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The awakening (1)

Sunlight, dimmed by curtains, irritated my eyes as I opened them. My vision was blurred and a dull feeling of dizziness affected my senses, too. But still I realized that I was lying in the bed of an unknown room. Shortly I asked myself if I had imagined this feeling after touching the Apple of Eden and if I had become unconscious, for whatever reasons. Maybe they had brought me into a guestroom, but this room was so plain that I got doubts that I was still on Washington's estate. But where else should I be?
I slowly sat up and waited for the upcoming dizziness to fade again before swinging my legs over the edge of the bed and standing up. Confused I looked down at myself. I was only wearing a night gown and long, sleek strands of my hair fell down to my waist. But I had never let it grow over my shoulder blades over the last couple of years. A strange feeling seized me, but I tried to supress it. Until I stepped to the window and pushed the curtains aside. The light of the afternoon's sun blinded me at first but soon I was able to see the world outside. I was looking down at a broad, unpaved street which was leading straight past a few houses. Behind the houses was a dense forest whose trees were already wearing the first colourful leaves of autumn. Only a few people were walking over the street, their heads down. But beside them, there was no life. No playing children, no straying animals, no working adults. Until now Washington's estate had appeared far more lively. But something inside me was already sure, that I wasn't on Mount Vernon anymore. How had I come into this room? Why was I wearing a night gown and above all: Why was my hair longer than I remembered it?
A quiet groan escaped my lips as I was seized by the dizziness again and I sank down on the edge of the bed. It felt like a storm was rushing through my thoughts, mixing everything up.
I need to find Connor. I need to know where I am, I thought and had just stood up, as there was a knock on the door.
"Yes?" I hoped it was Connor who would come in. Or somebody else I knew. But as the door opened, the entering person looked familiar, but she was the last person I had expected.
"Anya? What...what are you doing here? How did you come here?"
She frowned and looked me over in concern. "I was downstairs the whole time, Miss. I always kept looking after you, but now your uncle wants you to get dressed. He doesn't want to wait with the departure any longer."
It felt as if an icy fist was seizing my hear. "My...uncle?" I had wasted no thought on him for so long now. His death had been a relief, although it was cruel to say something like this about a relative. But Richard certainly belonged to the last persons I missed in my life. But what did it mean that Anya was talkig about him right now? The dark skinned young woman of whom I had thought she was a free woman by now, was now standing in front me with the same submissive attitude she had always used to have in my presence. Until the day when Connor had come to us and had freed her and the other slaves.
"You are still not well", Anya said and stepped to me. "You are pale. Shall I bring you something before I help you to get dressed?"
I said nothing but only shook my head. No, I wasn't fine but it had other reasons than she might thought it had. This had to me a dream. There was no other explanation after all, but I would prefer to wake up now. I didn't. Even when I pinched my arm like a child, unseen by Anya. But I tried to talk myself into believing that I would wake up sooner or later. Until then I had to act like everything was a matter of course for me. I let Anya help me to get dressed and let her prepare me until the mirror showed me the Lillian of whom I had thought wouldn't appear so quickly again. So much had happened over the last three years and now it had got set back at one go.

"You should go downstairs. I will pack your things."
I raised my eyes which had slid down to my hands by now and watched Anya through the mirror, how she tidily folded my nightgown. I shortly considered asking her what was happening, but I doubted that I would get a satisfying answer. So I decided to do what she had said. I rose from the chair and left the room. Obviously we were in an inn. Quite simple but neat. But I still didn't know where I was exactly. I didn't get the chance to think about it either. As I went down the stairs into the dining area, a voice sounded which I unfortunately remembered too well.
"There you are at last."
It felt like every muscle in my body tensed, ready for an escape anytime. But still I kept my steps as calm as possible as I went down the last stairs and finally to one of the tables in the almost empty tavern. There he sat. Richard. My hated uncle who had killed himself in front of my eyes three years ago to keep himself from giving Connor any information. I still remembered it well. But now he was sitting in front of me and gave me one of these contemptuous gazes he had always used to give me. As if I was as less worth as the dirt to his feet. Richard pointed at a bowl opposite to him which obviously contained some kind of stew.
