I am so sorry for the double posting of the update! Here is the real chapter 5!
The next few months at Monteriggioni went by quickly. Ezio trained with Mario and Ophelia while Claudia kept up the managerial aspects of the town. The days at Monteriggioni were generally quiet; the townspeople kept to themselves and were pleasant, the weather was mild, and only an occasional, mild, raucous would occur.
Ezio and Ophelia spent most of their time together. The two quickly put their uncomfortable crossing into the backs of their minds and moved on. Ezio was proud of the decision he had made that night and Ophelia was as well. The two had become great friends. Only a few days passed until they realized how much they had in common: their families were taken away from them and because of it, they had been thrown into the world of the Brotherhood. This was something they couldn't have in common with anyone else. Crossing paths was really a blessing to them.
Ophelia sought comfort in Ezio. She had been forced to support herself when memories of her family's murder flooded her mind. Now with someone here to relate to, she was fairing much better emotionally. Ezio admitted that if he didn't have Ophelia, he would be a wreck since Claudia was only now coming back to contentment and Maria… she was still in shock. Everyone did what they could for her, but she still just sat on the edge of her bed sewing, praying, or staring at the wall all day.
Ezio and Ophelia's days after training usually consisted of free-running practice, horse rides around the city walls, and talking on the roof of the villa. Ezio admitted to developing feelings for the woman who saved his life; she was beautiful, comforting, and had a level of mystery. Ophelia had two sides to her, in Ezio's eyes. One side consisted of a strong, powerful fighter whose sense of battle was comparable to that of the other men. The other side consisted of a feminine beauty that teased, joked, and embraced her sexuality. Ezio found both very alluring, probably because both sides reminded him of himself.
Ophelia, too, enjoyed Ezio's company. Ezio was a challenge to her. He was handsome and strong yet intelligent and sensible. Ophelia hadn't tried any more advances on him since that night. He actually turned her down, though with a promise of future bedding, which she hadn't experienced before. Ophelia didn't enjoy being put in her place, but with Ezio, it somehow was enjoyable to her. Ophelia yearned for Ezio more than she had any other man. Not being able to have him drove her crazy but she stayed determined. One day, she would have Ezio, physically and emotionally. Their time together mad her very happy, or, rather, Ezio made her very happy. He made her feel different than other men.
Things were not completely fantastic at Monteriggioni though. Ezio spent many nights at the bordello, much to Ophelia's dismay. Ezio had needs that he wished to be met. Though Ophelia had given him an offer that night, he still couldn't bring himself to take it. She was too special to him for him to do such things to her. Ophelia had different feelings. She thought his actions were disgusting and made her feel undesirable. What could those women have that she didn't? Ophelia didn't understand and got upset when she would call for Ezio at night and he wouldn't be in the villa. Yet, she kept hope that Ezio would come around. And eventually, he would.
"Ophelia!" Mario called from study. Ophelia shot up from the ground after hearing Mario call for her. Her and Ezio had been playing chess on the floor of Ophelia's room and she was on the verge of losing.
"It seems you won't be winning this time," Ophelia joked with Ezio, shooting him a wink.
Ezio grunted and sighed. He rested his back on the floor, looking up to Ophelia with a smile. "Well, we'll see about that. I can wait."
Ophelia rolled her eyes and began walking out of her room. Mario was notorious for prolonging conversation.
Ezio laughed at Ophelia's eye roll, knowing she was right. He watched her walk out of the room, his eyes planted on her behind. He knew Ophelia knew that he often studied her, but he also knew that she didn't mind and kind of liked it.
Ophelia arrived at Mario's study and poked her head in. "Si, Mario?" Ophelia asked with a small smile. She noticed Mario looked distraught and her smile soon waned. Something was wrong.
"Come, sit, Ophelia, and close the door on your way in. We have business to discuss…" Mario told her, motioning for her to close the door. Ophelia did as she was told and cautiously sat down in the chair at Mario's desk.
"I have a mission for you, Ophelia…" Mario confessed. He felt awful for putting her on this mission, knowing she and Ezio had formed a close bond in training and afterward.
"And what is this mission?" Ophelia asked, folding her arms. She didn't oppose going on missions; she did oppose spending time away from Ezio.
"I need you to go to Florence… Your mission is to find and assassinate Francesco de Pazzi. Tomorrow, I will be going with Ezio to San Gimignano to find Vieri de Pazzi. Ezio deserves to put him to rest after all he has caused the family," Mario informed Ophelia.
"Okay," Ophelia replied. Finding and assassinating that piece of filth wouldn't be too much trouble. She wouldn't be gone for more than two weeks. "And when do I leave?"
Mario sighed, sensing her confidence in the mission. She seemed too pleased to convince him that she understood what her mission meant. "You will leave tomorrow as well. Ophelia, you will be gone for a long time."
