Hello!

A/N: Here's another chapter! :)

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

Life continues, along with the struggles...

Enjoy! ^^

XXVI

'The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread.'

January 1782…

"Haytham… Haytham, we must speak," Ann called out as she noticed the Templar enter the Manor, returning from his usual weekly meetings with the Order. He smiled as she quickly walked up to him and leaned in to kiss his cheek in a welcoming manner, like she usually did for the past weeks every time he came home.

"Is something the matter?" He asked, his voice hinting at his genuine interest in her daily affairs.

"I know I've said this before," she began and he let out a soft sigh, "but I really don't appreciate Germain's Christmas gift, and I know Christmas is long past, but it still bothers me, a lot."

"Ann, I can't send her back. She works here and she's a gift, it would be rude of me."

"She's a human being, a slave, Haytham. I am perfectly aware of the related laws and Julie has been telling me slavery is popular nowadays, especially in the Caribbean, but never in my right mind would I imagine having someone in her situation, in my own house!"

"I understand your motives, I honestly do, and I wish I could do something about it, but I can't and that's that."

"You are Germain's superior, you have so much power, so what's stopping you?"

"Common courtesy Ann, it's normal, perfectly normal, to have an unpaid worker in your house. It's not out of the ordinary for the upper class, for us."

"We don't have to be like everyone else."

"I will not argue over this, you must accept the fact and leave it be. I don't want you to mention this to me ever again, especially when Germain arrives for his training later today."

"Well… May I at least talk to her, do something to make her feel more welcome?"

"I cannot comprehend what on earth is running through that head of yours, but I will give you permission to do so, since you are the Mistress of this house as much as I am it's Master."

Ann looked at him with disappointed eyes, but still attempted to smile. "Thank you," she spoke up and bowed her head, turning away without another word. When she didn't feel his hand on her shoulder or his lips on her neck, she assumed he didn't want to see her, so she reluctantly let out a long and deliberately annoyed breath before making her way towards the kitchen. Haytham saw her departure with somewhat sad eyes, wondering if he should have acted differently, agreed with her or at least embraced her.

But he didn't want to dwell on such a trivial argument.

He just wished she understood the society she chose to live in, he wished she didn't suffer because of such issues. No one he ever knew displayed such distaste to slavery, especially since it became so prevalent in both the Old and New Worlds. It was wrong, he knew it was wrong, but he had to accept it or else he wouldn't hear the end of it from all the nobles he knew and the Templar's that kept his income high and his Manor warm. It took time to grow accustomed to such faults which society seemed to see as right, but Ann wasn't adjusting. He knew he had to change that, but in contrast had no idea how. He quietly followed the woman, figuring he still had time before he had to get the lesson ready for both Ann and Francois. He leaned against the doorframe, making sure she didn't notice, and watched her. She cautiously approached the African woman, as if she felt she'd scare her, and tapped her on her arm, slightly surprising them both.

"Hi," Ann said quietly. The older woman looked at her with wide eyes, Ann was crossing the boundaries by actually engaging in a conversation with the slave woman, but it seemed her carefree smile showed she didn't care. The woman gave her a broken, cautious, smile for she felt she was being watched for an out of place response that would have her beaten or worse, but what was an out of place response in such circumstances? "You don't have to worry, no one is going to hurt you here," Ann continued, rather convinced of her own words, "I promise."

Haytham sighed quite heavily at that moment but decided to stay and make sure his lover didn't say something completely inappropriate. He was glad the cooks and maids were out shopping at that moment in time as well, or else gossip would spread faster than a fire.

"Why do you speak with me Mistress?" The woman asked softly, her voice however wavering with a tinge of fear.

"I know of your circumstances and I want to at least help you through, you should know you have my support," Ann explained with a tender voice and kept her smile caring and inviting.

"But am I not just another slave, Mistress?"

"No, you can't think of yourself as one, none of this is your fault. Please, tell me, what is your name? Where do you come from?"

"I was given the name Penelope, by Master Germain. I came from across the sea, from the Caribbean. Until I came here I was moved from auction to auction with my husband and daughter."

