Chapter Text
“I do apologize that you have to bring me along today, Master Kenway. I know there are many things you would rather be doing than having to look after me.”
The man gave her a kind smile, gently patting her hand where it rested on his arm. “We’ve known each other for some time now, you may call me Haytham, Lady (Y/N). And it’s no trouble.” He said. “Besides, your father has wished me to introduce you to our newest member.”
She couldn’t help the grimace that came across her features. “Of course he has…might I ask for some knowledge of this possible suitor?”
Haytham chuckled, halting their movement as a carriage passed in front of them. “You may…but I would rather talk about how you won’t stop your father from trying to marry you off.”
(Y/N) hummed, eyes shifting to the road as they started walking again. “Master Haytham, you know as well as I that I have no say in this.”
He narrowed his gaze, taking a quick glance at her. “And yet, you still persist in rejecting every match he finds.” She bit her lip, unsure of how to respond, when he added, “Here we are.”
(Y/N) looked up at the building in front of her, eyes widening at the size. “My…this is a rather sizable mansion.”
Haytham nodded. “Fort Arsenal. It’s owned by the man you’ll meet shortly.”
She craned her neck, looking around for him. “Is he meeting us here?” He tipped his head to the docks and she turned her eyes to it, seeing the ship docked. “Oh, we are sailing.” (Y/N) frowned and looked down at her dress. “I should have worn something more suitable for such an activity.”
Haytham chuckled, escorting her towards the docks. “Have no fear, Lady (Y/N), it’s just a sail around New York.”
She hummed, and as they arrived, a man stepped down the walkway, addressing Haytham. “Master Haytham, you’re here a bit earlier than I expected.”
The two shook hands, and Haytham said, “Ah, Lady (Y/N) was ready when I arrived, so I suggested we go ahead and make our way.”
At that, the man turned his eyes to her, and under his gaze, she felt warmth creep up her neck. “I was wondering who this lovely lass was you were escorting.” He smiled and held his hand out. “Shay Cormac, at your service, my Lady.”
(Y/N) placed her hand in his, watching as he pressed his lips to her gloved knuckles. “(Y/N) (L/N). Thank you for allowing me to join you and Master Haytham today.” Feeling the embarrassment rising across her skin, she looked away, focusing on the ship. “I must say, your ship is a fine one. What is her name?”
Shay grinned, turning to look at the brigantine. “The Morrigan.”
(Y/N) glanced at him. “Your accent denotes Irish ancestry. I do hope it is not too presumptuous of me to assume she is named after the goddess Morrigan from Irish mythology, then?”
He turned back around, an impressed look etched onto his face as he remarked, “Not at all. You know your legends.”
(Y/N) offered him a polite smile as he gestured for them to board. “Thank you. I enjoy reading about mythologies from other cultures. Though…many people today are not as interested in it as I am.” She gently squeezed Haytham’s bicep. “That being said, Master Haytham has indulged my ramblings from time to time.” Looking at Shay, she said, “It is a surprise that he has not yet keeled over from boredom.” The two men snorted at her words, making her smile, and they stood at the quarterdeck, Shay giving commands to the crew to pull out. (Y/N) shifted, pulling her hands away to rest them on the railings, watching the waves lap at the sides of the ship.
An Hour Later:
“Well, try to understand, Medusa in Greek means ‘guardian’ or ‘protectress’, and even though Athena knew that Medusa was not at fault for what happened to her, Athena was bound by her duty to ‘punish’ Medusa for ‘defiling’ her temple. In order to make a ‘proper punishment’, she turned her into a gorgon. Many think it was a punishment, but if you think about it, she was giving Medusa a way to protect herself and other women so that it would not happen again.” (Y/N) gestured in front of her, finalizing, “Medusa was not turned into a gorgon as a punishment.”
The two men stood in complete silence, pondering her words, then Shay acknowledged, “I’ve never thought of it that way.” She nodded and he asked, “How do you think Athena came up with that idea?”
