Disclaimers: I do not own any of these characters, locations, concepts, etc. If I did I wouldn't be putting them here.
Summary: The growing town of Davenport gets a new citizen in the form of a school teacher. Not everything learned in life comes from a classroom. The story ends one of three different ways depending on 2 turning points.
This is an AU set starting shortly before the end of Assassin's Creed 3. It lightly references some things from the novel Forsaken but I haven't stayed true to the plot of it. Again AU. And in conclusion: Alternate Universe. Feel free to leave messages or reviews saying "But! But!" but don't expect me to change anything. I will go so far as to say this was inspired by my beating the game and then looking around and saying "Where were all the women?!" Zio and Dobby don't count as one was only in the game for a few minutes and the other is entirely optional based on side quests.
TRIGGER Warnings. This story contains some violence. Animals and/or people might die. Adult situations are suggested but not very explicit. There is one slightly more explicit scene towards the middle of one variation. Sexual assault is referenced but is never explicitly or occurs to main story characters. There is one scene that might be considered dubious consent from certain perspectives. I did not intend it as such.
The Lessons
Connor looked around Mile's End and thought back to when he first came to Davenport and it consisted of a single old man, his house and a bridge. These days it was almost a town and the inn bustled with traffic from the local dock. Somehow the homestead part of the name had been dropped altogether and the locals referred to it simple as Davenport. He hadn't spent much time here lately and he regretted it but even with Charles Lee in hiding there was a lot to be done. With his people moved this was the closest to a tribe he had and he felt responsible for keeping an eye on their progress. He spotted Big Dave and Dr. White at a table near the bar and joined them. Together they caught him up with the daily progress of the people. The Clark family had finished their barn in the valley and they would shortly have a surplus of cheese and milk for sale. Between Davenport and the growing number of people in the frontier meant Dr. White was busier than he had ever been and had started training Diana to be a full midwife on top of his assistant.
"But I think the most recent news is just arriving" Dr. White nodded as the door opened and Ellen entered towing a strange woman behind her. "Ah, I thought he might be here!" In the doorway the young lady froze, letting her eyes adjust to the light. Spotting the table Ellen targeted she swallowed nervously. Connor considered her carefully. Even more so than her gender her clothing set her apart from the other people in the room. She shook snow carefully from a deep navy wool cloak revealing a black wool dress trimmed with lace at the bodice and cuffs and a wide straw hat held down with a ribbon. He didn't know much of clothing but Ellen recently begun making high quality clothing for trade and he knew most people of the town would not be able to afford such an outfit even if it lacked the fancy embroidery and embellishments Ellen's work always seemed to sport.
"Connor! I want you to meet someone!" Ellen grinned broadly and half dragged the woman to the table causing Dave and Dr. White to rise to their feet. Belatedly Connor stood as well "Did you need me, Ellen?"
"Connor, this is Miss Carolyn Blair recently of Boston. Carolyn, this is the man I was telling you about." She smiled encouragingly at her. "Mr. Kenway" she held out her hand firmly. The address startled him.
"Connor" he corrected her, shaking her hand briefly. She glanced around the table where everyone watched them expectantly.
"I was wondering if I could have a moment of your time."
Curiosity starting to get the best of him he motioned her to a table in the corner out of ear shot of the familiar group whose conversation sprang up immediately as they left. Connor slid into the chair and gestured for her to the seat opposite.
"Why did you call me Kenway?" he asked as she settled herself stiffly, the rigid fabric of her dress holding her back straight and unpinned her hat placing it on the table between them revealing a mass of dark hair put up neatly.
"Oh dear, did I get your name wrong? I'm terribly sorry. " She frowned. "Nobody seemed to know your family name so I asked about. I thought at first it was Davenport like the town but they said you inherited it from a guardian but he was not your father. What an awful way to start a meeting." She looked decidedly uncomfortable.
Connor waved off her concern. "No, it's not wrong but I have never used my father's name. I came here as a boy."
Carolyn sighed. "My own father died when I was 11 and I went to a guardian but I am still his daughter and still bear his name with as much honor as I can. It is not always easy. "
"Which is what brings me to my problem. With the death of my own guardian" she swallowed and paled at that and he suddenly realized the significance of the darkness and relative simplicity of the gown. "I find myself needing to move. Boston is not the home it once was and every day the violence grows worse. I meant to find a place away from the towns to wait out the war until it is safe to leave. I heard the soldiers do not bother the people here as they do other places."
Connor smiled proudly. "So you wish permission to stay?"
Carolyn nodded "Yes, but before you decide I fear I should tell you that when I say soldiers I mean all of them. From both sides. You cannot make a wise choice if you do not have all the information. "
Realization dawned on him. "You're a Loyalist."
She tilted her head slightly and considered him. "The closest thing I have to family left lives in Kingston which is still a British territory and between the blockades and the privateers it is not safe to travel there which leaves me stuck in a precarious position. Not enough visible support for the patriots and they call me a traitor and string me up here. Not enough visible support to the loyalists and they string me up for a rebel when I get to Jamaica. I have no love for the Crown. I just have no love for the Patriots either; merchants of death the lot of them spending priceless flesh and blood to fight over pounds."
