Hi,

A/N: Welcome to what I call Arc 2, kind of like Volume 2 of the series. Hope you like the upcoming chapters and thank you for staying with this series, your support means a lot to me! :3 Note: Mohawk translations are in the A/N at the end.

! Spoiler Alert ! Disclaimer: All characters (except Annora and Marie) belong to Ubisoft, as do the cover images.

Haytham and Ann set off to New York for their journey to England.

Enjoy! ^^

XXI

'We're cruel and desperate creatures, set in our conquering ways.'

Early October days turned into longer nights, heavy showers escaping the darkened skies every now and again, until a full week passed and the day came when the late autumn voyage was due to begin. It was a calm Sunday morning, the rain from the previous day settled down during the night and caused a damp and foggy dusk as the sun rose. Ann held onto the reins with one hand, her other palm lovingly patting the horse which stayed with them since their encounter with Connor. Her eyes were cast down, her usually messy curls tied into two long french braids, Haytham's tricorn resting on top of her head, slightly oversized but not enough to fall off when she tilted her head to look at all the bags he tied to the saddle. She packed most of her clothes for the journey, Haytham however promised to buy her new attire when they arrived, while he himself took only a few articles of clothing she managed to buy at local markets in the previous months. He packed his pistols and hidden blades, she had his sword sheathed in her belt. She didn't want to wear her blades, as she didn't know how to control them and stop them from scarring her skin, but she packed them in a safe place to take along nonetheless.

"I'm sorry if this is all heavy for you," she whispered to the animal while she brushed her fingers through its mane. She visited her Father's grave the day before, paying her final respects and telling him about everything that's happened. Haytham came along after he let her be alone and stood there, waiting for her and watching her. She couldn't even explain how happy she was that he was there for her, and despite all the hardships, they seemed to get through everything. He was her comfort and she no longer felt pain or sadness when she thought of her Father, with Haytham by her side she only remembered the Assassin with fondness and pride. Haytham himself was silent, but appeared to pray and apologise to the fragments of Francis that were left in this world. She smiled at the Templar then, and told him that he was forgiven, through her. He only thanked her and pressed a kiss to her temple, before they returned home.

Haytham shut the cottage door and locked it so that no one could break in and take what little was left of their life there. She looked up to see him approaching and moved along the saddle as he climbed on top of it behind her, tying his arms around her waist and taking the reins from her hold. She leaned back into his chest, he wore his waist-coat and jacket, along with his matching breeches and boots, and like always, he was warm. She wore a longer, more traditional, dress. It was one that her step-mother gave her once, she never really tried it on before, but deemed the occasion appropriate as the dress allowed her to blend in, especially in a town like New York. She also wore a woolen cape with an attached hood, so she could pull it up if the situation required it. The horse began to gallop at a steady pace and Haytham allowed Ann to rest her head against him, her palms grasping at his arms for support.

"You've stole my hat," he joked and looked down at her for a second before returning his eyes to the path. She laughed softly and took the tricorn off, stretching her hand up to put it on his head. As her hand descended down it paused against his cheek, scratching at it very softly, feeling as he tightened his grip on her waist considerably, it was as if he was embracing her. "You could keep it on, I wouldn't have minded."

"It suits you better," she countered and traced his jaw with the tip of her fingers, her eyes admiring the changing colours of the leaves as they gathered in groups on the dirt, beneath towering oak trees, their branches becoming more bare every day.

"I'll buy you your own when we arrive."

"Thank you."

"You indeed look beautiful in one, so I'll have one tailored for you."

"You don't have to, isn't that expensive?" She asked, the familiar rosy hue forming on her cheeks after he so openly complimented her.

"I don't care for the price, consider it a gift."

"Okay," she whispered and returned her hand to his arm, tilting her head forward as her eyes suddenly felt heavy. She didn't sleep that well the previous nights, first she had reoccurring nightmares about what happened with Charles, the images repeating themselves in her mind over and over until cold sweat ran over her and she woke up, panicking. Haytham was by her side though, always embracing and caressing her with comfort, as he developed a habit of slipping into her bed at night, despite it being too small for them. He always said in the morning that he only did it because he was worried about her – she was always cold at night and suffered from said nightmares – but she knew he had other reasons of his own as well. Secondly, when the dreams settled down, she struggled to fall asleep because of the anticipation and stress of the voyage. She never travelled further than New York or Boston, so the thought of a month or so journey on a ship had her worried but very excited, which evidently kept her up at night, explaining why she was so tired during the day.

