Connor glanced down at Aveline again for what seemed like the umpteenth time. She hadn't said anything since their departure from the cathedral. They hadn't been able to find another horse for her, so she hopped up on his while he got behind her. He had offered her the reins, but she hadn't taken them and had opted to lean back into him while keeping her balance and eyes set forward.

Keeping the pace relatively slow since he didn't know where they should go or really the way back to Emmanuel's, Connor just allowed the horse to walk straight on. He wanted to talk with Aveline about what happened back in the cathedral, about if she really would have joined the Templar Order if he hadn't stopped her in time. There were so many questions that had yet to be truly answered, yet something about her demeanor told him to wait. She was still fighting the demons in her head, struggling to make sense of it all.

It seemed like forever before they reached the beginnings of the city. Connor stopped the horse outside of a stable, jumping off before helping Aveline down. Though he knew she could get down by herself, he just wanted to keep touching her, to reassure her that he was there.

Aveline landed by his side, looking down at their entwined fingers. She followed behind him as he went about making sure the horse was taken care of and continued following him as he led her to a bench not far from the stables. There wasn't a lot of light near them, but she could make out his face when they down. She could tell he wanted to talk about what happened and how she was feeling. Thing was—she didn't even know how she was feeling.

"Aveline, you're not hurt anywhere are you?" She hadn't expected him to say that first, and it made her smile while she shook her head.

"No. Are you, cher?"

"I'll survive a few bruises here and there."

"I'm truly sorry you were dragged into my mess. My family sure is messed up, hm?" She tried to laugh it off, but the chuckle got caught in her throat and tears stung her eyes. Connor noticed it but didn't fault her for it. He just squeezed her hand softly.

"I... how did you know where I was, Connor?"

"Marie Louise told me. She overheard your conversation. The woman really cares for you."

"Yeah, she's like a sister to me. I owe her and Emmanuel a great deal of gratitude. You as well, Connor. Je vous remercie de tout cœur. I was lost, but you helped me. Merci, Connor. Merci."

"Aveline, you don't need to thank me. You would have done the right thing in the end. You're nothing like Madeleine. Trust in your own hands. Your own morals."

Aveline smiled softly then looked up at Connor, scanning his face with her eyes. "You told me that once before when we first met. Seeing you deal with your father being a Templar and how you came to be how you are despite it—honorable, kind, and merciful—gave me the strength to fight back against my stepmother. I fought for my life, for my own future, and I'm thanking you for being there beside me to help me see it."

Connor smiled and moved his free hand up to Aveline's face, cupping her cheek before pulling her closer until their lips touched in a soft kiss. He let the kiss linger for a couple of minutes before parting their lips, resting their foreheads together. Aveline kept her eyes closed as Connor caressed her cheek with his hand. He pecked her lips again. "I'll always be beside you. I trust in no one but you."

"I trust in only you, Connor."

Her words made Connor smile. After a few more minutes of resting in comfortable silence next to one another, Aveline slowly pulled away from Connor, sighing deeply.

"As much as I don't want this to end, I have a lot of business to attend to. The others must know of the fall of the Templars here in Orleans. We need to make preparation in case others try to encroach on our territory, and someone needs to replace Agaté..."

"Aveline. I'm here for you. We'll do this together. Where to first?"

Aveline smiled up to Connor as he rose and offered his hand to her. She took it, and he pulled her up and into his arms where he gave her a small peck on the lips.

"First we go to spread the word. We need to gather up as many assassins as we can. We have important information for them."

Connor nodded, and the two made their way back to the horse.

Two hours after getting back from the massacre at the Saint Louis Cathedral, Aveline stood in the hall of her late father's and Madeleine's home. She felt awkward and uneasy being in the home after everything, but she had come to get some items.

Connor stayed by her side; though at the moment, he was looking out the window. An hour before, Aveline had made sure to light a signal tower situated not too far away. Almost immediately, the other towers lit up one by one. She was sure that all the assassins in the area saw her call before the flames were extinguished. The meeting was being held at Agaté's old home. Aveline came back only to get her things. For the time being, she was going to stay at her Mentor's home. It had always been more of a home to her anyways.

"Connor. I'm ready. Let's go." Aveline hurried from her old bedroom, clutching her bag to her chest. She didn't take much.

"Aveline... what will become of this house?" Connor called after her softly, making her stop at the bottom of the steps. She looked around then looked back up to him over her shoulder.

"Somebody will buy it I'm sure. It's grand, non? Madeleine put her pride in this house. Father... he wouldn't want me to live in this house by myself. The old man was always a worrier..."

Aveline shrugged, not away the question but more like she was trying to shrug off the emotions that Connor knew were affecting her. She didn't say anything more as she hurried to the door and slipped away from him.

They arrived to the meeting place in silence thought the area around them was anything but. Connor took in the crowd that waited inside Agaté's home. The men and women were decked out in outfits similar to Aveline's yet many featured influences of France, Britain, and Africa.

As they advanced to the front of the room where the assassin's were situated, the crowd parted, Connor didn't miss any of the sneers and scornful remarks sent their way. He was sure Aveline didn't miss them either even though her face and demeanor remained calm and controlled.

Once at the front, Connor stood off to the side and behind Aveline. This was her show and her meeting. He was there for support and defense in case anyone tried to harm Aveline in any way.

