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

Chapter 7 : Arno's Secret Box

The entire town was plunged into darkness when Arno and Rosalie got inside the young man's carriage leading to Paris. None of them were talking, the woman was looking through the window and he imitated her. Then, she turned her gaze towards Arno sitting at her front, and the box on his lap which piqued her curiosity.
"What is so special about this... artefact ?" She calmly asked him.
Arno looked at her, then at the box, and breathed. "I'm afraid I can't tell you."
"Why not ?" she frowned.
"It... it's a dangerous object. That is all that you need to know." He responded while he turned his gaze back to the landscape outside.
Rosalie weakly nodded, still starring at him. She then commented. "So, you're into dangerous businesses."
Arno ignored her remark completely and kept a straight face. The young woman understood that he had no will to speak about himself right now.
"What are you going to do with it now ?" She then asked, referring to the artefact and the man glanced at her again.
"It's a secret." He replied and looked away.
Rosalie slightly smiled as she noticed. "It's funny how this description you're making of this artefact fits you as well." The young man frowned and stared at her. "Full of secrets and... perhaps just as dangerous." she murmured the last part.
Arno's face relaxed, with a hint of confusion in his eyes. "You think I am dangerous ?" he asked in a low voice.
The young woman's smile slowly faded away. "Maybe."
The man seemed hurt by Rosalie's response and now she regretted saying that. But it was too late to turn back now, so she tried to dig deeper while she still could.
"Léon told me that... you've killed some men in front of him today." she said and hoped that he did not think she was accusing him. Instead, Arno looked through the window, not wanting to face Rosalie and take the risk to show her the sadness he felt.
"And... the dead body I have found near the windmill. Did you... kill him as well ?" the young woman did not know how to talk about such a delicate topic without sounding offensive. She was not blaming him. All that she wanted was to understand Arno's intentions.
The man's gaze got lost somewhere in the dark night as he faintly nodded. Rosalie took a deep breath and nodded back.
"Because the way he... died, was similar to the way the men who assaulted me were killed. So..." she stopped when Arno turned his eyes to meet hers. He did not need to hear more, he knew exactly what she was insinuating.
"I did it too." he answered. Rosalie slowly nodded, not taking her eyes away while he added. "But they were going to hurt you."
"Yes." she whispered. "They were."
Arno turned his entire body to face the young woman. He slightly leaned towards her and spoke. "I don't kill for no reason, Rose. And I do not enjoy it either. The people I kill are not innocent, believe me." Rosalie kept listening to him while he continued. "I wish I could explain everything to you, but I cannot. Not without putting you at risk."
This time, Rosalie looked away. She was quite disappointed by the fact that a lot of things about Arno were made to remain secret forever. But she still was thankful for his honesty — or at least, she hoped that he was being honest. The problem was that she did not know if she could trust his words. She probably needed some time to process everything.
"I don't expect you to trust me blindly." he added as if he could read into her mind. "Nor to think that I'm not a bad person."
"I don't think that you're a bad person." Rosalie answered, watching him with surprise after what he said. "How could I ever think that after everything that you've done for me ?" When she saw him look down to his box, she sighed. "Look, I apologize. I didn't want you to feel judged."
"You have the right to judge." he replied back. "My methods must not seem very ethical to you. I get it."
The young woman did not answer to that. She could not deny it, he was right. "But I want to understand." she then spoke. "That could enlighten me about..." The young woman did not finish her sentence.
"About what ?" Arno softly asked.
"Nothing." she finally replied as she watched the moving landscape with an upset face.
The young man decided not to insist. He thought that they had spoken enough. He was reassured to hear that Rosalie did not see him as an evil man. But he was upset that this had probably impacted their relationship in a bad way. His life could have been so much simpler if he did not have to deal with the Assassins/Templars issues during his entire existence. But he was too involved into it now, and even though Beylier reassured him by saying that the Assassins were not going to bother him any longer, Arno did not believe a single word he told.
There was always going to be something, a new artefact discovered somewhere, the Templars attacking the Brotherhood, making the young man put his hood on and hunt down the enemies of the Assassins. But this was also a good opportunity for him to help those who needed to be defended. The people of Paris. Because he could not just stay without doing nothing, not after everything that he had lost for this cause. Because his father was an Assassin before him and he died as an Assassin. Because Élise sacrificed herself to save France. The young man felt the need to honor their memory, follow the same path as they did. He had to return to the Brotherhood for good.
The rest of the journey lasted silently. Both of them were watching the streets of Paris without even sharing a glance. The carriage finally arrived in front of Louis' tavern and Arno opened the door to go out first. He then offered his hand to Rosalie who politely smiled at him before she slowly climbed down the steps, trying not to go too hard on her broken ankle.
She then turned back to look at the young man one last time.
"Merci." she whispered with the same smile.
"It was nothing." he replied.
"I'm not only talking about the carriage."
Arno slowly nodded. "Of course." As Rosalie was about to go inside the tavern, he called her. "Uhm... Rose ?" The young woman looked at him with one hand on the doorknob. "About... our conversation..."
"I need some time." she then responded. "To think."
"Yes. Of course." he repeated as he looked down.
Rosalie then smiled politely. "Bonne nuit (Goodnight), Arno."
"Bonne nuit, Rose." he weakly grinned back. She then disappeared inside the tavern, and with her, the young man's smile.