"Is it comfortable..," she began and he hummed, listening to her the whole time, her slow breaths when she didn't speak served as his symphony. "Is sleeping in the cabins comfortable onboard a warship?"

"I won't lie, it's a bit shaky and cold," he replied. She pouted and let out a quiet annoyed groan. He let out a low chuckle, "I'll be with you, I'll make sure you're too tired to even mind those little things."

Her eyes widened instantly, her blush deepening as she gathered what he meant. Her body began to feel even hotter than before, contrasting shivers running up and down her skin. She felt a knot tie in her stomach, and considered it the worst moment to feel like that. She struggled to stop ideas and images from flooding her mind's eye, feeling like a risqué woman, her thoughts more than indecent. But was it really as wrong as she made it out to be? She loved Haytham, and always believed that expressing love as long as it was honest and built around trust was a natural part of a womans life. Her step-mother convinced her one had to wait till marriage, but Ann honestly didn't want to, and didn't have the intention of following tradition. Not when she was with a man like Haytham, who ignited in her undeniable and unexplainable lust and longing. He too told her many times he wanted her, and when he comforted her in the night, she had to stop herself from letting him do with her as he wanted. She couldn't help the fact that it felt right and seemed right. As long as it was with Haytham, she was ready to give up her chastity.

"I could never imagine you wanting me like this, it's still like a dream to me, I can't believe it at all," she said after a while. His smile faded and he abruptly stopped the horse. He let the reins go to her surprise and suddenly his palms grasped her breasts, a loud gasp escaping her lips. His grasp was strong but still careful, and he loved how her lavish and soft mounds filled his hands. He leaned in and pressed kisses to the nape of her neck, his lips working their way down her neck as she tilted it to give him access, suckling on the skin until he left a few small, wine coloured bruises. The whole time she breathed out quiet sighs and moans, until she couldn't hold back any longer and let out a cry of pleasure. He broke the contact and moved his hands down to her stomach before brushing them down along the inside of her thighs, through the dress she wore, glad the fabric was thin enough for her to feel his touch and react to the shivers it caused. Her heart beat faster and faster by the second, and with him she discovered new impossible speeds that her heart could reach. Her mind was completely taken over by the pleasure he was giving her as he kept on rubbing her skin through the dress, the friction heating her flesh until she couldn't bear it. No one ever treated her with such tender passion, and he felt like he could not wait any longer.

"Haytham..," she breathed out, "we must go."

He heard her plea and stopped, grasping the reins instead and throwing them up and down, patting his foot against the horse until it began to gallop, much faster than before. It took her some time to recover from what had just taken place, but the knot in her stomach that tightened with every touch decided to stay as it was, and make her imagine all sorts of things that could have taken place there and then.

"Don't ever question me," he spoke up, his voice strict and filled with his usual authority which never failed to make her quiver with submission. "Nor question my desire for you, as I want you more than ever before, and will take what is due when the time is right. For as much as I want it, I know you lust for me in an even greater measure. I will give you what you want, I will give you anything and everything."

"Yes... I will await with a heavy heart Haytham," she replied quietly, with an equally quiet laugh – as she usually never said things in such a poetic manner – to which she heard him smirk with satisfaction. He had her exactly where he wanted her, the woman who was his everything submitted her will to him completely and without doubt nor question. He couldn't have been more satisfied in all of his lifetime than at that moment.

The journey to the New York port took only two or three hours by horse. Ann sent a letter to her sister the previous day, wanting to avoid having to visit her, knowing she was staying in the city at the time. She thought of telling her she was leaving in person, but after their previous encounter she gave up on the prospects of another argument. Marie probably didn't want to see her anyway.

Upon arrival at the port Haytham presented their papers to one of the crewmen who was in charge of cargo and passengers, while Ann found a nearby bench to sit on, enjoying the midday sun that finally decided to show itself from behind the clouds. Haytham then told her they had another half hour before setting off, and decided to go onboard to speak with the Captain about their cabin and discuss other evidently important details. The woman gave him a smile before he left - promising to come back for her soon - and leaned back, stretching. She admired the ship, it was gigantic, the wood was painted in gold and red shades that reflected the light of the sun. It had many large, protruding, cannons and several swivel guns. The sails were a pure white, flowing proudly in the wind. She never saw anything like it, it was truly magnificent and at that moment she genuinely appreciated the work of human hands, especially as she realised she was to travel onboard such a vessel.

