Elise Trilogy – Journey to London

France was being torn apart by civil war. A nation once proud and righteous has fallen into chaos. In the thick of the battle, three factions wage war. On one side, a radical faction of the Parisian Templars, led by Francois Thomas Germain, sowed the seeds of revolution. On another, the Parisian Rite of the Templar Order, once led proudly by the Grand Master, Francois de la Serre, being led by his daughter, Elise. Along with the Assassin Order, who were fighting against the radical Templars, whilst feuding with the French Rite over potential unification of the two factions. Germain and his radical Templars were ultimately defeated by Elise de la Serre and the Assassin Arno Dorian in 1794. In the battle with Germain, the blast from the Sword of Eden shot Elise into a pillar, rendering her unconscious. Believing she was dead, Arno took her body out of the Temple Vault and took her to a morgue, and mourned in Franciade for four days. After those four days, word reached Arno that Elise was alive. Arno rushed back to Paris to find his love alive and breathing. Over the next few months, Arno nursed her back to health. The next year, Elise was banished from the Templar Order, for treason against her Order. Arno took her under his wing and trained her in the ways of the Assassins, much to some of the council's chagrin. Elise became a Master Assassin when she became thirty, and was informed of a possible lead on a Piece of Eden in London.

Elise de la Serre approached a table in the main chamber of the headquarters, removed her Hidden Blade bracer, and set it on the table. Her bracer was light brown in color with a golden inlay of the insignia of the French Assassin. She lifted her black robe up to the chair, and sat down at the relatively high chair. She had a difficult time trying to find the mechanism that sprung the blade out. The candle at the left hand side of the table flickered. After a few minutes of fidgeting at the base of the blade, the blade sprung out, scaring Elise a little bit. She began to sharpen her blade until a hand grabbed her left shoulder.

"Elise, I..." the voice was about to say when she jolted around, to see the face of her husband, Arno Dorian.

"Arno! You've got to stop doing that!" Elise said, with a raised voice. "You wanted to speak to me?"

"Yes, I still want to." Arno responded. Elise listened attentively. "I have received word from the council that we have a lead on a Piece of Eden. The only downside to it is that it is in London. The council has tasked you with going to London to investigate this lead." His purple and gold robes glimmered in the light. Elise thought he looked incredibly handsome in his robes.

Elise grabbed her bracer and strapped it on to her left forearm, unsheathed her blade, and sheathed it back.

"I will do it. That much I promise, Arno."

"Excellent." Arno replied, "I will let the council know immediately. I will escort you to Cherbourg tomorrow. But from there, you will have to take a ship to London. I will see you tomorrow morning my love."

Elise nodded her head and went back to her bedroom. She unbuttoned her overcoat and hung it up on the back of the door, which she later closed. Elise sat on her bed and laid down, closing her eyes to rest for her trip to London in the morning.

Elise awoke to the sound of her husband's voice. Elise awoke, and groggily put on her overcoat. She yawned and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Elise walked through the headquarters rather quickly, and made her way up to the Cafe Theatre. Elise briefly looked around the quiet Cafe for her husband, not seeing him at first.

Must've went to look for a carriage. I guess I'll wait outside, she thought, as Arno stopped in front of the Cafe with a carriage. Elise placed her hand on her hip, and smiled.

"Hurry, Elise! Cherbourg awaits!"

Elise hopped onto the carriage beside her husband, planting a kiss on his cheek. Arno returned a quick peck on her cheek, snapped on the reins, and the two went off to Cherbourg.

The bumpy ride came to a stop at Cherbourg harbour, with the sunrise breaking over the tranquil waters. Arno and Elise hopped off the carriage and walked towards the ship Elise was to board. The captain of the ship staggered out, looking like he just woke up. Elise could tell he was clearly drunk.

"Excuse me, sir, are you heading to London?" Elise asked politely.

"Yes, what's it to you?" The captain replied, with a harsh tone, sipping out of his beer.

"There is business that needs to be taken care of in London, and she needs a ship to get there." Arno interjected. "Are you able to do that?"

The captain looked towards Arno, then back to Elise. "Alright, princess, it will cost ya." Elise was offended by the princess comment. "Two Thousand Francs." Arno quickly reached for his belt and gently tossed a money sack at the captain.