Connor leaned forward, his carefully keeping his voice down to avoid drawing attention. "The patriots fight for something more precious than money. They fight for freedom. " He rapped his knuckles on the table and she flinched.
"Freedom?" she snorted lightly "I do not care for their definition of it then. Freedom means getting to make your own choices and living with its consequences. Before the war I could purchase tea and pay the tax or not purchase it and not pay. I got to decide. Then because some merchants decided that they did not want to pay the tax that I should not be allowed to and began destroying shipments. I was not asked. Even when the war is over I doubt I'll have any say and more than I did before." She gestured around the room. "Of everyone in this room you are the only one who might be allowed any say and even then only in Boston, not New York where your skin is held more heavily against you and franchise is limited to the white, male and wealthy."
"You sound like my father." He sighed and leaned back in the chair.
She eyed him angrily. "Just because you do not like someone does not mean their reasoning is wrong. Thousands dead, tens of thousands wounded. And for what? Because they would not pay for the very things that benefit them most; good roads, a strong army, a fleet to protect merchant ships. Do they mean to strip the cities of their police? If not how will they pay for such things? They've yet to explain it to me. Perhaps they think as a woman I cannot understand. Ask the wives and mothers how much they would pay to have their loved ones back." Her voice went cold and quiet. "Ask me how much I would pay for mine. My life has been defined by war and death and I have had my fill of it." She looked away angrily and let the silence stretch.
"This is your land, Mr. Ke … Connor. I will abide by your decision if you wish me to go. I have no desire to bring trouble to anyone."
He considered her carefully. "Where would you go?"
"I'm not sure. Somewhere quiet I hope. Perhaps further out…" She ran the ribbon of her hat through her fingers thoughtfully "Sooner or later this war must end if for no other reason than we run out of each other to kill and when it does I'll be free to go. I may have no family left but I am not entirely friendless."
She grabbed her hat as if to stand. Out of the corner of his vision he could see the surprise and confusion on the faces of his friends.
"Wait. The frontier is dangerous. I would not recommend it to someone used to city life." he paused briefly then sighed. She did not seem particularly dangerous. "It would be best if you stay here until you can get your ship. I trust you will not cause problems. "
She shook her head.
"Where will you stay? There is no way to tell now how long you'll be here." He looked around the tavern briefly. Oliver and Corrine had recently expanded adding a few rooms but they were primarily for overnight visitors.
"I've been staying with Ellen and her daughter. I stayed here briefly and they run a very nice inn but it's hardly restful. It can be a bit rowdy in the evening and to be honest I would prefer a good strong bar on the door. "
Carolyn breathed of sigh of relief and offered an apology. "I'm sorry for snapping at you. I'm afraid I'm not quite used to holding my tongue yet." Connor shook his head at her, "The people who stay here can think and speak as they wish. I do not demand obedience. "
Standing Connor walked with her back to the bar where Corrine had joined the others. Ellen glanced back and forth between the two of them. "Are you staying?" Carolyn nodded mutely and Ellen let out a triumphant shout. "Maria will be thrilled. She loves your lessons so." "She had a great mind. I'm honored to teach her." She said smiling. "You must let Warren and Norris know that I'm staying as well."
Corrine patted Connor happily on the arm. "She's been such a blessing to us. Ever since finding out that most of us cannot read she's been holding classes at Ellen's." Carolyn ducked her head and blushed. "It's little enough I can do. My education was a privilege I'm more than happy to share." Connor looked down at her. "Would you be interested in teaching others? We do not have a school but one could be built if we had a willing teacher."
Carolyn turned thoughtful. "I don't see why not while I'm here. If you consider the people who live out in the wild you would probably have enough for a decent sized class. Though, as you say, life is hard out here so it would depend on how much people could spare their children away from the house. And as I said I do not know how long I will be here. Sooner or later the blockade must open. "
Big Dave looked up at her. "You know if we're building the school we could build a house for you as well."
"Perhaps for the next teacher but if it's all the same to you" Carolyn looked at Ellen nervously "I would rather continue to stay with you and your daughter. I would prefer not to be alone right now."
Ellen smiled and threw an arm around her shoulder. "Of course, dear. Out here we women need to look after each other." She looked up at Connor. "I admit I was a bit concerned for a moment there. What were you arguing about?"
Connor opened his mouth to answer but Carolyn piped in "Economics. Adam Smith's new book The Wealth of Nations. I find his four maxims of proper taxation quite interesting. I can lend you a copy if you like." She looked up at him graciously. "You can read?"
Connor closed his mouth. "Yes, I can read. You can continue your classes without me."
Carolyn smiled. "Well then I won't expect you though you're free to join us if you like. The discussions can get quite lively. War aside it is an exciting time to live. There's always something new being discovered and discussed. We are starting to understand the world in ways we never had before."
She turned to Lance who had joined the table in her absence. "So what ever became of those plans you were telling me about?"