"You have a family?" Ann said, her voice suddenly layered with sadness and pity. Her eyes began to shine with a fresh coat of tears and her brows furrowed, she felt like a part of her was ripped out, as if it was her own family that had been taken away. Haytham sighed yet again and stepped quietly into the kitchen, the morning light entering through the windows and casting shadows.

"Is everything alright Mistress?" Penelope asked and without thinking put her hand on the woman's shoulder, attempting to comfort her.

"Yes," Ann said before softly sniffling and trying to smile again, "I'm really sorry about your family. I- I wish-."

"Ann," Haytham called out from the other end of the room and she immediately looked around, finding him standing there with his arms crossed, a look of disapproval and regret painted on his face. "Ann, I'm sure Penelope has work to do, it would be wrong of you to keep her from her chores, come here," he said, not even once giving the older woman a look, his eyes fixed on Ann's. But she tore her eyes away and looked at Penelope with tears in her eyes, smiling at the woman and muttering an apology.

She obeyed the Templar and followed after him into the largest living room in the Manor, the Golden Gallery as he called it, since the ceiling was decorated with gold linings and fittings, and the beautiful paintings on the walls all had golden frames. The room was enormous, with several imported armchairs, sofas and settee's scattered around on top of patterned rugs. Against the walls stood tall mahogany bookcases and cabinets, opposite were many windows which reached the ceiling, small window chairs standing by each one. Most of the furniture was imported from master craftsmen in France and the Netherlands, while some rugs came from as far as Persia and Constantinople. It was Ann's favourite room, it was often bright even during the winter and there were hundreds of books to read while reclining on her favourite mahogany settee which was covered in emerald cut velvet. It was the most comfortable seat she ever sat on in her life.

As they entered the empty and almost silent room, the three chandeliers sparkling in the sunlight and momentarily blinding Ann as she looked up, Haytham shut the doors behind them and followed after her as she took her shoes off, unable to walk across such expensive rugs without bare feet, and tiptoed across to her aforementioned favourite settee. She was wearing a long and free-flowing cashmere closed gown, with ruffled 3/4 sleeves. It was ivory and had a low neckline and was decorated at the front with embroidered lace and small pearls. She still looked as pure as ever, despite no longer being a woman of chastity. No man would have guessed so however, not when she always glowed with such youth and virtue. He still couldn't comprehend that he was the one to corrupt her. She sat down and straightened her dress with her palms, leaning against the silk pillows. He caught up, taking his jacket off to reveal his cotton shirt and crimson waistcoat. He placed them nearby and then sat beside the girl. He leaned back and briefly stretched his legs and arms, noticing the woman watching him for a moment before returning her gaze to her hands, the surface of her knuckles as always chapped and dry, even more so since she loved to forget her gloves whenever she went outside during the winter months.

"Tough meeting I assume?" She asked quietly, disturbing the silence of the room only briefly. He nodded and rested his elbow on the arm of the settee, placing the tips of his fingers against his temple, seemingly already tired despite it only being late morning.

"The Templars are as lively as ever," he replied. "And Germain is coming today, which is a chore in itself."

"I guess even after so many years of service they still don't go easy on you."

"Yeah, they wouldn't," he agreed quickly and then looked towards her, he didn't want to talk about the Templars, he wanted to talk about her. She still looked down, as if what Penelope told her really had a major effect on her. "I don't want you to talk to Penelope again."

"Why? She didn't do anything wrong," Ann countered, looking into the mans eyes suddenly.

"No, but what she told you had a negative effect on you, and I won't let you suffer by listening to her problems."

"It didn't have a negative effect on me."

"Don't lie to me Ann," he said, turning his body to face her, her lips pursing with guilt. He gave her a stern look and shook his head, "just don't talk to her."

"I don't have anyone else though," her voice faltered, "when you're not here I'm all alone."

"You have all the maids, and when it gets warmer outside I will take you to meet some new people, so do what I say."

"But Penelope needs someone, I need to help her."

"Did I not tell you to never again speak to me of this?"