Later

Arno entered inside the tunnels leading under the Saint-Chapelle, where the Council was secretly operating. The last time he came here, Élise was still alive and he was being banished from the Brotherhood. The man's face tensed as the late woman's image came back into his mind, as if something was falling apart inside his chest. But the pain faded away as soon as he arrived inside the huge hall where the three Master Assassins were waiting for him, standing in height. Sophie Trenet, the Mentor, was at the middle, with Hervé Quémar on her right and finally Guillaume Beylier on her left. The three of them waited for the young man to announce whether his mission was successful or not.
"Arno Victor Dorian." The Mentor started. "It has been a long time."
"I've found the manuscript." he replied, not wanting to chit-chat. He spoke loud enough while he took out the rolled paper and showed it to the masters.
"Bien (Good)." she said with a nod. "Now, let's talk about the artefact that..."
"There's no need." he cut her off and opened the box inside his hands. "I have found it too."
The three masters looked at each other with surprise, then turned back to Arno.
"Encore mieux (Even better)." The Mentor answered.
"How will you manage to hide it from Bonaparte ?" the young man asked.
"We have to keep it as far as we can from here." Guillaume Beylier responded. "That is why we're going to confide it to the Egyptian Brotherhood. As long as this artefact remains in France, it'll be in danger."
"Two of our Assassins are going to leave for Cairo tonight to bring the artefact to Al Mualim." Hervé Quémar added.
"Félicitations (Congratulations) Monsieur Dorian." Sophie Trenet concluded. "You have succeeded on your mission."
"You're welcome." he replied as he sarcastically saluted them before he started to lead towards the exit.
"Wait !" The Mentor said and the young man sighed as he returned. "Maitre (Master) Beylier must have told you about your... possible reintegration into the Brotherhood."
Arno almost forgot about it. He returned to the place where he stood to listen.
"We'll not force you if you refuse." she continued. "But you've shown us what you were capable of through this mission, but also when you stopped Germain a few months back." The look in the young man's eyes darkened when he heard this name. "We want to give you another chance. You're a talented assassin, Arno, just like your father was." Trenet said. "So, what is your answer ?"
The man looked at the three masters for a moment, before he replied. "I accept."
A smile appeared on Beylier's face as the Mentor nodded. "Fort bien (Very well). Welcome back to the Brotherhood, Assassin."

Four Days Later

It had been four days since Arno did not see Rosalie. Actually, it had been four days since Arno did not leave his estate. He spent his entire days walking inside his house, spending some time at the Café Théâtre, reading a book, or fighting in his training room. But everytime, all he thought about was Rosalie, and more precisely, the last time he saw her. Of course, he understood the fact that the young woman would not just accept his murderous side, but he could not help but feel hurt. And, since she knew about it she probably did not want to see him for awhile, Arno decided not to perturb her by meeting her at the tavern.
However, the young man was moved by her innocence and kindness and he wanted to protect her from evil at all costs. But when he found himself looking at Élise's portrait in his room, Arno felt guilty. Guilty for wanting to feel good again, to care for someone. He had failed to protect Élise, the woman he loved. How was he going to look after a common young woman who had never even touched a single gun her entire life ?
He then realized that this was actually the reason why Arno wanted to protect her. Élise did not feel the need to be saved, Rosalie did. But Rosalie did not know who he really was, an Assassin. Élise did and it only made things worse for both of them, and this was what Arno feared the most : he was afraid that his identity was going to deteriorate his relationships again. And as it was impossible for him to reveal his secret life to anyone, especially to Rosalie, he had no choice but to keep it all for himself for now.
Arno was still tormented by his past mistakes. He had lost so much, he did not want Rosalie to be next. He wanted to move on, be able to feel something for someone without constantly having this fear keeping him from letting a new person come into his life. The young man needed a new reason to hold on, and Rosalie seemed to be a good one. That was why he felt the urge to see her again and clarify everything once and for all, tonight. Because it felt like the longer he stood away, the more he was losing her. But as he was about to go, Arno met his own reflection on his mirror. He looked like hell. He did not take care of himself since Élise died.
He called out his maid's name. "Célestine !"
A few seconds later, he heard someone. "Oui, Monsieur ?"
"Prepare me some clean clothes."