Broken Soldier ~ Assassin's Creed 4

Chapter Twenty Seven

My twenty third birthday. I hadn't quite expected to be spending it alone in my bedroom, but that was exactly how it panned out. The usual letter from Edward had arrived this morning. His hand writing was particularly neat and tidy and it looked as if he had spent a lot of time on it. The paper was torn at the edges and smelt slightly of sea water.

Dearest Elisa,

I am afraid that I won't be back for many years yet. My work is incredibly important to me. I cannot just leave.

However, I wish you a very happy birthday. And I wish you the best in all your endeavours. I will be back to see my best friend's wedding, to see her children grow up, to see her become a wonderful young lady. Admittedly, I used to believe that I loved you, but I have to forget about those feelings. For both our sakes. I am married, and you are engaged. I would have loved for you to have met my wife, Caroline, before I had to leave. You are both very similar. And I can only hope that, by your next birthday, I will see you again. It is a far fetched wish, but I am determined to make it happen. Perhaps then, we could both meet each other's spouse.

Edward

The letter stuck in my mind for the rest of the day. Edward had loved me, and I hadn't even realised. Of course, he was also alright with me marrying Martin. If it had been a problem, I was certain he would have told me sooner. I felt incredibly guilty for the whole day, and couldn't enjoy my birthday with that letter stuck in my mind.

I had a day free from lessons because it was my birthday. This time next year, I would be on my way home. And I couldn't wait. I was completely fed up with school and everything to do with it. Freda was getting on my nerves. She never seemed to go to class anymore, and avoided school almost all together. Of course, she still had to sleep here but her fiance had bought a small house here so she spent all of her time there. The school tried to notify her parents, but she intercepted their letters each time. She had fallen pregnant as well. I was worried about her. But I also couldn't care any less about her. She was ruining her own life, not mine.

I grabbed my paper and decided on writing a letter back to Edward. However, my room was silent. The other girls were in their lessons and so there was no noise except for the occasional chirp from a bird. The door creaked as I exited it, ink pot in hand. I locked the door behind me and almost jumped out of my skin at the feeling of a hand on my shoulder. I turned around to see a girl, about my age, standing there. She had blonde hair cropped to just under her ribs and icy blue eyes. Her ears were completely hidden by her thin locks, meaning they must have been quite small. She was the same height as me - incredibly short - and had used a needle and thread to stop her dress from dragging across the floor, just as I had had to. She gave a huge grin, teeth and gums showing. Her hand raised slightly to give a small wave.

"Sorry to bother you but I only just got here and I was told to come to this room. It appears I will be sleeping here, but they must have given me the wrong number." She looked down at the key in her hand. She then turned her head back up to me again, and smiled with her eyes closed. "Nevermind! I will just go downstairs and have them correct themselves." I shook my head and smiled back. Her smile was contagious.

"I will take you to reception, if you like."

"That would be lovely, but I don't want to be a bother."

"No bother. I am on my way to the library to write a couple of letters myself. Come."

We made our way to the desk, where the girl was told that she was indeed staying in my room. They were planning on having a second bed put in later that day for her to sleep on. I accepted that, and offered to take the girl with me to the library.

"I never asked your name." She pointed out as we walked.

"Elisa Ward. And you?"

"Phoebe Mason." She pinned some of her light hair behind her ear. "I will only be here for a year."

"This is my last year too. In fact, I turned twenty three today."

"Oh, happy birthday." Her lips widened again. "It's my birthday in December."

"I could get you something."

"You don't have to do that, Elisa. I could never ask you to."

"You didn't ask me. I offered." We smiled at each other. "Besides, why not?"

We walked in silence for the rest of our journey to the library, until Phoebe turned to me again.

"Do you miss your family?" I looked down at the ink pot in my hands.

"Not nearly as much as I miss my best friend."

"They must be very special to you."

"He is. Of course, I still miss my parents and sisters, but Edward... I've barely even seen him since we were ten."

"Is that who you were going to write to?" I nodded. "Well, I could do with getting a book to read late at night." I giggled.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one who does that."

The library was empty, except for the librarian. She greeted me cheerily, glad to see that someone was still walking around in the school. She eyed Phoebe as we picked a table to sit at. There were no silence rules in the library, unless there was a whole class in here - about thirty people. Even then, you were still allowed to whisper. The librarian, Cassia, was a lovely lady who had had three daughters who had all finished their educations at this school as well.

"I will stay at this table while you look for something to read." Phoebe nodded and skipped away, scanning each shelf as she went. Her fingers delicately skimmed the spines of a few books, and I started my letter.

Dear Edward,

Thank you for your kind words. I too must admit that I once loved you as well. However, you were already married by that point. You were, are, and always will be my very best friend, and nothing will change that. I did believe I had another best friend, Freda, but she is throwing away her life for her fiance.

I only have a year left at this school now, and I can't wait to return home. I miss my mother and sisters. Not so much Daniel, my step-father. He is the only one who hasn't written to me and, frankly, I don't think he cares anyway.

I am scared to go home. My sisters will all be preparing for their weddings. Except my sister, Delia, she has already wed Julien Blachard. Caroline will marry in 1718, two years from now, and Helena will marry two years after Caroline. To me, they are all still small children. But the youngest, Helena, is seventeen. They will all probably have children before me, all settle down with their large families before me. I do not know what to do, Edward. I am terrified to grow up.

With love,

Elisa.

I slowly folded the paper once the ink dried. Phoebe was nowhere to be seen, so I stood up to go and look for her. I weaved between the bookcases before I saw her, her back to me as she sat on the floor with a book in her lap. I tapped her shoulder and she turned to face me. She wore a huge smile as she stood.

"I saw you were writing your letter and didn't want to disturb you. So, I sat here and started reading my book. Well, did you want to look for a book or should we just leave? I already checked this one out." I nodded.

"Sure, we can go back to our room now."

(A/N) I'm sort of just rushing the chapters so that Elisa can HURRY THE F UP AT SCHOOL!!! I think there will only be one more chapter with her at school and half of that will include her going home. I'm so excited, don't judge me. :D:D:D