Breaking the Creed {Assassin's Creed 3 Fanfiction}

Chapter 10 ~ The Ball Part 1

Sitting across from my mother and Lady McCardon later that night, our dresses filling the spaces between our legs in the carriage, I couldn't help but struggle to clear my head – my eyes darting between our dresses and the outside. My dress was the one that stood out as it was entirely made of black silk with sleeves of lace cuffed at my elbow. My mother and Lady McCardon wore similar dresses to one another in the color of red, the only similarity between us all being that we wore masks, however these all matched our own dresses. Mine was a simple and black.

Once again, Lady McCardon spoke to me with her accent foreign to my mind but nonetheless welcomed. "You look beautiful."

Looking to my mother in response, she agreed with Lady McCardon. "You really do, you're a beautiful young woman."

"Thank you, both of you... I just do hope I can manage to survive the evening." There was a silence around us as we passed through the gates that led to a building just at the corner of New York where the wealthier citizens resided.

Assuredly, Lady McCardon placed her hand on my own. "Master Kenway is very polite, Charles as well." At the thought of it, she sat back and bit her lip. "Hard to think they're in trouble though."

Changing topics only very slightly, my mother leaned forward to me. "Just remain collected, remember yourself, and remember your training." Her words simply tugged at something deeper inside of me but I nodded.

"She will no doubt enjoy the attention I'm sure." Lady McCardon finished with a kind smile once the carriage came to a halt before a large manor.

Upon being helped out of the carriage and ushered into the massive home, a place that held many fully masked individuals. It was evident that the dress I once found fetching and rather nice paled in comparison to the other dresses of the ladies in attendance. As I was gently guided by my mother, there were eyes that stray after me. But I attempted to not focus on them all too much as she led me down a long hall to a large and almost inviting archway that gave way to a large room, a ballroom I felt myself making it out to be. Music filled my ears as I saw men and woman dancing with ease in practiced groups while the ones who did not dance stood to the sides, chatting and watching. I laughed softly at the sight before my mother smacked my arm with her hand gently.

"You need to get one of the men's attentions first, I haven't seen Haytham yet but I did notice Charles Lee over there." I looked in the direction my mother pointed. My eyes followed to see Charles Lee, or a man who resembled him some, wearing a brown mask with gold lace. The mask only reached above his facial hair. It was the eyes though that gave him away.

"Just go into the ballroom. I've shown you each of the men before from their paintings and you've seen two of them. You'll know them when you see them. Just remember, you need to try your best to get into their circle." My mother hugged me tightly before walking off back down the hall with her hands bunching up the front of her gown so she would not fall. I had to remember to follow suit. But the sight of her leaving panicked me.

"Where are you off too mother?"

"I have other inquires I must attend to. Meet me back at the tavern when you are done here." With her last words she hurried off past a few men who were in the hall, not allowing any protests from me. I found myself almost dazed as I turned back to face these people alone, the music filling my ears and strangely something deeper.

This led my feet to move forward and in a hushed town whisper my apologies to the individuals I pushed passed to make it to an area of the room in which I could stand alone and take in the evening's events. Thankfully nobody seemed to care who I was. I was a mere speck of dust, I was nothing to them and in a way that pleased me.

It took only a few moments though after I found peace to be tapped on the shoulder. I expected to see someone trying to pass but was met with face of an older man in a British uniform. A uniform belonging to that of a general. Many of the people were aware of him and watched in awe at the sight of not me, but him.

His face was imprinted in my memory and it was the accent that truly tied who he was together into my understanding. In a thick Scottish accent, General John Pitcairn spoke to me. "Pardon me ma'am, I simply meant to inquire why you are not accompanied?"

There was no mask for him to hide behind. "I just suppose I found no suitable companion as of yet."

He grinned and I watched the creases on his forehead thin away at his smile. "Well, if you would not mind, I would be honored to be your company for the evening."

"Oh, and may I ask why that is?"

"Such a beautiful woman should not be left unattended."

I looked around to see if I could catch a glimpse of Charles Lee or the man that had been beside him, accepting the arm offered to me by General Pitcairn. I did in fact notice Lee and the man beside him only briefly, he wore a mask that covered only portions of his face much like my own mask but the eyes were eyes that I had seen in my own friend... the man was Haytham Kenway.

We began to walk past the many people and towards the front of the mass of them, nearing the floor as I realized we were luckily just across from Haytham and Lee. "So, may I ask what your name is?" Pitcairn suddenly inquired as he placed a hand over mine that was linked through his arm.

I decided against giving my real name. "Elizabeth," I started. "Elizabeth Collins."

"A divine name for a beautiful woman." The tone of his voice felt genuine and I genuinely smiled even if he was simply giving attention to the persona before him. It was off though to feel any kind of secure sense at his side considering I believed him to be a more unkind individual, being a Templar.

I took to making sure to seem... attentive as we moved. "What is your name, sir?" His eyes fell to his side, looking to me. They were grey in color, no emotion in them, which was unlike his genuine smiles and curious looks.

"General John Pitcairn, but you may call me John if you would like, Miss Collins."

"Pitcairn." I heard a man call from across the room. When I looked to who it belonged to, the voice belonged to Lee. He motioned for us to come across the floor and Pitcairn smiled apologetically towards me. Haytham was watching us too, his eyes specifically set on me. I unknowingly rubbed my arm that was linked to Pitcairn's, as if to rub my blade. I had Lady McCardon and my mother make a few adjustments to my dress so that I could easily hide my blade. They had taken to adding thin blade holders to my gloves, which was around Pitcairn's arm; unnoticeable.

Pitcairn pulled me along across the floor past the few couples dancing alone together to where Haytham and Charles stood, in their own little space where not too many others were near them. "Oh, and who have you brought with you?" Lee observed as we reached him and Haytham. I looked between them all, taking silently deep breaths to calm my nerves and not kill Charles while I had the chance. No no, that was not why I was here. I was here to twine my way into their group.

"Elizabeth Collins." I heard my voice speaking up, shocked by this sudden response but nonetheless thankful I did indeed speak to make myself heard to these men. Haytham's eyes went up almost questioningly, amusement playing across his eyes before nodding along with Charles, a small smile playing on his lips. It was also clear these men were much taller than I anticipated, but considering even at my height of merely five foot five, these men, Lee and Pitcairn and Haytham, were all well over six foot. I felt small.

Charles was the first to introduce himself to me. "I'm General Lee, Charles Lee of his majesty's army." I placed my hand into his and he brought it up slightly, not kissing it but just to show a kind gesture. I nodded in his direction before turning to meet Haytham's gaze, our eyes locking instantly as I realized he'd been observing me closely. Brown eyes against blue.

"Haytham Kenway, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Collins." He drawled on the name before extending his hand to me.