Ophelia's face softened into worry. "How long?" she asked.
"It may take months, perhaps a year. Francesco hasn't been easy to track down, Ophelia. You know this. We have been trying to locate him since before you joined two years ago."
Ophelia sighed. She knew Mario was right. "Where will I stay in Firenze?" Ophelia asked, looking sadly into Mario's eyes.
"You will stay with Leonardo da Vinci. I need you to find more codex pages while away. Staying with him will allow you more time to gain information on the meaning behind them," Mario explained. Ophelia had visited with Leonardo before and had actually become good friends with the kind artist. At least that part of the trip would be pleasant.
"Understood. I will find as many pages as I can and take out Francesco as soon as possible," Ophelia promise. "But, I do have a question, Mario. How long will Ezio be away to San Gimignano?"
Mario's lips turned into a small smile at Ophelia's concern. "He will be gone for no more than two days. He'll return here for more training afterward."
"And will he be able to visit in Firenze?" Ophelia feared the answer to the question.
Mario's face turned solemn. "Ophelia, Ezio cannot visit Firenze. People… they know who he is and they are looking for him. We need more time before he can go back to Firenze. Otherwise, our efforts could be compromised. I… hope you understand."
Ophelia nodded slowly, understanding Mario's reasoning. "And… I cannot return, even for a day or two?" Ophelia asked.
Mario quietly shook his head. Ophelia didn't contest with him. She understood Mario's reasoning. If a breakthrough were to happen while she was away, her time and effort would prove useless. Any chance at finding Francesco would need to be taken with no excuses.
"I see…" Ophelia replied.
"That is all Ophelia. If you need anything, let me know. I understand this is difficult," Mario told her as he watched Ophelia stand up from her chair.
"Grazie, Mario," Ophelia replied with a sad smile before she left Mario's study. Ophelia walked slowly down the hallway. She didn't know how to break the news to Ezio. Her emotions were going haywire. Solemnly, she sunk back into her room, eyes sad.
"Ready to loo-" Ezio started when he saw her walk back into the room. He immediately ceased his speech when he saw Ophelia's eyes glassed over, clearly on the verge of tears. Ezio stood up and held out his arms to Ophelia who immediately rested herself in them. "Ophelia, what is the matter?" Ezio asked quietly, holding the assassin in his arms.
"Ezio, I need to speak with you…" Ophelia said softly, trying not to let her voice crack or sob.
Ezio gently led her to the edge of her bed. He sat down and patted the bed, encouraging her to do the same. "Talk to me, bella," Ezio beckoned, concerned.
Ophelia wiped away the one stray tear from her cheek. "Ezio, I have to leave for Firenze tomorrow. My mission is to find Francesco de Pazzi and… he isn't exactly easy to find. We've been trying for years. I will not be able to leave until he is dead," Ophelia explained.
Ezio's face saddened dramatically. "Oh… Well, I will go with you!" Ezio suggested enthusiastically.
"You can't… Florence is too dangerous for you right now. People know you and are looking for you. If they are tracking you, they are tracking our moves and our mission would be compromised. Tomorrow you will be leaving for San Gimignano. Your mission is to find Vieri and kill him. You will be gone for a few days, but after, Mario requests that you stay at the villa to train," Ophelia explained to Ezio sadly.
Ezio shook his head. "I don't want to do that," Ezio said bluntly.
"You are a part of the Brotherhood now, Ezio. It is difficult, but everything you do now has to be for the cause. Even though you don't want to do it and you want to come with me, you just can't. I will be okay and so will you… Let's just make the most of tonight, okay? We will be reunited and I will write you while I'm away. And you better write me back, bello!" Ophelia teased, poking a finger into Ezio's chest. Their paths were chosen for them and nothing would change them. Ophelia tried to cheer Ezio up by suggesting they make the rest of the day as fantastic as possible.
Ezio's lips curled into a small smile. "Well, what do you want to do, madonna?" Ezio asked, nudging Ophelia in the side.
"A race across Monteriggioni, and a big feast for dinner… but not a horse ride since we'll be doing plenty of that tomorrow. Perhaps a walk?" Ophelia suggested.
Ezio smiled at the suggestions. Each sounded equally fantastic. "That sounds great, Ophelia… Let's get to it!" Ezio said excitedly, bolting up from the bed. He began running out of the bedroom. "The race has started!" he called back to Ophelia.
Ophelia laughed and shook her head, letting him get a few seconds on her. Ezio was much stronger than she but in matters of speed, she overpowered him. Ophelia stood up and took off quickly after Ezio.