She realised those were her last moments in America, the familiar sights, smells of fresh produce in markets and the crowds of people, going about their daily lives, would all change faster than she had anticipated. As she was observing the world around her, she noticed a hooded man taking a seat beside her quite suddenly. His robes looked familiar, just like the town itself became to her over the years, and he too leaned back, reaching his hands to push down the hood that obstructed the view of his face. Her eyes couldn't believe it for a second, but then she admitted she was no longer surprised by anything that could happen any more, she had seen enough already to expect things such as those to happen. It was Connor.

His head tilted to look her in the eyes as she stared into his own hazel orbs, both of them leaning against the brick wall that the bench rested by. Her gaze momentarily softened and she gave him a soft, expectant smile, she somehow felt that there would always be a chance to say a final good-bye to those you had met in your lifetime, those who had affected you in one way or another.

"I didn't give you this," he said, taking out a letter from his pocket and handing it to her with care. She took it from his palm without question, for a second the warmth of their fingertips melting into each other, but only for a second. "Read it when you have a spare moment. When you're in London." Then she noticed he also held a small bouquet of wild flowers in his hand, the petals suddenly closer to her eyes as he presented it to her. She could have sworn there was a very faint blush painting his cheeks at that moment. She accepted the flowers and tenderly brushed the beautiful multi-coloured and varied petals with her fingers.

"Thank you, they are wonderful."

"I wish you told me it was you leaving, and not your sister or some other relative."

"You would have stopped me though."

"That may be true. Still, I would have had more time to accept the fact that you're going to be worlds away from me."

"I'm sorry, for everything I've done. Know it wasn't because you're an Assassin or because I don't like you for some reason... You are a very kind-hearted man Connor, and I will never forget you and your good deeds as a man of honour and courage. I only did all those things out of love for your Father, nothing less, nothing more. It was just unquestionable love that led my actions."

"I know, now I know. And now I understand. My opinion of him will most likely never change, but the way he looks at you..," Connor paused and a smile crossed his lips for a moment or so, "he never looked at anyone with such attachment... Such devotion I should say. So I'm letting him go free, only because he will no longer be a threat to my people nor the people of this land, and because I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm glad, I hope one day I will see you once more Connor," she admitted, her voice sincere and in a way loving, yet filled with sadness. "I will write to you, so that I might change your opinion of Haytham, so that you will see him for the man he was hiding inside himself for all of his life."

"Ehtshenorónhkhwa, Ann, you love him. I can see it in your eyes, in how determined you are. Thank you for trying to change him, thank you for being faithful to the end."

"It's my duty."

"Just please," his eyes pleaded with her, "it is a long road until he becomes a changed man, don't be surprised when the Templar he is shines through and hurts you or those around you. You must remember this."

"I understand your worry, but in the end Connor, I've bought this upon myself, I will face the consequences of my decisions. For nothing is true, and everything is permitted."

A smile crossed his lips again as she said that, there was a part of her that was just like her Father, an Assassin by birth. He wanted to tell her he loved her, he wanted to beg her to stay, but he knew she already belonged to another, and no matter how long he would try, she would always love his Father.

"I'm glad I met that eksá:'a. That little girl, lost in the woods..," he breathed out as he neared her, their eyes meeting again. She smiled softly and he was so satisfied with just seeing her smile that his heart clenched in both joy, and agony. She leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, placing her hand on top of his for the last time, his skin soft just like his scent, forest-like and brimming with the delicate embrace of nature. The gesture lasted for only a moment before she got up from the bench, but he captured that moment, and promised himself he would remember it for all eternity. She waved her hand and he realised she was on her feet, so he quickly looked up at her form, hearing as she said his name for the last time.

"Good-bye Connor," she called out with a smile on her face, her hand holding onto the flowers and the envelope he gave her, the little duffel bag that she carried with her in her other palm. She looked happy, content, grown up. No longer the suffering and vulnerable girl he protected all those years ago. Then he felt and saw her aura, his eagle sense involuntarily taking over, and the wonderful arrangement of colours he saw was the most beautiful sight he saw in his life, so magnificent it imprinted itself in his memory. Then he waved back, grinning at her, wanting her to leave knowing he had no hard feelings, no regrets, only happiness and love.

"Good-bye Annora, may we meet again, in this life... Or the next."

A/N:Ehtshenorónhkhwa = You love him

eksá:'a = (little) girl

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Till next time!

AssassinSuzy