Fire and Liberty

Chapter Eight

(Thank you to everyone who has commented and supported this story. I can't thank you enough. It's been ages since I've been able to write fanfiction. Events in my life spiraled, lots of crazy things happened to me and to people I loved. But I'm in a much better place now. Life is really good and comments on my stories really made me want to come back someday and continue them. I'm sending you all so much love!)

Haytham began your training as Grandmaster first and foremost by making you "presentable". Your wilder nature and your brash sarcasm would have to be set aside if you were to make any gains politically. Being a woman would already cause hesitation but Haytham would be certain to set anyone straight who dared to muddle the waters, especially for any Templars.

The last straw was when one of the handmaidens brought a large dress, decorated in silks and puffy ruffles, that your eye began to twitch. She spoke so quickly and moved about the room with such ferocity that you weren't entirely sure she had taken a breath since approaching you.

Your hands clenched tightly into fists and it took everything in you not to snatch hold of her. "Stop!" you blurted a little too loudly. "Just stop."

Her head jolted upwards, eyes wide. "Ma'am?"

"Explain to me again why you're here?"

Haytham cleared his throat and stood rather pompously in the doorway. "When I said 'presentable', my dear, I truly meant the statement. If you are to be a woman in the public eye then you will be required to follow society's standards."

"A dress," you mocked, "isn't going to determine how intelligent or--"

"Look at my attire." Haytham strutted into the room, walking past you towards the windows where the sunlight filtered through. "If I do not dress the part of a rich and wealthy man, wear the finest clothes or carry myself like an aristocrat, or speak eloquently..." He just barely glanced over at you, tilting his head ever so slightly. "I would not be taken seriously. We must play the part of our roles and wear the matching costume."

You nodded with great reluctance. "Of course..."

"It is not ideal, I know this." He finally dropped the air of arrogance and strolled forward, hands reaching out to scoop up your own. "But if I am to present my daughter to this world, I need her to at least play along."

You felt the strength of his hands as he squeezed your own. You wanted to argue. You were a hunter, a killer, a bodyguard. You had always been better at doing things rather than playing the role of politcian. But you wanted to be more. You wanted to be the one people looked to, someone who could influence the world to be better than it was.

So your next words were spoken more gently, "I understand."

He gave a low nod of his head and then motioned the shocked maid forward. "She will help you into your new outfit."

You smirked somewhat, slipping your hands behind your back. "I understand that I must be presentable... I don't, however, agree to this dress."

Haytham's mouth shot open to protest but you raised a palm.

"Instead, I will wear proper... waistcoats and breeches."

The grandmaster snorted, not at all like himself, but shirked out of the room in defeat. "Very well. I shall have a tailor make you a fitting suit. It shall be a skirt but perhaps we can have it altered to fit your needs."

You shot your glower to the handmaiden, daring her to remain in the room any longer.

She gathered up the dress and quickly scurried out of sight.

But that wasn't the final time Haytham attempted to turn you into society's idea of a proper lady. He even went so far as to make an attempt at pairing you with one of the gentlemen at a weekly meeting. It took only a scowl from you before he gave up on that venture as well.