AC3 - The Unexpected reunion

Return

Papers were signed and exchanged at the barracks between the officers of the loyalist and patriot armies. The whole ceremony was silent and tense, the only sounds were the scribbling of the feathered pen on the paper and breathing of the men.

Gerhard was lead out of the house into a cart packed with the other soldiers, he could not recognize a single soul, their faces did not click to him. Some held a grim expression, while the younger ones could not contain their excitement to return to their lines in the army. 

He felt indifferent as he got up into the cart and the soldiers closed the door behind him. He looked back at the duo he had been with for all those weeks, his expression blank before the cart he was in started moving. He moved to turn his back on them as he tried to think of the future aspect of returning to the army. Would he stay here and continue the service under Britain? Or would he go back to Germany? His commander would surely not approve of his second decision...

His Commander.

Commander Davenport, he is a fanatically loyal officer to the British cause, and a very dedicated member of the order. He was part of Gerhard's influence to join the Templars when he was still in his youth. He was there as he wept about his family's demise. He had taught him the ways of the cross, how the way of life should be, how there should be order in every thing he do, to make discipline his motto. Then he was taught about the opposing force that went against them since the 1500s, the Assassins, whose ideals were completely the opposite of theirs. 

How he hated them. They ruined his family, his life path, his future. He was trained to track them and take them down, using the understanding of the order instead of revenge to fuel himself.

That is, until he met Garett, who made him confused and question his way of life, and his order. It was all made clear when he realized he couldn't kill him when he was apparantly 'not so sound asleep' in his room. He had the upper hand, and yet, he did not perform the task. He was conflicted.

That Bastard.

He shook his head and tried to stop thinking about the past, he had to move on. He tried to sleep and get some rest before they arrive at wherever they were taking them, it wasn't working as well as he thought.

It seemed like days since they left Garett's house, the environment around them looked new and foreign. The cart suddenly jerked and stopped moving, the inhabitants inside the said vehicle lifted their heads to familiarize themselves with the new location. The place smelled of the sea and the screeching of the gulls sounded over the ships waiting for departure.

They have arrived at their destination, the harbor at New Jersey, they would ride a ship from here and be brought back to their respective divisions in the different states.

The doors opened and they came out of the cramped space. Gerhard took a deep breath of the salty air as he exited the cart, he loved the sea ever since he first saw it when he joined the army. He had wanted to join the navy after the army, but he had remained in his division. 

They were marched to a loyalist ship, already ready and loaded with other soldiers. He began to walk in that direction with the other men, until a voice with that familiar authority pulled him to a halt.

"Statten!" 

He froze, it was too long since someone called him by his last name, he knew whose voice that belonged too.

Gerhard turned to salute the incoming figure walking towards him. The patriot soldiers guarding them saw this and left them to their space.

The officer went up to him and motioned for him to be at ease, which Gerhard did so.

"It has been a long time since I last saw you, guarding at your post at Trenton," Commander Davernport casually remarked. He still looked the same since he left the town at Trenton, that black shoulder-length hair accompanied with his signature neatly trimmed beard still adorned his face. He continued ,"It was then two days later after I heard that it was attacked and my soldiers taken prisoner," His mouth twitched, "I would have been there, to lead the entire division, if it weren't for the supplies that needed so much attention that I was required there, bloody idiots,"

Gerhard remained silent as he listened to his commander.

Davernport turned to look at him, "At least you are back here, in one piece, and ready to serve again, aren't you?"

Gerhard forced himself to look at his eyes before answering in his usual soldier voice.

"Yes, sir,"

"Excellent," The bearded officer smiled before putting an arm around his shoulders and leading him back to the ship, "Come now, we have a lot to do, my apprentice,"