"Eat and then we're going to leave at last. If it's cold, it's your fault. I won't order another one. Bad enough that I had to pay the room for another day. I hope you won't keep hindering us with one of these ridiculous dizzy spells which you women always have."
Basically I didn't know what he was talking about, but his words had been enough to finally awake the hatred and anger I felt for him. I had almost forgotten how repugnant Richard really was.
I took the bowl and pushed it into his direction. Richard had looked at the newspaper in his hands but now his attention turned to me.
"Thank you. I just lost my appetite", I said coldly. Richard stared at me as if I had spilled the stew into his face. A snort, like the one of a ponderous ox sounded as he slammed the newspaper onto the table top.
"Do you think I spend my money for nothing? Don't make a fuss and eat." He pushed the bowl back to me and wanted to grab the newspaper again, but I pulled it away which only confused him at first. But I didn't let him put me off. Not anymore.
"I think you're talking about my money. As long as there is still something left of it." I noticed with satisfaction, how Richard's eyes widened in a moment of dumbfoundness. But then his face turned red, his already small eyes became narrow and he hissed: "What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about", I hissed back and leaned to him while propping up my hands on the table. Ow he had to look up to me because he was still sitting and it felt incredibly good. "I'm talking about my parent's money. My heritage. My money. The reason why I was forced to live with you."
Now I had completely put Richard off his stride. Never I had dared to talk to him like this. I had always kept my head down in his presence, but I certainly wasn't like this anymore and I wanted him to notice. When I was standing so real in front of me in this dream, I wanted to tell him everything which had accumulated in about fifteen years and it was a lot.
Richard's face had taken on the colour of an overripe tomato and he heaved his quite heavy body up in a jerk so that we were now on eye-level. Unmoved I returned his gaze which obviously irritated him even more. Even his moustache began to twitch.
"Guard your tongue, wench", he growled and raised his finger threateningly. "You should thank me. I was the only one back then, who wanted to take in you little brat. Without me, you would have ended up in an orphanage and what do you think where you would be now? Probably married to some farmer, pressing umpteen children for him, so be careful what you're saying! I could throw you out and what then? Then you're alone and you have nothing left."
An evil grin appeared on his face and basically he was right. I had completely depended on him but by now I knew it better. So I returned his grin with a light smile which confused Richard noticeably, before he stared at me furiously.
"Believe me, by now I would be satisfied with nothing, as long as I don't have to bear a repugnant vulture like you."
It seemed like these words were too much. Silence inside the tavern where we were the only guests. The innkeeper had disappeared somewhere behind the bar, shortly after I had come in. The tension between Richard and me was tangible until it tore apart all of the sudden. I only saw my uncle raising his hand as she already hit my left cheek. I honestly hadn't expected that he would hit me, no matter what I said. He had never hit me. Roughly grabbed, yes but never hit. Totally taken off guard, I stumbled sideward and had to hold on the table to keep me from falling. My cheek ached and the skin felt hot as I laid my hand on it. An unpleasant throbbing spread in the left side of my face, but I couldn't help myself. I laughed.
At first it was only a faint twitch running through my shoulders and making Richard believe that I was crying.
"Serves you right, wrench", he hissed but then a giggle escaped my lips. Quiet but clearly audible in the empty room. The quiet giggle became quiet laugh and then I was laughing my head off. You must think I had lost my mind but I couldn't help myself. This whole situation was so absurd. I was standing in front of my dead uncle, told him the whole truth about him and his only way out was to hit me.
"A coward", I uttered between laughter. "You're such a coward, I can't believe how I could have ever been afraid of you." I straightened up and looked at Richard, who only stared at me dumbfounded. "A coward without honour, that is what you are. You are a man of great words, playing with the power you apparently have. But as soon as you are without any of this, you're only a miserable pile of filth. Full of fear and even up to the most desperate means to save your own skin. You are pathetic." I practically spit the last words at him. Obviously Richard didn't know what to say for a moment. He had never expected me to rise up against him and it apparently hurt his pride. He practically fluffed up himself like a turkey, raised his finger to this ridiculous threatening gesture and opened his mouth to say something. But he couldn't.