"She has a daughter Haytham!" Ann raised her voice, leaning in closer to him, "she needs to be with her family, she wants to see her daughter grow up, she wants to be with her husband again."

"I know you can relate Ann, we both lost our families as well, but there is nothing, absolutely nothing I can do," he replied, ignoring her anger and instead trying to stay calm.

"Please Haytham, please tell me you'll do something, I can't live like this, knowing I have everything I desire yet she can't even tell her own daughter she loves her and cares for her."

The man didn't reply, instead he stared into her eyes with intensity in his own, and he couldn't help but feel responsible, the woman's orbs were pleading, teary with sorrow, everything taking such a toll on her. He looked away and wanted to get up, but she grabbed at his forearm, a tear sliding down her cheek. She whispered something and a melancholy of emotions crossed his expression. She pulled at his sleeve and dropped her head down, sniffling as she cried.

"Ann," he muttered and sat back down, closer to her than before, so much so that their bodies were pressed against each other. He reached his palm out to rest against her cheek, lifting her face up so he could see the tears that were slowly slipping from her eyes. He sighed and used his thumb to wipe her tears in their tracks. "Will you stop crying if I promise I will attempt to sort this out?"

"I will," she murmured and he let her go, letting her wipe her eyes with the sleeve of her ivory gown. She let a soft laugh escape her lips, "I'm sorry if I overreacted, I just…"

"It's alright," he whispered and brought her close again, her palms finding his shirt as he pulled her into an embrace. She rested her cheek against his chest, hearing that familiar heartbeat, his fragrance as if enveloping her just like his arms did at that moment.

"I can never be angry at you, at least not for long."

"I know, I never even have a reason to be angry at you Haytham, none of this is your fault."

"I don't want us to argue, I just want to have you in my arms when I return, I feel alive when I'm with you," he whispered and she suddenly leaned backwards until she laid on the settee with him on top of her. She laughed as she did so and closed her eyes, feeling his hands roam her body through the fabric of her dress. He stopped and rested on his elbow, his lips inches away from her own. Her eyes opened to find his staring at her with admiration.

"Can Germain just not come? I want to have you all to myself today."

"I am all yours Ann," he replied with a sly grin painted on his lips, "after Germain leaves we will engage in another night of passionate love-making, won't we?" He said with exaggerated dramatics in his tone, suddenly reaching his hands down to tickle her waist, a loud giggle escaping her lips as she wriggled under him, unable to control herself.

"Don't say it like that, it's embarrassing," she admitted after they calmed down, a dark blush covering her cheeks when she knew she had something to look forward to. Sleeping with Haytham was like a paradise of their own making, he noted on several occasions they could go on for hours if she wasn't so sleepy all the time, for he himself had so much vigour for his age it was unbelievable. She found herself licking her lips - unaware that the man was now straddling her hips - as she imagined how heavenly he felt, what was even better was that all of his body belonged to her alone, and vice-versa. She never wanted anyone to have her as much as she wanted Haytham to.

"What are you thinking of?" He asked, noticing she was in her own little world again, looking very delicious when she had such a captivating look on her face.

"Of the things we get up to before we fall asleep," she replied confidently, as if talking about something completely innocent.

"It doesn't always have to be at night you know..," he muttered as he lowered himself again, their lips briefly making contact before he spoke against the chapped surface of her own, "if you so desire it we can do it here, right now."

"But what is someone comes in?" She asked, pouting.

"I've locked the door."

"There's another door on the other side of this room Haytham, that one isn't locked."

"Excuses, excuses… I thought you wanted me right now, but I guess you can wait."

"I think you'd be the one waiting, you should know I'm very patient."

"You're coming to the lesson too aren't you?" Haytham suddenly asked, nuzzling his nose in her neck, inhaling her incredibly sweet scent.

"What? You never told me I am, I'm not training to be a Templar though, and I am so unprepared anyway," she replied with a slight surprise in her voice.

"I want to train you, it would help you adapt to this life, to the Order."

"But can't we do that without Germain?"

"It would save me having to repeat myself."

"Are you sure? I mean, I'm not a Templar Haytham, nor an Assassin, I'm just me. I don't know if I'm suitable to bear such knowledge."

