Yay! The first chapter! I hope that everything is good and that you all can follow my thoughts, lol.

Disclaimer: Refer to Prologue (Still don't own a thing!)

If I Surrender

Chapter 1: The First Meeting

I sat upon my white steed, taking a daily patrol around the outskirts of the city. It had been a relatively boring day; with little to no trouble. I could hear the two others that took the patrol with me chatting to one another quietly. I smirked at hearing their conversation.

"I can't believe that Mario lets that beauty out of his sight!" The first, slightly younger man whispered.

"I saw a man challenge her to a fight after she turned him down one day." The older soldier whispered back. "I don't think Mario is too worried about if she can handle herself or not."

I felt their eyes meet the back of my hooded head to see if I was listening. I had to fight the urge to laugh as they watched me silently. I could remember that fight easily. The man had asked if I wanted to take a "tumble" and I had declined almost immediately. This had insulted the man to no end and thus he challenged me to a duel.

My father had been standing there and I recall our eyes meeting briefly before he nodded to me. There was a slight smirk on his face that he was trying to keep composed.

The fight was over quickly - the man had underestimated my speed and strength. He struck out to try and hit me across the face, but I stepped aside quickly and grabbed his arm. With my other hand, I grabbed his hair on the back of his head and promptly slammed his face into my knee. Padre was proud that I had used one of the key moves he had taught me and cheered louder than the others. I bowed to my audience and left before the man had a chance to even wake up.

"I remember that one." The younger man replied quietly. "Kicked his ass."

They were sharing a quiet laugh and I couldn't help but smile as I studied the horizon. Everything seemed peaceful and I was about to turn away when I noticed something. I rose my hand in an order to halt. The men complied and started looking around for the reason why. There were a group of men near the gate of Monteriggioni. They wore armored that resembled guards armor but not guards armor from Monteriggioni. Another man stood in the middle of them and he walked with an arrogant air. One man pointed and yelled something I couldn't hear so I followed his gaze.

A little bit away from the group of men was a smaller group. It appeared to be a man and two women. The man caught my interest though. He wore a strange outfit and I squinted my eyes to see it better. The colors held my interest; white and red usually was reserved for the Assassins'. I studied the sash he had around his waist; it had the symbol of the assassins' as well.

I turned to the other guards quickly. "Get mio padre now!"

They seemed a little baffled but ran to the city anyway. I jumped off of my steed and started to make my way to the two groups; which were getting closer and closer to one another. I tried to get as close as possible without alerting my presence. I noticed that the two men that seemed to be leading the groups were speaking and I strained to hear them properly.

"How could you leave Firenze without saying a proper goodbye?" The leader of the larger group was saying. His men drew their swords and started towards the group.

"Ezio!" The younger women cried out; hiding her body behind the mans.

The name seemed familiar and I tried to place it. The man named Ezio sighed, held his hands out and that gave the guards pause.

"What do you want, Vieri?"

Now Vieri definitely sounded familiar. Particularly since a certain Vieri Pazzi was a suspected Templar. I studied the man a little harder; trying to commit him to my memory. Vieri placed his hands on his chin; as if he was actually thinking about what Ezio said.

"So many things. A larger palazzo, two new steeds," Vieri let his eyes run over the younger girl attempting to hide behind Ezio, "a prettier bride."

He looked back at Ezio again and exclaimed, "Oh yes! Your life."

Watching Ezio fight was painful. He obviously had never trained to fight in his life; throwing punches around carelessly. The young girl seemed to handle herself well; all things considering. She executed a well placed kick that brought one of the guards down quickly.

I felt a hand touch my shoulder slightly and I jumped before turning to see my padre standing there. He leaned down beside me to study the fight. Ezio was doing a little better and was almost finished with the guards. Vieri was furious.

"I grow tired of this game! Finish him and do not spare the women."

The rest of his guards started advancing and even Vieri had raised his sword. Without thinking, I burst from my hiding place and started sneaking toward Vieri. I saw Ezio look at me strangely and I rose my finger to my lips to signify silence. He continued to watch me as I got right behind Vieri and snatched his sword right out of his hand before launching myself into a nearby bush. I sat there as quietly as I could, hoping the man had not seen me.

"What sorcery is this?" Vieri exclaimed and glanced around angrily.

Mario let out a long laugh from his own hiding spot and replied, "Not sorcery, boy. Skill!"

I could see Vieri practically shaking in his boots and I felt a little surge of pride that my padre thought I had skill.

"Show yourself!" Vieri shouted; turning to around in circles, trying to see someone.

Mario chuckled a little more, "As you wish."

I stepped out beside Ezio causing the younger girl to shriek at my sudden appearance. I glared at her from beneath my hood for only a second before I glanced at Ezio's empty hands. Shaking my head, I tossed him Vieri's blade.