Suddenly the inn's door was slammed open and a man stormed in. Pale, his eyes wide and obviously full of fear.
"They're coming!", he shouted and the innkeeper ran in. "Are you sure?" He appeared frightened, too and as I looked at my uncle, his anger had also vanished. He stared back and forth between the two men, while the one who had come in nodded hectically.
"Magnus saw them as he worked on the field. They have a cart with them again. Terrence said everyone should gather on the village square. Our guests, too." His gaze slid to us but my uncle shook his head vigorously.
"We have nothing to do with your problems. We're only on the journey through and we will go immediately before they arrive." He grabbed my arm and yelled a short order to Anya, who just came down the staircase. She hurried up to follow us as Richard dragged me to the door and pushed us past the man standing there.
"You won't be able to. They are almost here and will send riders after you, when they see you driving away", he said and looked seriously worried. But Richard waved aside while approaching our carriage, but stopped abruptly. "Where are my men?"
"Took off", the man said shortly, leaving the inn with the innkeeper and his family. "They made it but you have to stay."
"We don't!" Richard's voice sounded almost hysterical. "I always did and paid what they wanted. I have nothing to do with your debts."
"You know that it doesn't matter."
I saw that Richard wanted to reply something but at this moment, the sound of a horn echoed over the street. In an instant, the villagers hurried to a broad square, as well as many other people who stormed out of their houses. I was full of confusion and almost paralysed. I finally didn't understand what was going on at all and I also couldn't understand the fear which was lying over the village like a heavy blanket. Richard and Anya were scared, too as they looked up the street and as I followed their example, I saw about fifteen soldiers, on horse and on foot approaching the village. They were all wearing the patriot's uniform and I didn't wonder about it. But one of them was carrying a banner. I had never seen its emblem before but recognized it anyway, even if I couldn't understand its meaning. It showed the golden contours of the Apple of Eden on blue fabric.
"Whom they do belong to?", I asked but didn't get an answer. Again I was grabbed at my arm by Richard and he hurriedly dragged me to the square where the villagers had gathered. While I had noticed the fear before, I could now see it. Crying children had snuggled up to their mothers who gave helpless gazes to their men who obviously tried to look confident. But nobody here was feeling confidence. Maybe forty people were on the square, but you could hear nothing but the crying of children, whispered prayers and the sounds of the approaching soldiers.
"What is going on here?", I tried to ask again but Richard only indicated rudely to me that I should stay silent. Like the others I stared at the soldiers who were reaching the square now. Four men surrounded the square with their horses, blocking the access and the escape ways with them. The remaining soldiers on foot took position in front of us like an impervious wall, two prison carts between them, but they were empty. A man, also on horseback and in the clothes of a high ranked officer, steered his horse in front and stopped, looking at the villagers with contempt.
"Who's your leader?", he asked in a harsh voice accustomed to give orders.
"I am. Terrence Caine." An old man, limping and supported by a cane, stepped forward and was punished with more contempt by the officer.
"Well, Mr Terrence Caine. I do not think I have to explain why we're here."
"No, Sir. But we already paid our levies in this quarter. We gave everything we had to the crown and cannot give more. There would be nothing left to live. I beg you, Sir."
"You confuse me, Mr Caine." A spiteful smile appeared on the officer's lips. "You said you had nothing and that you would have nothing left to live. But that means you do have something left. I don't like such lies, Mr Caine."
"It was no lie, Sir! I mean...we have to live from something after all."
"No, you just don't want to do what the crown says and I think I do not have to explain what you all become in the eyes of the crown because of this."
Another, scary silence spread over the square in which the families got closer to each other, the fear in the villagers' faces grew and I finally didn't know what to think about this dream. It made no sense. England had lost the war for the colonies years ago and apart from that, the blue coats wouldn't have worked for the British crown. The freed colonies had no king and certainly didn't threaten their inhabitants to make them pay horrendous taxes. The patriots had fought to escape the monarchy and its chains. So this situation was entirely absurd. But it became even worse.