"You're more than suitable," he said softly, "please, do it for me…"

"I will, of course, if it lets me spend time with you, I'll do anything."

He smiled then, and reached out to lock his lips with hers again, his hand caressing her side until he reached her leg, pushing it upwards so that the fabric of her dress slid down to reveal her skin. "Good girl," he muttered as they broke the deliberate kiss. "God, I want you…"

"Haytham," she whispered his name, the atmosphere tense with lust, as if they would be caught any minute, which made it all the more exciting. He moved the skirt of her dress so he could feel the heated skin of her thighs, his body moving backwards so that his lips caught that heavenly soft skin, eliciting a few equally soft moans from her throat. He was about to continue and take his shirt off, his fingers already undoing the top buttons, but a knock suddenly sounded from the end of the room, before Julie called out from behind the door.

"Master Kenway?"

"I… Yes?" Haytham called out with reluctance in his voice before sighing at having to stop his little rendezvous with Ann. She giggled though, watching the agitation on his face as he got up from her body, letting him sit back up.

"Mister Francois Germain is here, as well as another man of his stature, who claims that you know him."

"What?" Haytham hissed, looking at Ann - her eyes as surprised as his own - before shouting again, "what's his name?"

"He calls himself Shay. Shay Cormac."

"Who's that?" Ann asked and Haytham frowned, never having anticipated to see that man again. In all honesty he assumed he was dead.

"Someone from my past. I must go, I will send him away, he came uninvited."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Ann, don't worry, two Templars are enough for you in one day. You don't need to meet him… And anyway I don't want him to see you."

"Shall I stay here then?"

"Yes, please do, I will get Julie to make you some tea."

"Thank you," she replied, folding her palms together as she straightened her back.

"Wait for me here," he said and sent her a warm smile before quickly throwing on his jacket and making his way to the doors, swiftly unlocking them to find the surprised maid standing before him.

"Master Kenway?"

"I will sort this out, prepare tea for Ann and sit with her, make sure she doesn't leave this room."

"Yes, of course," she replied, Haytham handing her the key.

"In case she wants to go, lock all the doors."

"Are you sure that's the appropriate thing to do Master Kenway?"

"You answer to me before her, I am only keeping her safe, remember this," he said with a harsh tone, pointing his finger at her to emphasise his point. She nodded, bowing quickly and departing for the kitchen while he made his way to greet the two Templars.

Some time later…

"Julie?"

"Miss, I've brought the tea and the french macaroons that you enjoy so much," the maid said in a rush as she placed the platter on top of a nearby coffee table.

"Thank you… Is everything alright though? Did Haytham say anything?"

"Everything is fine Miss, no need to worry."

"I am worried, I'm very worried about him."

"Master Kenway knows what he is doing."

"Yes, I do hope he does."

"Julie?"

"Yes Miss?" The maid answered, sitting beside the younger woman.

"Do you have a family?"

"Yes, we all do don't we?"

"I mean, are you married?"

"Yes, actually my husband is currently away on business in America, which is why I chose to become a maid here."

"What does he do?"

"He's a sailor on a cargo ship, we're both from a poor family, so each of us have to earn money. If you're the wife of an upper-class gentleman though, you are strictly forbidden to do most kinds of jobs. It's the man's responsibility to earn the wage."

"Do you love him?" Ann asked after a moment, her brows sinking as she realised that a woman indeed had no freedom once she wedded, just like her step-mother told her.

"I do, of course, I would hate to marry into a loveless union."

"But most do, don't they..," Ann added, sighing heavily as her words trailed off in a breath.

"The upper classes do, yes, it's to ensure good fortune, status, title and success in business amongst other things."

Ann looked away, realising that what she felt for Haytham was not enough. She had no wealth, no name, no status nor power. She was just a woman, a mistress adopted by him, taken under his wing. But until when? Was he allowed to do as he pleased, was he able to shelter her all her life like that? What if one day he was forced to marry someone, because he needed the power and wealth to become a more respected and powerful Templar… What if they wanted him to marry a Templar woman who would provide him with all those things that Julie described? That would be the end of her, she would be thrown out, forced to become a maid or a beggar or to work in a brothel, or anywhere so she could survive.