The day was filled to the brim for the two friends. Ophelia had won the race across the city with a big finish. Ezio had requested the maids fix a large feast for dinner, which they satisfied. To walk off their large dinner, the two friends walked around the city walls hand in hand, talking of their fondest memories in the past few months together. Ophelia's memory was of a time when Ezio got stuck on the side of a building during free running practice. He dangled from a window sill, yelling down to Ophelia for help. Ophelia just stood there and laughed, called him a girl. All he had to do was drop and catch a brick that stood out from the wall. At the time, Ezio hadn't perfected the skill of dropping and catching things while scaling buildings, but Ophelia had very much developed the skill so to her, he looked hilarious.
Ezio's favorite memory was when Ophelia came up to the villa on a bucking horse. She couldn't control the animal and she was stuck holding onto the saddle of the animal. All Ophelia had to do was calm down, but she just couldn't. Ezio couldn't really blame her, but of course, he did, because it was unlike him to not give her a hard time about it.
After the walk, the two returned to the villa. The sky was dark and the day was late. Ezio walked Ophelia to her quarters so the two could retire before their long day of travel.
"I had a wonderful night, Ophelia," Ezio smiled, his hand still holding onto Ophelia's.
Ophelia smiled up to the tall assassin. "And I too, Ezio. Thank you for a wonderful day. I will cherish it forever," Ophelia said softly.
Ezio squeezed her hand and embraced her in a hug. "Good night, bella. I will see you in the morning, and please, try not to think about things tonight. You need your rest," Ezio smiled, stroking the long strands of hair down Ophelia's back.
"I will do my best, Ezio. Good night, bello," Ophelia replied, giving Ezio a light squeeze before pulling away and smiling at him. She walked into her room before Ezio left, closing her door behind him.
"Ezio…"
Ezio turned in his sleep, trying to get his heavy eyes to open.
"Ezio…"
He now felt a petite hand on his shoulder, urging him to wake up.
"It's me Ezio…"
He finally managed to open his eyes to study the figure the voice came from. He smiled once he saw that it was Ophelia. "Are you alright, il mio amore?" Ezio whispered quietly, rubbing his eyes. He suddenly felt warmth engulf him. He soon realized she had slid underneath his blanket and into his bed. Ezio's eyes met hers with a questioning look. Why had she come up and into his bed?
"I… want to spend this last night with you…" Ophelia whispered. She smiled softly at Ezio, hoping he would approve. "I'm not trying to show you any advances… I just want to sleep next to you."
Ezio's lips curled into a smile. "Roll over," he whispered, moving onto his side.
Ophelia rolled onto her side, her back to Ezio. She felt his arm wrap around her side, the other one snaking underneath the single pillow on the bed. "That feels nice…" she whispered, smiling uncontrollably.
"Yes, it does," Ezio agreed quietly. He began rubbing his thumb across the fabric of her nightgown, wishing to feel her skin under his touch.
Ophelia smiled at his small movements and pressed her back into his chest even more. She relished in the feeling of his strong muscles against her. They had grown since the first time she had seen them. In just a months' time, Ezio's body had become even more sculpted and perfected. She couldn't help but put her hand over his own and very gently push her bottom back into him, sending him a small signal.
Ezio couldn't deny feeling the small movement. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to think about the feeling her movement gave him.
Ophelia cleared her throat before speaking, "Ezio… I think we should," she suggested quietly.
"Why is that?" Ezio asked quietly, keeping his hold on her tight as if he were unfazed by the question, though it definitely threw him off guard.
Ophelia felt her palm become sweaty. "I… I trust you and I feel close to you. I want to share that bond with you... and if anything were to happen to either of us, I don't want to go on with life knowing that I never shared this experience with you."
Ezio thought about what Ophelia was saying. He couldn't help but agree with her. Ezio had grown powerful feelings for Ophelia over the past few months. He cared for her greatly but believed the two were ready for such activity. "Ophelia, can I ask you an intimate question?"
Ophelia rose an eyebrow. "Of course, Ezio."
Ezio wasn't sure how to ask the question without being offensive or rude. "Are you… have you… had sex?" Ezio asked shyly.
Ophelia's lips curled into a small smile. "Yes, I have Ezio," Ophelia replied. She couldn't deny that she had a few experiences. Her good looks attracted many men, some of which she didn't deny after her teasing.
Ezio smiled a little. "Neither am I."
Ophelia couldn't help but laugh. "I know. You didn't need to say," she teased, squeezing his hand.
Ezio laughed and shrugged his shoulder. "I just thought I'd let you know. I believe that is something your partner should know before you do such things."
"That's very considerate, Ezio," Ophelia told him truthfully. She suddenly got quiet. "So… is that a yes?"
Ophelia's breath caught in her throat when she felt Ezio rolled her onto her back, his hands on either side of her shoulders. He leaned down and brushed his nose against hers, his breath heavy on her lips. "That is a yes…" Ezio whispered before planting a small but loving kiss on Ophelia's lips.