other things to deal with at the time following the assassination of John Pitcairn, and as far as she and Connor were aware they had no plans of attacking us unless we posed a direct threat. I relaxed a little and focused on letting my leg heal and bringing up my children. Well, they weren't really children anymore - Mary was now fifteen and was having thoughts of leaving America for a while, missing the long months at sea that she had known for the first four years of her life. She would sit out in the forest on the estate, among some tall grass wearing nothing but her white bodice and a long red skirt, spending her days watching the wildlife, drawing them and learning about their way of life. She had a deep caring for all life forms and refused to help the hunters, only eating meat because she needed the sustenance. Jim was ten years old and he had decided that he was a grown man, though he still ran around, playing with Khan and Nakoma's twin sons who were only a year younger.
Speaking of Khan, he had become good friends with Haytham. I always had to hide my smile when they laughed together because despite it all they still hated to admit that they liked each other. I suppose years of being enemies was hard to overcome, but they had managed it and they oversaw the development of the homestead together. Haytham may have been the one to buy the land, but Khan had a better understanding of nature so they worked together to ensure that the land and it's inhabitants prospered, which it did. Khan's hair turned grey very quickly, and it made us both feel very old. I guess we had lived our lives and this was our retirement. " I never imagined this was how it would be. " He laughed one evening.
" What do you mean? " I frowned.
" You, married to a Templar with three children, and me married to an western native with twin boys, living on said Templar's lands. Neither of us fighting anymore. " He chuckled. " I guess that goes to show that everything can change with time. "
" I'll tell you one thing that hasn't changed. " I smiled. " You're still my best friend. "
He chuckled again and wrapped an arm around me, pulling me nearer to him as the cool night air was beginning to be cold and we spent the rest of the evening talking, just the two of us.
Haytham had been rather lost for the first few months after loosing his position as Templar Master. He still believed in the ideals, about order and purpose, direction and justice. But he was now alone, without the power to do anything, and it was hard for him. He had been fighting for what he believed for forty years and to suddenly loose it all was something he struggled to accept. But with his family around him - Mary, Jim and I, and even Khan and Nakoma - he soon realised that it was for the best. We were now just a normal married couple with children. Well, more or less normal.
Haytham and I were having dinner with Khan and Nakoma one evening when Nora burst through the doors, looking tired and dirty, her clothes soaking wet with the early summer rain. " Ella, Haytham. " She panted from the doorway. " You must come to New York immediately! "
" Why? " I asked, standing to face her. " What has happened? "
" Ratonhnhaké:ton is in prison, the Templars mean to hang him! " She cried, panicking.
I sighed heavily and nodded. " Of course. Khan, can you look after my children for me? " I asked him as he came over to stand next to me.
" You do not want me to come with you? " He asked me.
" Stay here with your family. You've helped me enough for one life. " I smiled gratefully up at him, kissing him on the cheek. " I can't expect you to follow me forever. "
Haytham rose and followed us wordlessly. I don't think he knew how he felt about it to be honest. Not being part of the Templars was one thing, but to now turn around and help the assassins against them? I knew he was hesitant to do so, but he would. They were going to murder his son.
We hopped aboard the Warrior Princess, calling to Kevin Roux and a dozen other men to sail my ship north to New York where I told Nora to hide herself from the Templars whilst Haytham and I tracked down Charles Lee. I spotted him one afternoon walking through the streets and followed them. Haytham, with his superior espionage skills, blended into the crowd around him whilst he spoke to someone from the prison. He then came back to me and explained what was happening.
" Connor and Hickey were caught by the local guards dealing in counterfeited money. Charles got Hickey out of prison and they mean to hang the boy tomorrow morning, accusing him of plotting to assassinate George Washington. But I will not let him die. "
My expression softened at his words. " I'm glad you've come to your senses. " I smiled, wrapping my arms around his waist to kiss him.