Aveline faced her sisters and brothers of the Creed and the room fell silent. She gazed over them for a few moments before opening her mouth, "The Templars here in New Orleans, our home, have been eradicated by my very hands and the hands of our Northern brother, Connor Kenway. With my very own blade, I took the life of the Company man, Madeleine de L'Isle. They are no more my brothers and sisters."

The room erupted into cheers and clapping at first, but as Connor was expecting, an angry voice boomed out as the noise died down.

"How can we be sure? Did you not cast away the Brotherhood to join those Templars yourself? How can we believe a thing you say though you speak to us as though we're equals? As though you're one of us wholeheartedly?"

Another voice followed behind. "Indeed. And wasn't the Company Man your stepmother? You've should have known all along. How dare you try and be one of us. How do we know that we didn't just step into one of your trap, you Templar filth!"

More voices spoke out, angry and throwing accusations at Aveline. She just stood tall and listened, glancing over the crowd and gauging their reactions.

Finally, the noise quieted down with all eyes on Aveline.

"I didn't come here to deceive any of you nor did I come here to explain myself, but I will if I must. I did join the Templars to infiltrate their ranks. I only learned that Madeleine, my stepmother, was the Company Man upon my return to New Orleans from my mission in New York. This very night I was to be inducted into their ranks, but with the help of Connor, I was able to put aside my feelings for my stepmother and do what was right for the people of Louisiana, my people, and my home. Madeleine is no more. The Templars are no more. If you do not believe, I'll direct you to Saint Louis Cathedral. I'm positive you all have heard about it burning down. That was Connor's and my doing. I am not lying to any of you. But if you still think I'm loyal to the Templars, then come up here and strike me down." Her voice rose in anger at the last words, and Aveline stood her ground, daring someone, anyone, to march up the steps and fight her.

The room remained silent, and no one moved. Aveline glared at them, and a hooded man started marching up the steps. Aveline turned her attention to him, but before he could reach her, Connor stepped in between them. The man held up his hands in defense then took down his hood. Emmanuel smiled at Aveline first then Connor before turning it on the crowd.

"I've known this woman for at least half her life. I know the words that she speaks are true. I have informants who were at the Cathedral tonight after we overheard there would be a Templar meeting there. My informants are trustworthy, and they told me about how Connor and Aveline took down a room bigger than this full of Templar agents ready and willing to kill them. I would not mistake her decisions for disloyalty. If there is anything I know about this woman, it is that she is loyal to the Brotherhood. She is loyal to her people and her cause to liberate us all."

Emmanuel walked around Connor and pulled Aveline into a hug, squeezing her body to his. He whispered something in her ear that Connor couldn't hear before releasing her. Aveline stumbled away from Emmanuel as he turned to the crowd again.

"We are in need of leadership now. Agaté, Mentor to most of us, has left a hole in our ranks after his unfortunate death. I know many of you think you can fill in that role, but I have my own nomination to put forth to you all. There would be no one better to lead us in this time than Aveline de Grandpré. She spent the most time with Agaté and the Templars to know what to do next. I trust in her, and she has my full support and service."

Aveline looked frozen when Emmanuel nominated her to be the next Mentor for the Brotherhood in Louisiana. Connor hadn't been expecting either, and though he felt a pain in his heart, he knew there was no one better for the job than her. Others in the crowd felt the same, and before Aveline could protest, many assassin's started kneeling down, heads bowed in her direction. Connor and Aveline looked around them at the display of trust and honor that the assassin's her giving her. Their eyes meet and with a smile, Connor kneeled down before Aveline as well. As she stood among her brothers and sisters, Aveline could feel her eyes welling up, but she did not let those tears fall. Instead she stood straighter and took off Agaté's necklace.

"I am honored. I shall not let you all down. I shall free us from the remaining Templars and help my people in any way I can. Merci à tous."

Aveline paced in the room that was now empty though it had been completely full of people just thirty minutes earlier. Her footsteps echoed out into the room, but she didn't stop not even when Connor stood in her path. She just spun on her heel and continued pacing a shorter distance than before.

"Aveline. You cannot stay in here all night. Come."

"No. I'm not cut out to be a Mentor, Connor. I'm honored to be one and that everyone accepted me after all I've been through, but I am not like Agaté. I cannot do what he did."

"Aveline," Connor stopped her pacing with both his hands on her shoulder, making her face him. "You can do it. Just trust in yourself."

"Easy for you to say. You know more about this job than I do. I'm sure you're better suited for this job than I am."

Connor shook his head. "This is your home. These are your people. They're looking to you for leadership."

Aveline studied Connor's face for a moment before nodding. Though the thought of leading her people seemed overwhelming to her, she knew she would do it. She was determined to see them free of tyranny and slavery.

Connor smiled softly at Aveline, and as he started withdrawing his hands from her, Aveline stopped him. She moved his hands to cup her face while she looked up at him, her eyes pleading and searching for something from him.

"Speaking of home, this could be yours as well... You could stay here with me. I want you to, mon cher."

Connor brushed his fingers over Aveline's cheeks, feeling her warmth, but he shook his head. Something she knew he was going to do. "I cannot. My mission is still incomplete. I still must find Lee. Please understand."

Aveline chuckled and pulled Connor's head down by pulling softly on his lapels. She pecked his lips once then twice. "I knew you would decline, but you'll always be welcomed here. In my house and in my bed. But won't you stay just a while longer?"

Connor smiled against Aveline's lips. "Just for a while longer."