Embracing The Light (Arno Dorian x OC), an Assassin's Creed Fanfiction

Chapter 24 : The Great Departure

Tuesday, 3rd of March 1795
A month later

When Rosalie opened her eyes, her room was plunged into darkness due to her closed curtains. But she could see a few strips of light that were still sneaking through and weakly enlightening the place. After she did some stretches, the young woman got on her feet and led towards the windows to open the curtains and let the sunlight invade her bedroom. Once her eyes got used to the light, she looked down at the street and was surprised to see it full of people walking by.
"For how long have I been sleeping ?" she exclaimed to herself.
She then walked up the stairs in order to check Arno's bedroom and, as soon as she glanced inside, she noticed that his bed was tidy and his suitcase was nowhere. Today was the day that she had been waiting for so long. Today, she and Arno were about to leave for Vienna in order to bring the stolen artefact back and, eventually, eliminate the Templars. Rosalie had been too excited this night to sleep properly, so the fact that she woke up this late was not shocking. But she was still quite surprised that Arno did not wake her and was out of sight.
For a moment, she thought that he may have left her behind and went there on his own which made her heart beat faster. But she tried to think reasonably and told herself that such thing would be unjustified and senseless. They had been preparing themselves during the whole month for this, he could not just betray her at the last moment.
Without waiting any longer, the young woman downed the stairs and prepared her own suitcase, emptying her wardrobe completely. Then, when she looked around the room, she noticed Léon's plush on her nightstand and approached it. She took it and observed the plush for a moment as she started to feel nostalgic. Rosalie sometimes wondered where Léon was and what he was doing, if he was happy.
If she would ever see him again.
The young woman felt her heart weight on her chest and took a deep breath before she let the memories take over her. She then put the plush inside her suitcase with her other stuff. After she wore her uniform and made sure that she had not forgotten anything, she downed the stairs and opened the door leading to the tunnels under the house in order to get to the sanctuary.