The morning of the execution, Haytham and I dressed in dark cloaks and made our way to the execution square, awaiting Connor's arrival, prepared to rescue him. I hadn't seen Nora since arriving in New York but I was pretty sure she was in the crowd as well, somewhere. Haytham was tense and I think he had finally realised what he was about to do - save the life of an assassin and fight against the Templars. He was basically about to do what I had done the night that I saved his life and killed an assassin. I gripped his hand to try to reassure him but he kept his eyes straight ahead as Connor appeared on foot from the corner of the street, his hands bound in front of him, covered in dirt and blood, being pushed towards the gallows by none other than Thomas Hickey, who bore the same self satisfied expression he had worn when he had tortured me all those years ago.
Haytham tensed even more but I couldn't pause to soothe him. I separated from him, keeping near to Connor whilst Haytham made his way towards the gallows, positioning himself to be able to through a knife in time to save his son. " You said there would be a trial. " I heard Connor saying.
" Traitors don't get trials, I'm afraid. Lee saw to that. It's straight to the gallows for you. " Hickey sneered.
" I will not die today. " Connor said proudly and I couldn't help but smile, admiring his defiance. Hickey then pushed him and he fell to his knees, and several people from the crowd taunted him and among them, I spotted Achilles. The man who I once called mentor looked much older, his hair and beard now white and his skin wrinkly, holding himself up with a cane. I swallowed hard, as if seeing a ghost from my past life. I should have realised I would never be far from the battle between Assassins and Templars, no matter what I did with my life.
Connor was forced up the steps to the gallows and Charles Lee stepped up behind him. " Brothers, sisters, fellow patriots! " He began, earning a hushed silence from the crowd. " Several days ago we learnt of a scheme so vile, so dastardly that even repeating it now disturbs my being. The man before you plotted to murder our much beloved general. Indeed, what darkness or madness moved him, none can say. " I seethed angrily, cursing him under my breath. The man was a fraud, a liar, and a hateful lapdog. I thought about throwing my knife at him instead of at the rope that would take Connor's life, but quickly discarded the idea. Haytham would hate me if his son died because I preferred to kill Lee, so I had to submit to letting him live. For now.
A bag was secured over Connor's head and the rope pulled tight. I winced at the sight of it, looking for Haytham among the crowd, imagining how awful he felt at the sight of his own son about to be hung. But I was soon distracted as the trapdoor was opened beneath the assassin's feet and he fell through, but as soon as he did so, an arrow was shot from a rooftop somewhere and weakened the rope. But it did not break, and Connor was slowly being choked to death. That was, until a knife appeared out of nowhere and broke the rope, sending Connor to the ground just as the crowd gasped and backed away from a hooded man near the front of the crowd - a man I knew was Haytham. I pushed through the crowds to get to him, running parallel to the guards who were trying to attack him. I got to him just as he cut down the first guard, and I quickly cut down a second. The other guards seemed to think again, taking a step back and we made a run for it, heading down the side street out of sight.
No further than the next street, we removed our dark capes and the guards who were following us ran straight passed, not recognising us in our blue-grey coats. At the same time, Nora jumped down from the rooftops and flung her arms around his neck. " Thank you. " She muttered, taking him by surprise. " I didn't think you would actually do it. "
" He is my son. " Haytham answered sternly, timidly returning the hug.
" I know. And now I have to go help him finish Thomas Hickey. " She told us, about to run off again but I grabbed her arm to make her wait.
" Take me with you. I want to see him suffer. " I sneered, making her frown.
" Why? " She asked, looking over to Haytham as she knew I wouldn't answer her. But neither Haytham nor I told her about what Hickey had done to me all those years ago, and she conceded.
We arrived in time to see Connor pinning Hickey to the floor, ready to end his life. They were surrounded by a small group of people, George Washington among them, and I pushed through the crowd to stand next to Connor as he looked up at me in confusion while I sneered down at Hickey. " I'm glad I got to witness this. " I taunted him, smirking evilly.