(Y/N) tipped her head to the side, thinking for a moment. “Well, she is the Goddess of Wisdom.” She offered. “She had to come up with something that could certainly pass as a punishment, but underneath, be a protection for Medusa and her sisters.”
She looked over at Haytham, who pulled a satisfied look and nodded. “That does sound clever enough to pass in the eyes of the other Olympian gods.”
(Y/N) tipped her head in acknowledgement, falling silent between the two men until Shay asked, “Lady (Y/N)? You are aware of the Order in which we belong to, yes?”
She nodded. “Absolutely. The men in my family have been apart of the Templars for some few centuries.”
“Are your brothers apart of them as well?”
(Y/N) lowered her gaze to her hands. “I am afraid I am an only child…my siblings passed from illness when we were younger.”
Shay’s face dropped. “I apologize, I didn’t mean to bring up such grief.”
A heartfelt smile crossed her lips and she reassured, “Their deaths were heavy on my heart when I was a child, but the burdens have since eased, so please, do not apologize. You could not have known.”
He matched her smile, changing the subject with, “What does your father do?”
(Y/N) shifted her weight between her feet. “My father is a master blacksmith. Our occupation has spanned several generations, and we have amassed our wealth and business worldwide.”
Shay whistled sharply. “That’s mighty impressive.”
She hummed in appreciation. “Thank you.”
“Is he a swordsman as well?”
“If you are asking if he can wield the blades he makes, yes, he can.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Can you?”
(Y/N) paused for a moment then answered, “No, I am afraid not.”
He regarded her a moment, leaning between asking her if she was lying or not, instead, he opted for, “So, why are you traveling with Master Haytham today?”
At that, she turned her gaze to Haytham, who’d suddenly found the sails more interesting than her glare. “You mean to tell me,” she hissed, “that you brought me here under the assumption that Master Shay was a possible suitor, and he does not even know it?”
His mouth opened and closed as he looked at her, then he answered, “I mean, he does now.”
(Y/N)’s face pinched and she sighed. “Master Haytham, this is quite improper. Both parties are supposed to be aware of the circumstances in which they are meeting under.”
“I’m still here.” Shay muttered. “I just…thought I should clarify that.”
She turned back to Shay, embarrassment coloring her tone as she said, “I am so sorry, Master Shay. I had no idea that you were unaware of my reasons for being here.”
He huffed a laugh, shaking his head as he turned the wheel. “There’s no trouble, Lady (Y/N). I’m honored that your father thought me well enough to be a suitor for his lovely daughter.” She felt her face flush with heat, and she looked to the open water, ignoring their gazes. “If it’s not too rude, you don’t seem too fond of trying to marry.”
(Y/N) sighed, countering calmly, “It is not that I am opposed to marriage. It is just—”
He cut her off. “You just haven’t met the right man yet?”
She nodded. “Many of the men my father has introduced me to have been more than suitable…just…not for me.”
“Why do you say that, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Most men expect their wives to be obedient and ever-faithful servants…I believe that if I am not being listened to, I am not being respected. Marriage is a partnership, not one placed high above the other.”
Haytham took a moment to cut in, “Many think that’s a rather incendiary thinking process for women to have.”
(Y/N) giggled, catching his eye. “I do think it is why I have rejected most of the suitors I have had. Perhaps I should—”
Before she could continue, an ear-splitting explosion rocked the air, and a moment later, the side of the ship was hit with cannon fire. Caught off guard, most of the crew hit the ground, along with (Y/N) and the two templars beside her.
Shay and the others were quick to rise to their feet, Haytham helping her stand. “To your battle stations men!” Shay twisted the wheel, and with a sharp twist, (Y/N) fell back into Haytham’s chest with a sharp intake of breath; he turned to them, yelling, “Get her to the captain’s cabin! Now!”
Haytham nodded, taking her by the arms to lead her down the stairs. Panic surged through her as Shay shouted, “Brace for impact!” Immediately, Haytham tugged her to the ground, shielding her body with his as cannonballs tore into the hull. He pulled her to the doors, shoving them open to lead her inside.