"Here, use this."

He nodded his head before raising the blade toward Vieri. Vieri was outraged that so many assassin's had just appeared. I almost smirked as he started to run.

"Kill them! Kill them all!"

Vieri was out of sight quickly and I almost felt like chasing him. But then, one of his men started to attack me. He was watching me warily. I knew that me being a women was hard for him to attack so I struck first. It was a well executed attack and he jumped backwards in an effort to miss it. Unfortunately for him, Ezio was behind him and used his Hidden Blade against the mans back. I could see the tip of the blade sticking out and I nodded a thanks to Ezio before going on.

The Assassin's outnumbered the guards and eventually the few surviving guardsmen fled. There was a collective cheer throughout the men and Mario went to stand in front of Ezio. I took my place at his side and Ezio bowed his head and offered the sword to me again.

"You have my thanks." His deep voice rumbled but he kept his head lowered and I couldn't see him quite well.

My padre answered before I could. "Keep the sword, Ezio. My daughter has plenty of weapons to entertain her." Mario nudged my side and I smiled at him. Ezio looked very confused though and asked if he knew us. I could tell my father was momentarily insulted, but he recovered quickly.

"Don't you recognize me?" asked Mario and he opened his arms up. "It's-a me! Mario!

Ezio seemed taken aback. "Uncle Mario?"

The younger women looked at me curiously, "I did not know you had married, Uncle."

"Oh, I have not. This little one and I stumbled onto one another."

He ruffled my hair a little and I huffed; moving out of his reach. I felt a little annoyed at how they were speaking about me as if I wasn't even there. It must have shown on my face because Mario turned back to Ezio.

"It's been too long, nipote. Far too long." He paused. "I heard what happened in Firenze. Terrible. Come, lets get you all away from here."

My father had told me earlier in the day that there was news that his brother and sons were hung in Firenze and I looked over to study the small family to find that Ezio was looking at me. I couldn't see his eyes clearly, because of the hood, but I had been around assassin's enough to know when one is looking at me. I blushed and it surprised me. Never before had a man made me feel so uncomfortable with his stare. We made it back to the gate of the city quickly enough and Mario was waiting for us. He smiled at the family before turning and walking towards the villa.

"So. Tell me everything." My father said to Ezio, and I edged a little closer in the effort to listen to his story. Ezio took a deep breath before answering.

"They executed father for treason. Frederico and Petruccio, too. They came for me…"

"Do you know why?"

"I have no answer. Only a list of names taken from a man who wished me dead."

Mario reach over and patted Ezio on the back before replied, "Don't worry. We will make sense of this."

"I wish I shared you optimism." Ezio replied, glumly.

I was lagging behind the group before my father called me to keep pace. I caught up quickly to the group and found myself beside the younger woman. She studied me for a long time and I felt very exposed.

"My name is Claudia."

"They call me Aria." I answered quietly.

"Why are you dressed so strangely?"

I chuckled. She was a bold one. I noticed that Ezio appeared to be listening and sighed, thinking on what my answer was to be.

"It allows for easier movement, I suppose." Claudia looked skeptical so I continued. "I can't move very well in dresses."

"Well, what about those colors?" Claudia asked. "Why not something more subtle."

My Padre and I glanced at each other and I knew that I would have to make this one up; for the time being. I looked at Ezio again and he smiled at me.

"I'm not really sure…" I started, but my Padre had decided to save me from this conversation; much to my relief. I wasn't a really social person; usually because the women were threatened with my knowledge of fighting and men only sought to use me.

"I'm sure you will like Monteriggioni."

"I thought Monteriggioni was an enemy of Firenze."

"For now." I answered quietly and Ezio looked at me, obviously confused.

"Later, we'll be its friend and then its enemy again. I cannot keep track, so, I stopped trying." Mario explained.

We were on the steps up to the villa now and I was looking forward to having a bath before going to bed. I could almost smell my lavender oils.

"Did you know the villa of Auditore is almost two hundred years old. It was built by my great grandfather; a strange man who had all kinds of secrets. Keep your eyes open and you might see a few of them yourself."

As my father described the villa, I found myself thinking back to the history lessons I had started having. They had spoken of the villa of Auditore, but not too often. I knew that my Padre's great grandfather had been the leader of the Assassin's two hundred years ago. A powerful man, he said. I had searched for such secrets and found a few minor ones. Nothing too amazing, but still interesting.

"Here we are." Mario stopped in front of the main door. He turned back towards the group following him. "So, what do you think?"

"It's most impressive, uncle." Ezio replied, looking up at the house and I couldn't really decide if he was being sincere or not. It was a little beat up, that's for sure.

"Eh, she has seen better days, I suppose. Believe me, I'd have her shining again if only I had the time." Mario replied before clasping his hands in front of him.