As the officer received no answer, he squared his shoulders and grinned maliciously. "I know how to make you take out your purses." He gave a signal to some of his men. "Round up the women and the children."
Before I knew what happened, the situation on the square became chaotic. Names were desperately called as the soldiers began to obey the order. They separated the women and children from their family heads who could only watch helplessly. I was also roughly grabbed by a soldier, dragged away from Richard and pushed to the other women and their children, as well as Anya. We were round up like cattle. Cattle round up for the butcher and it turned out that this comparison wasn't wrong.
"This is how we do it", the officer said, noticeably pleased. "We will take your women and brats forward, one after another. Whoever recognizes his family steps forward, pays his debt and is allowed to embrace them again. Whoever doesn't pay...well...certainly won't be angry if he doesn't have to feed anyone anymore, right?"
The villagers didn't answer. Apparently they had already surrendered to their fate which I didn't understand. After a silent signal of the officer, a woman and her three children were pushed forward. A bearded man stepped out of the villager's rows in an instant and went to the soldier who was responsible for the finances. I saw him submitting a significant number of coins, before his wife and children were released. I heard the woman sobbing in relief as she ran to her husband and was pulled into his arms. All of this had happened without words and the woman had hardly been released as another one was dragged forward. She was very young, maybe in her early twenties and her hands were lying on the roundness of her belly which was visible despite her large blouse. She was terribly pale, her eyes red from crying and turned at a young man, who hurried forward.
"I am sorry, Sir. I have no money left I could give to you but I'm begging you: My wife is pregnant."
"I can see that", the officer replied coldly. "But it doesn't free you from your duty. Everyone has to play their part and if you don't, you have to be punished, or in this case: Your wife. So, do you pay or not?"
The young man's helpless gaze moved to his wife, who started to sob quietly and pressed her shaking hands against her belly.
"Not, I assume." The officer nodded to his men, whereupon one of them put the now crying woman into chains and led her to the edge of the square, where three gunmen were already waiting for their cue. The young man tried to get to his wife. He desperately called her name but was stopped by other villagers. They looked aggrieved, but nobody did anything.
"This is wrong", I whispered, so quiet that only Anya could hear me and gave me a scared gaze. But before she could stop me and the soldiers could grab the next woman, I had stepped forward. "You have no right to do this!", I called out and got everybody's attention in an instant. The officer looked at me disbelievingly, but then a mocking smile curled his lips.
"Oh, really? And what makes you think that, Milady?"
"These are free men and women. They don't owe anything to anybody."
The officer laughed. "Hear ye, hear ye. You have an interesting opinion. But..." His smile became cold. "...it makes you a traitor of the crown and I could sentence you to death right now. Unless you reconsider your words."
I just wanted to reply that I certainly wouldn't, as my uncle stepped forward. "Don't listen to her", he said and respectfully bowed his head in front of the officer, who pretended to be interested as he looked at him. "Richard Jarvis. I have to apologize for my niece. Unfortunately she is very dumb. Doesn't know what she's saying. You shouldn't pay attention to her."
"Oh, should I? Well, it seems like you haven't raised your niece well enough if she's uttering such defamations about his majesty."
Richard bowed his head again. "And I apologize for it. You know, where only on the journey through. We live far outside but be assured: I'm a loyal supporter of our king."
"If you really are, Mr Jarvis, you shouldn't mind paying your debt, too. No matter if you are on the journey through or not. Especially after your niece's words, you should prove your loyalty."
Richard's eyes widened and I was sure that he would contradict. I thought that he would rather let them shoot me before giving them some of his beloved money. But he actually bowed his head.
"I would like to do it. But my purse is still in the inn we're staying in."
Of course. A brilliant excuse. I knew too well that Richard always had his money with him. But the officer gave a soldier a signal and said: "Accompany Mr Jarvis so that he can get his money and ransom his niece."
Richard became pale but bowed hectically while the soldier led him to the inn. Silently I looked after him while the officer's eyes turned back to me. He didn't say anything but only stared at me, until a shout sounded from the inn. I only saw Richard storming out of the building. Then a shot sounded and my uncle fell to the ground, apparently dead. I had known that he would try to safe his own skin. The best thing he was able to do.