As soon as she walked inside the Assassins' secret base, she remarked how animated it was. Numerous hooded agents were standing and talking to each other. Some of them eventually noticed the young woman and gave her a slight nod which she always returned. Since the day she had killed the traitor who had infiltrated the sanctuary, Rosalie had gained some popularity within the Brotherhood and this eventually made her gain self-confidence and helped her to become mentally and physically prepared for this mission today.
With her suitcase in hand, she walked up the stairs to reach the meeting room, hoping to find Arno with the masters there. Unsurprisingly, the man was talking with Master Quémar at one corner of the room. Rosalie kept her head high as she walked towards them and Arno noticed her soon enough. His face relaxed when he saw the young woman approach them.
Once she got close enough, she discreetly whispered to Arno. "Why haven't you woken me up ?"
A playful smile grew on his face as he looked back and leaned towards her ear. "I couldn't, you seemed too peaceful."
Rosalie rolled her eyes as she slightly chuckled but they quickly stopped when Quémar caught their attention by clearing his throat and keeping a serious look on his face.
While the two young people tried to calm themselves, the master spoke. "Mademoiselle Joseph. Now that you are here, we can finally start the meeting."
As the man turned his back and led towards the tables on which the Mentor and Beylier were sitting, Arno turned at Rosalie and added. "More seriously, we are not in a rush. This travel is going to be very long and tiring, I just wanted you to rest as much as you can before we leave."
"How thoughtful of you." she said in a joking tone and smiled at him.
As Arno smiled back and looked away, the two of them joined the masters in order to discuss about what they have learned so far about the Templars and what they were going to do in Austria. Rosalie put her suitcase aside and joined the group.
Trenet opened the discussion. "So, during this last month we have mainly tried to learn more about the real Michel sisters and their background. It appears that Anne De Marbeuf and Gabrielle de Lévis had three other siblings — two brothers and another sister. We have managed to find their brothers' respective estates, they are surprisingly still alive but we have not found any proof that could connect them to the Templars whatsoever. When it comes to the third Michel sister however, she is missing."
"Missing ?" Rosalie echoed and the Mentor confirmed with a nod.
"There is no trace of her since the beginning of the Revolution. It is like she has completely vanished."
"Have you checked the archives ?" Arno asked.
"We have and there's nothing either."
"What do we know about this third sister ?"
Beylier broke his silence. "She's named Françoise Michel and is actually the eldest Michel sister. In the family registers, she's always mentioned with her maiden surname, so I presume she never got married, unlike her sisters Anne and Gabrielle."
"She may have joined the Templars in Austria." Rosalie said out loud what everyone in the room was supposing. "That could explain why and how she has disappeared so easily."
"And she could also be the link between the Templars and those dead people." Arno added.
"That could explain it indeed, but I doubt that it is actually the case." The Mentor said. "Do you remember that letter Anne has written to Gabrielle before her arresting ?" After the Assassins nodded, she continued. "Françoise's name is not in it. Anne mentions Gabrielle and her child Henriette, but not Françoise, as if she was not with them at all."
"So, what do you think ?" Rosalie asked.
"There are a couple of options : Anne was unaware that her sister Françoise was in Vienna with Gabrielle, which I think is inaccurate. Françoise could also have died there or she could have been seperated from her sisters and her niece somehow. Or, she simply has nothing to do with any of this."
"And how do we know which hypothesis is the right one ?"
"For now, we just don't. But, I have something else to give to you." Trenet took out the letter's envelope and handed it to the two assassins. "Since, fortunately for us, Anne's letter for Gabrielle has never left Paris, we have on its envelope the exact address of Gabrielle de Lévis' estate in Vienna that Anne has written down before her arresting. Once you will be there, you should visit this place first and see if there are any Templar-related stuff that can give us a clue about where the artefact is or who those people are. Eventually, try to find some information about this Françoise Michel there, we never know."
Arno put the envelope inside his coat's pocket.
The Mentor then took a more serious look. "Now, as we've been telling you before, Austria is in the Templars' hands and you are about to throw yourselves into the lion's mouth. You will have to be discreet so I'm advising you not to reveal your true identity to anyone. Especially you, Arno."
When Rosalie glanced at the man standing next to him, she saw him nodding firmly at Trenet.
She finally called them both. "Assassins." Rosalie and Arno positioned themselves in front of the Mentor and lowered their heads as the three masters raised from their chairs and Trenet stood in front of them. "Your mission is to find the stolen Apple of Eden and bring it back to the Brotherhood. The Council is also charging you to find out who those Templars are, learn their secrets, and bring them peace."
The two young people nodded and, after Rosalie took her suitcase, they left the meeting room. Once they downed the stairs together, Arno slowed down and turned at Rosalie who did the same.
While he kept his hand behind her back, he told her. "There's something I have to take from the armory. I'll join you later, they will lead you to the vehicle."
Rosalie first turned her gaze to look at the two assassin agents that Arno was talking about. She then looked back at the man and nodded. "D'accord (Alright)."
As he let go of her, she let the two hooded men guide her towards the tunnels, outside of the sanctuary. After a few minutes, they reached an underground place where there was a fiacre with two brown horses attached to it. Once they neared it, Rosalie gave her suitcase to one of the agents who put it inside of the carriage, next to another one that she presumed was Arno's.
While he was busy installing the stuff under the seats, the second agent spoke to Rosalie. "You will both have to leave the city discreetly, in case there still are some Templars around."
The young woman nodded and started to mount the coachman's seat but the assassin stopped her.
"I meant that you have to stay inside the carriage while Monsieur Dorian drives." he said with a bit of embarrassment. "It is better if he's sitting alone at the front and you hide inside, you will drag less attention."
Rosalie sighed. "I suppose you're right." she then let herself down on the ground and saw Arno arrive from where she came a moment ago.
The man carried a long thin and rectangular box in his hands which aroused Rosalie's curiosity.
"What is that ?" she asked him.
Once he was close enough, he placed the box next to the other suitcases. "An emergency plan. Just in case."
The young woman frowned and her confusion amused Arno even more.
With a smile on his face, he announced. "Now, if you're ready, we can go."
"Actually..," she said with a more serious tone. She then approached him and continued with a lower voice. "I wanted to ask you something."
"What is it ?"
After she glanced around them, Rosalie finally spoke. "Could we visit Madame Margot before we leave ? We won't be here for a couple of months at least, I do not want her to worry."
Arno nodded. "D'accord (Alright)."
"Merci (Thanks)." she replied with a little smile which he returned.
Arno then stepped back and opened the carriage's door, keeping his back straight and his valid hand behind his back, imitating a coachman. By doing so, he earned a chuckle from the young woman who carefully got inside the fiacre. As soon as she did, Arno closed back the door and got on his seat. Without waiting any second, he whipped the horses and the carriage started to move. A few seconds later, they exited the tunnels and Rosalie was blurred by the sudden sunlight coming from the window next to her. She decided to close the curtains and took out her suitcase which was under her seat.
As they were leaving Paris and the surroundings were becoming more silent, Arno started to hear noises coming from inside of the fiacre. "Rose ? What are you doing ?" he asked loud enough for the young woman to hear.
A few seconds later, he heard. "I'm changing my clothes."
"You... what ?!"
"I can't show up dressed like this." Rosalie then explained. "Madame Margot will ask too many questions and I'll look suspicious."
"Rose..." he hesitantly said. "I think you're overreacting."
"Believe me, that's for the best."
The man then sighed without holding back a smile as he looked right in front of him.