"Miss? Is everything alright?" Julie suddenly asked, noticing tears falling from the girl's eyes like rain on an autumn day. Ann too noticed after a while, previously unaware that all the thoughts, every pondering and deep culmination of what would become of her, made her weep bitter tears. Haytham wouldn't marry the supposed woman out of love, no, his heart would either belong to Ann herself or no one at all, but she indeed feared he would marry out of sheer desire for power and the furthering of his Templar prospects. He loved power after all, maybe not more than her, she hoped, but he still loved it.

"Haytham will marry one day… Will he not?" Ann asked, her voice monotone as she seemed to stare into the distance of the hall.

"I'd rather think it would be you marrying, since you are a young maiden after all."

"I will only marry him, no one else, ever. I'd rather be killed than forced to marry without love, I can't live without him," Ann stuttered, slowly lifting her palm to wipe her eyes.

"Miss… I don't know if that is the right thing to say. You can't talk about death so lightly."

"Will he marry me, Julie?" Ann suddenly turned, rather hysterically grabbing the woman's hands as if searching for a lifeline, a definite answer, "only me?"

"I cannot be the one to answer that, I'm afraid, Miss," Julie murmured and attempted to smile with sheer politeness, her expression slightly worried for the younger girl.

"Yes, of course, I'm sorry," Ann replied and let the maid go, reaching out to sip at the tea, closing her eyes, unable to stand the questions that ran through her mind any longer.

"I must speak to him of this."

"No, Miss, please don't."

"What? Why?" Ann turned and furrowed her brows.

"He will discuss this with you once he is ready, I'm sure. If you love him you will give him time to think everything over, won't you, Miss?"

"Think what over? Whether to stay with me or throw me out? I know nothing of what on earth he is planning to do with me, so how am I to stay calm when the only reason I left America was to be with him?"

"Please, Miss, don't raise your voice, I'm sure everything will turn out the way you want it to."

"God, I hope you're right Julie. I'm a spoiled and ungrateful, wretched woman, yet all I can think of is whether he loves me or not. Do you know what it's like to have someone on your mind every second that you breathe? He even follows me in my dreams, he's like a phantom, he never leaves. Maybe he doesn't feel like telling me his feelings, I know he prefers to show them rather than speak words, but I need to know what is to become of me."

"I understand, but you must, you must, by God, give him time. It is not your place, Miss, to comment upon his behaviour when in his presence, you must wait. Learn patience. It is the only virtue necessary to get by anywhere you go."

"I know… I know," Ann breathed out, pressing her palm against her temple in agony, "I just want to be worthy of him already," her hand shook, "I want to be of some use, not just a porcelain doll that has to be pampered and taken care of because she cannot do so herself. I lived alone for most of my life, I managed perfectly, but since I've met him I've relied on him for everything. Even more so after we arrived here. It's as if I'm supposed to sit in a cage, never speak, and wait for him to do with me as he wants. All because I so undeniably love him…"

"Isn't that the fate of us all? We were born to serve Miss, we are women, and we are here to please, to marry, to craft, to play music, to bear children, to love and be loved. I'm sorry if this is not what you want to hear, and I understand that your life up until now has been very different, since no one was there to teach you nor control you, but this is England. This is society, and here we have rules and traditions and a specific life set out for all of us. This is your life now, and you have chosen it. Only by allowing Master Kenway to be happy with just the thought of returning home to you, will you be happy yourself."

Ann sat still, another tear sliding down her cheek, but she quickly caught it with a handkerchief she found on the table. She nodded slowly then, as if she was completely broken, and looked towards the maid, smiling softly. "Yes, you're right Julie. I guess I just have to grow up. I have to be not who I want to be, but who Haytham wants me to be, and I will do so if it pleases him. I will do so if it will one day win me a place in his heart."

Please leave a review/fave/follow if you enjoyed this chapter and would like more! Thank you! ^^

Till next time!

AssassinSuzy