"Now that you've had the tour, you should go and outfit yourself. My men in the market are expecting you. Return here when you're finished and we'll begin." Mario told Ezio. I sighed, knowing that I wasn't going to have time for a bath now.

"Begin?" Ezio sounded a little hesitant. "Begin what?"

Mario seemed taken aback, too. "I thought you came here to train?"

"No, uncle. I came here to escape Firenze and I intend to take my family further still." I perked up a little. Perhaps I would be able to have a bath before too long. My padre did not let it go that easily, though.

"But what about your father? He wanted you to finish his work."

"What work? My father was a banker."

My padre and I exchanged an exasperated look. So, he wasn't an Assassin, then? He had the weapons and robes of it…

"You mean… He didn't tell you?"

Ezio did not seem to like this conversation as he replied icily, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Mario sighed and told him to go get new weapons and then to come back. He also told him that he had a room ready for him at the top of the villa. Wait…

"Padre, that's my room!" I whispered at him as Ezio stalked off towards the market and his mother and sister made their way into the villa.

"Sí. I know but I decided to put the whole family up there together." He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "You will be downstairs, in the between the armor and weapon armories. I also expect you back in about two hours for Ezio's training."

I looked at him strangely but shrugged as I turned to go inside the villa. I did not think Ezio was going to be training any time soon from the look on his face. He was probably going to try to leave as quickly as possible. I hurried to inspect my new room. It was more spacious, but it was lacking the wonderful view that I had at the top of the villa.

I looked out of the only window in the room and saw that it looked out into the courtyard. I could even see my padre's room as well.

All of my things seemed to have been brought down; except for one. I sighed and went upstairs to my old room to search for it. I made it up the ladder and began searching for the item missing. I lowered my hood so it would be easier for me to spot.

"What are you doing?" A deep voice came from the ladder of the room. I jumped around, surprised that whoever it was had been able to sneak up on me.

Ezio stood there, watching me from beneath his hood.

"I was looking for something of mine." I said, kind of annoyed. "This used to be my room, until you arrived."

"Ah." He said and looked around the room once. "Anything I can do to help?"

"Sí. It's a necklace." I answered; thankful for the help. "It is silver and has a green gem hanging from it."

He hummed thoughtfully and went to work looking for it. I was watching him out of the corner of my eye and noticed him taking off his hood. He was still turned away from me, so I couldn't say what he looked like. His hair was a black color and it was put up in a hair tie.

"So, you are my cousin, yes?" He asked, still turned around.

"Sí, I suppose." I answered but I felt compelled to continue with, "Not by blood, though."

He turned and smiled at me. I paused in my searching and we stared at one another for a moment. He was a very handsome man and I felt my face get a little hotter. Despite what my padre's men would say, I had not even been alone with a man besides my papa and it made me extremely nervous.

"Sei bellissima." He said suddenly. I felt the heat grow more before realizing that he was smirking again. He was just playing with me! I thought as I turned back to searching, murmuring my thanks.

"So, how old are you?" He asked. I almost sighed again but was able to stop it. He asked so many questions!

"Eighteen - almost nineteen."

"Ah, a year older than I!" He said cheerfully.

We continued searching in silence but I could feel his eyes watching me closely now. It was like they were running up and down my body, again and again. I wanted to leave quickly but not without my necklace. It was the only thing I had left from my previous life.

"Ah-ha!" Ezio exclaimed near the desk. He held up my necklace and I crossed the room to take it but he held it just out of my reach. I held out my hand again and all I got was that strange smile. I was becoming very tired of this man.

"If I give you this; do I get a reward?" He asked, trying to sound innocent. My eyes did not leave the necklace but I was very confused.

My brow wrinkled and I asked, "What do you want?"

He placed his hand on his chin and thought about it. I stood there, uncomfortably, and waited. He snapped his fingers suddenly as if he knew.

"A kiss."

My mouth hung agape and I wondered if he was truly serious about such a thing. He was smirking at me, confidently, and I realized that he had expected me to do it. Well, two can play at that game.

"Hmm, okay." I answered, acting like I was extremely embarrassed. He smiled fully and I could see the victory in his eyes. I came closer to him until I was mere inches away from his face. I started to lean forward and he closed his eyes and leaned forward, too. His warm breath on my face was a little disorienting but I knew I had a plan to follow through.

Suddenly, I stomped my foot down on his foot, very hard, causing him to release my necklace in order to grab his own foot. I caught the necklace in the air and went down the ladder quickly.

"Merda!" I could hear Ezio exclaim as I continued my way downstairs.

"Grazie, Ezio!" I yelled back at him and heard him curse again.

Thanks for reading. R&R! :3

Nipote - Nephew.

Sei bellissima - You're very beautiful.

Merda - Shit!