(Y/N) spun around, eyes wide with fear and he pointed at her, commanding, “Do not leave this room until either Shay or myself comes to get you, do you understand?” She nodded and he turned, slamming the door after he left.
Backing into the room, she gasped as she bumped the table behind her. The ship shook as it returned fire and she crouched to the floor, hiding under the table, heart racing every time shots were fired and returned. For a moment, the battle calmed, then an even bigger blast sent her to the floor, head slamming into the stand that held the model ship on it.
(Y/N) reached up and hissed as the pain bled through her head, and faintly, she heard, “We’re being boarded! Prepare for personal combat!”
This time, the fear that came over her was nerve-racking and she crawled along the floor to the desk, hiding behind it. She could hear the gunshots and clashing of steel from inside, and she shut her eyes, burying her face the fabric of her dress. For a moment, the world faded, and she thought back on a memory from her childhood.
"Papa, why do we always train?”
The older man looked down at the young girl, barely older than seven, the wooden training sword clutched tight in her hand. “Because little lioness, one day you might have to pick up the sword to defend yourself and the people you care for. In order to do that, you have to know how to fight.”
She cocked her head to the side, looking back at the wrapped grip. “But women do not fight? We are supposed to stay home?”
The man crouched in front of her, pointing a finger to her heart as he said, “Your job as a (L/N) is not to adhere to societies rules on women. You will be a path maker in your life (Y/N). Forging new ways for women to live.”
"So, I do not have to be a wife?”
"You can be anything you wish to be.”
She went silent a moment, then took a step backwards, getting into a defensive position. “Then I want to be fighter.”
The man chuckled, matching her stance as he commended, “Then you will be the Mighty Lioness of the (L/N) Family.”
Her eyes snapped open and she looked up from her dress, seeing the weapon rack in the corner of the room. Something burned brightly in her chest and she rose from the floor, hands stripping herself of the heavy layered dress and undergarments she wore. (Y/N) pulled on the leather pants and tunic, adjusting them until they fit her well enough so she could move without hindrance. She strapped the holsters to her, tucking the powdered flintlocks in them before she yanked the saber from the rack, turning to the door. As she made her way to it, the doors flew open and she was greeted with a French officer who’s smile instantly fell when he caught sight of the lioness armed to the teeth.
Shay let out a curse as he caught a glance of an officer heading to the cabin. “Haytham! One of them is going to the cabin!” The Grandmaster cursed, and before either of them could move, a shot tore from below and the French officer stumbled out backwards, hands clutching his gut. Their eyes went wide when she flew out, saber sinking into his chest. With a mighty yell, she yanked the sword back, shoving him away. He hit the ground, and for a moment, the fighting seemed to stop as all the fighters gaped at the woman. She didn’t waste a second, pulling the dirk from its scabbard.
She flipped it in her grip and threw it as hard as she could, watching as it sunk deep into the throat of a man wielding an axe; with a strangled gasp, he hit the ground, and she raised the saber, shouting defiantly, “Fight me you bastards!” The enemy combatants seemed to take her challenge, a group rushing her all at once. Shay and Haytham started towards her, but (Y/N) didn’t need any help. She twisted and swung, dodging each strike as she returned ones of her own, and before anyone knew it, the group fell before her.
The two templars joined the fray beside her, and in mere moments, the enemy began dropping their swords in a surrender. Her chest rose and fell fiercely with each intake of breath and she stood before Shay and Haytham as she sheathed the sword.
Shay stared at her with wide eyes. “I thought you said you couldn’t fight?” Her answer was cut off as a cry sounded from beside them and they turned, seeing the French captain coming their way with his saber ready. As the two men reached for their swords, she pulled the second pistol from the holster and took aim, firing a single shot. The captain staggered as the bullet sunk into his skull and he dropped to his knees, collapsing onto the deck.
(Y/N) stood there, gun still smoking and countered firmly, “I lied.”