Unmoved I watched the returning of the soldier, who took position in front of the officer, saluted and said: "He wanted to flee, Sir. I had to shoot."
"And it was a good job. Dismissed." The officer's eyes turned to me once again and he smiled maliciously. "Well, Miss...Jarvis. Now you have to bear yours and your uncles debt. Actually your punishment has to be worse than the simple execution by shooting. But this is my good day. Your slave will be brought to her rightful purpose. Don't worry."
After his signal I was grabbed and my hands were chained up behind my back before they pushed me to the pregnant woman, who was silently waiting for her fate. Every kind of protest got stuck in my throat. This was so wrong. Totally unreal, although everything felt so terrifyingly real. From Richard's slap which I could still feel on my cheek to the cold and scrubbing metal around my wrists. Never before I'd had such a realistic dream and slowly I began to feel fear. The fear you still feel in your subconscious mind while you wished to wake up. The fear you could still feel when you were finally awake, lying in bed with a rushing heartbeat, still hunted by the images of the dream. I wished this would happen to me now. That I woke up, in a familiar environment, with a blanket I could wrap myself into before I tried to fall asleep again. But nothing happened.
I had to watch how Anya was dragged to the prison cart while another woman and her children had to step forward. Her husband went to the soldier responsible, but as he just wanted to pay, it became chaotic again. At first there was only the lowing of cows and finally their stomping which came nearer and nearer until they came running down the street. It was only a small herd with about a dozen animals but this dozen was enough to scare the horses of the soldiers and to draw everybody's attention to them. The soldiers on the outer edge of the square shouted appalled as they had to avoid the first animals. They were totally overstrained by this unexpected situation and rushed away like a horde of scared rats. Their officer was also busy with keeping the control over his horse and his men, who were supposed to do the same with the situation, but they were far from doing so. The villagers had also avoided the animals who were now crossing the square. As one of the animals ran towards the pregnant woman and me, I warned her and we could jump aside in time before the animal stomped past us. The young woman fell to the ground and couldn't sit up because of her bound hands. I wanted to get to her to help her, only to failed because of my own chains. But suddenly another woman appeared next to the pregnant, grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet before helping me up, too. She was no villager. She was a native who pointed at the edge of the village and said in perfect English: "You need to get away. Run to the forest like the others."
I followed her hint with my eyes and really saw all the women and the children running to the forest while their men tried to stop the soldiers from shooting them.
Still a bit disbelieving, I regarded the chaotic scenery around me, until I got a thrust against my back and ran off, almost without noticing it, the pregnant young woman by my side. We both had difficulties with balancing ourselves because of our bounded hands and it was much more difficult for her. I saw her stumbling from time to time but there was nothing I could do to support her. When I thought she would fall, the native woman was beside us all of the sudden and grabbed the young woman's and my arm. She supported us while we ran towards the forest. Shots sounded behind us and I noticed how the native took a glance over her shoulder from time to time and mumbled something in her language. Only when he had crossed the forest's edge and had reached a small clearing, she let us go. The women of the village had already gathered here, talking quietly to each other. They were still afraid, now for their men. But especially the mothers were glad to know that their children were safe. They all looked at the native woman sceptically who kneeled down in front of the pregnant woman and regarded the chains.
"Hold still", she told her and I saw how she took two little tools out of the pouch on her hip and started to tamper with the lock. I wondered where a person like her had got such tools and especially how she had learned to use it. It didn't take long until a quiet cracking sounded and the chains around the young woman's wrists opened. Surprised she rubbed her wrists and whispered "Thank you" before standing up and running to the other women, who welcomed her with open arms.
"You are welcome", the native mumbled as she looked after her, before turning to me and starting to open my bonds, too. She didn't say anything, neither as the chains opened and I thanked her with a smile. She only nodded shortly and turned to the edge of the clearing while I kept sitting on the rock I had taken a seat on. I couldn't stop myself from looking her over curiously. Beside Connor and Xaman Ek she was now the third of her kind I met, although I didn't know her name and also didn't know which tribe she belonged to. Curiously I regarded her appearance, her clothes, her heavy braids, her striking jewellery...and while doing so I especially noticed her necklace, which appeared strangely familiar to me. I was sure that I had seen it before, but although it was practically on the tip of my tongue, I couldn't remember where. But the necklace wasn't the only thing about her that seemed familiar to me. There was something about her face...but I couldn't say what. I was sure that I didn't know her and still she looked familiar.