" You dirty wrench. " He hissed. " Haytham made a huge mistake in marrying you. " He spat at my feet but I only smiled brighter.
" He made a mistake in letting you live after what you did to me. " I whispered so that only he and Connor could hear what I said, and before he could answer, Connor had slit his throat and looked at me with wide, predatory eyes.
" At ease men! At ease! Lower your weapons! " We were interrupted by Putnam who came to speak for Connor, looking grateful. " This man's a hero! The general can be stubborn sometimes. Piffle, he said when we warned him something like this would happen, piffle! " He scoffed, kicking Hickey' corpse.
" Stop! " Connor told him, respecting the dead man even though he was the enemy.
" He wanted to kill the commander, nearly killed you as well. He was a scoundrel. " The man said, and I chose that moment to back away from them to stand next to Nora, nodding to her as she brushed her blonde hair out of her face in the now pouring rain.
Connor strode straight towards us, still walking with his head high despite the obvious state of distress he was in after being in prison for so long. " Thank you. " He nodded to me, his voice softer than I had ever heard it. " You did not have to do that. "
" Of course I did, you are family. " I smiled, and he nodded his thanks again.
He then grabbed Nora by the hand and pulled her after him just as Haytham appeared from around the corner to stand by my side, looking on at Nora and his son as they disappeared in the crowd.
" Come. " He whispered, taking hold of my hand as I tried to decide if I should go after the two young people. " Let them be, they are old enough. " He insisted, and I sighed, agreeing. Nora was twenty years old now, she could take care of herself.
Haytham was in an unusual mood after that and had barely spoken since leaving New York. " Haytham, please talk to me. " I begged him, but he only sighed and continued to stare out at the open sea. " Haytham! " I had had enough and I shook him with both of my arms to get his attention. Only then did he look down at me, his eyes dark and full of sadness.
" I am sorry. " He whispered. " It is still hard for me to accept that I am no longer a Templar. "
" Then let me help. " I pleaded. " Remember when we came back from France in '57? I made a promise to you. I promised that I would never betray you, that I would always be here for you. It's been nineteen years Haytham, and I still haven't broken that promise. " I reminded him, crossing my arms over my chest.
His expression softened and he rubbed his nose against mine, wrapping his arms around my waist to pull me nearer to him. " And I cannot thank you enough. You have been the only person in my life to be true to me, to be faithful, to be interested in me and not in the purpose I serve. " He smiled, and I pressed my lips against his softly. We may have known each other for twenty years, he may have been fifty one and I forty eight, but our love had remained just as strong as it had been all those years ago. " I should have left the Templars long ago. " He muttered.
I smiled up at him. " You never cease to amaze me. "
" Yet it is no doubt of your doing. " He smirked lightly, mocking my confusion. " Ah, little one, you still don't know do you? "
" Know what? " I frowned.
" The reason I prevented Church from killing you at the Southgate fort the first time we met. " He said. " It was because I saw something in your eyes, the same thing I see today. Passion, strength, determination, all noble qualities. And you were beautiful, you still are. You interested me, and I let you live in the hope of convincing you to join my order. You would have been a great asset." He explained.
" But you never pushed. " I replied, cocking my head. " You insinuated it once, but that's all. What changed your mind? "
" You did. " He smiled. " You showed me that there was more to life than I had thought. You showed me that freedom has it's uses despite my reticence, and beliefs aside - I fell in love with you Eleanor. Deeply, endlessly, passionately in love with you and it has never stopped. "
I had to push back the tears as I listened to him speak, never having heard anything so beautiful fall from anyone's lips before. He made my heart swell, my lips turn into a smile, my eyes shine with a happiness that had only ever been there since he had been by my side. " I am glad to no longer be part of an order that has tortured you, kidnapped you, partaken in the killing of your parents, and fought against you your whole life. An order that now seeks to destroy our family, my own son. This is not what I signed up for. " He said with a harsher voice, determination shining through his eyes. " My only priority is protecting my family, nothing is more important anymore. "