As if she had felt that I was staring at her, she turned her eyes to me and as she frowned, this feeling of familiarity became stronger than ever.
"Did you stare enough or shall I turn around once?", she asked mockingly and I ashamedly turned my eyes away. "I'm sorry, I...it wasn't on purpose."
She only nodded slowly and looked me over, before turning her eyes away, as I suddenly remembered that somebody was missing.
"Anya", I uttered and leaped up, looking around for her. But they had locked her up in the prison cart, she hadn't been able to escape with us. As the native woman asked me whom I was looking for, I explained it to her and she looked to the edge of the forest again.
"We have to wait. If everything goes well, she will come with the others."
I hoped so.
"Why have you been here anyway? Are you alone?", I asked her and she shook her head.
"My son and I were nearby as these two boys came into the forest and asked for our help." She pointed at two boys who I recognized as the first who had been brought forward with their mother. So they had sneaked away to get help.
"And there were only two of you? Where is your son?"
She nodded in direction of the village. "As I know him he will help the other villagers to escape. He was the one who started the distraction."
"It was a big risk", I said. "But I think they will be grateful."
"I am already noticing it", she just replied dryly and stayed silent after that. I couldn't hold it against her. The other women were still giving her sceptical gazes although she had saved them.
It felt like an eternity in which I only stood beside the rock and glanced at the native woman from time to time, who was walking along around the clearing like a wolf. If her son was really in the village, where the sounds of shots and fights had vanished long ago, she was certainly worried about him. They had risked so much to help the villagers, Anya and me. I hoped for everyone that they saw their loved ones again but I wished if for her the most. Suddenly she moved on and stopped on the edge of the clearing as the first men of the villages came past her. Some of them were wounded and had to be supported, but it looked like they were still complete. They headed straight to their families who welcomed them with relief and open arms. Every fear seemed forgotten for a moment and I watched this scene, although it became painfully aware to me that Anya hadn't been with the villagers and I lowered my eyes. I had abandoned her. I had fled without helping or even thinking of her. This thought hurt and I closed my eyes to keep back the uprising tears. I didn't want to cry and tried to remember that all of this wasn't real. Just a dream.
I adhered to this thought as I opened my eyes again and noticed how the native woman entered the clearing, a man by her side. I raised my head and froze as I saw him. If this was a dream, it had just taken a more than strange turn. I stared at the man who now noticed me, too and appeared dumbfounded himself. A bit unsure at first, I shook of this feeling as I gathered up my skirts and ran to him. I didn't care about anything as I throw myself into his arms and embraced him so tightly, as if I feared he could disappear in every moment. He didn't react at first, but then he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me gently against him. I felt how he buried his nose in my hair, before whispering my name. So he knew who I was and was the first who didn't act strange and the first who gave me a real feeling of familiarity. He was here. Connor was here.


Maybe you guessed it already. Yes, with this chapter I started to turn to the AC 3 DLC, but I didn't follow the exact storyline. I just found the thought of "What if..." interesting and wanted to use it in my story. But I have to say that it didn't turn out like I wanted it. Actually the next thirty chapters are the chapters I dislike the most. Maybe I shouldn't tell you before you have even read them, but I'm just honest with you and hope you can understand the weaknesses the next chapters might have.

But I didn't start publishing my stories (German and English) because I found them perfect. I'm publishing because I want to share my writing, hoping to learn and improve. Because of the plot in the next chapters, I learned that I have to concentrate on a better structure and not to focus at so many things at once. So in the end, the plot didn't turn out like I wanted it, but still I can see something positive about it and that is why I haven't deleted the chapters in the first place.

But now I'm done talking. I hope you will enjoy reading anyway. I may don't like the next chapters, but I'm pretty sure they are readable anyway. :P