"Keep whatever's in there, and get her to London." Arno ordered. The captain smiled snidely after receiving the money.

Elise smiled at Arno, and the two shared a quick kiss before Elise boarded the ship. The captain offered to take her hand sarcastically, but Elise ignored him and walked on board the ship and made herself comfortable down below in her quarters while Arno went back to his carriage and began his trek back to Paris.

Elise walked up from her quarters in the lower deck onto the main deck of the ship, the breeze of the English Channel blowing through her long red hair. She approached the captain and joined him at the helm.

"Ah, the Cliffs of Dover. Not too far away from London." Elise said, with a smile.

The captain looked at her, and then looked down at her robes.

"What's with your robes and this business in London of yours?" He asked, with a gruff tone, sipping out of the bottle.

"It is a matter you mustn't concern yourself with." Elise replied, with a smile. "Trust me."

"Whatever, aye. Figured I'd ask. Please head down to your quarters and I will let you know when we reach London."

Elise obeyed his order, and went back into her quarters. She placed her sword and bracer on the table, and undid her weapon belt and placed it on the same table. She hopped into her bed and laid down. She wasn't sure if she was going to succeed or fail this mission. Elise became consumed by tiredness and she drifted off to sleep.

A knock came upon her door in the early morning.

"Madame, we have arrived in the beautiful city of London!" The captain announced, happier than he was before.

Elise rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, yawned, and got out of bed. She strapped on her weapon belt, placed her pistol in its holster, and cutlass in her scabbard. Elise opened her door and accompanied the captain to the deck of the ship. All Elise could smell was rain.

The city of London gave off a gaunt vibe as soon as Elise laid eyes on it. The last time Elise was in London was in 1788, and that was when she was a Templar, looking for the letters of Haytham Kenway. Now she has returned as an Assassin, ten years later, to investigate a lead on a Piece of Eden.

Elise put her hood up to protect her hair from the rain. As soon as she did, she was approached by an individual who looked like he was expecting her. He hurried up to her.

"Elise de la Serre?" He asked.

"Yes." Elise responded.

"You must follow me to the headquarters." The associate replied. "This way."

Elise followed the associate through the city. Elise observed the lack of life in the streets, and the amount of crime being committed. Who the hell could be behind this, Elise thought to herself. The pair walked up to the Great Fire of London Monument's base, and the associate activated a mechanism. The door opened, and allowed Elise to pass. Elise walked down a long flight of stairs, lit by torches, until she entered a large room. The room lit up in a quick flash. A hooded figure looked down upon the hooded Elise.

"Elise de la Serre, is that really you?"

"Hello there, my name is Leonard Frye, one of very few Assassins here in London." Leonard stated, shaking Elise's hand." I believe you were sent by Arno Dorian of the French Brotherhood?"

"Yes, he is my husband." Elise responded, with a smile.

"Good, good." Leonard replied, sitting down at his desk.. "London has been under Templar hands ever since the great Edward Kenway died. Their rule is so treacherous, the British Assassins have stayed away for over sixty years, and I want to change that."

"How did you end up here in London if the Assassins here in Britain were staying away?" Elise asked, sounding confused.

"You see Elise, someone has to let the Assassins in Crawley know about the happenings here in London." Leonard replied happily. "I was chosen by my peers to take this position, and here I am."

"Do you know who leads the Templars here in London?" Elise asked.

"The ruthless Carroll family. They will stop at nothing to get what is theirs." Leonard piped in.

The Carrolls. Elise's bitter enemy from when she was a Templar. The family that meddled in Elise's quest to hunt for Bernard Ruddock ten years ago. Leonard was right. They were ruthless, cruel, and one could say savage.

"Arno took a huge risk in sending you. It also doesn't help that they are after you here. They will do everything in their power to cut you down, Elise." Leonard stated, and he placed a wanted poster on the table.

Elise scoffed, and picked up the wanted poster.

"Wanted, Dead. Elise de la Serre, the Templar Turncoat. One Hundred Thousand shillings for her head." Elise read, and let out a short sigh. "They are still after me?"

"It looks as so." Leonard stated, as he took the poster from Elise. "My spies around the city have picked up word that Peter Carroll, the Grand Master, has information on the Piece of Eden, but to get to him, you must kill his two goons. They also gave me their names."

"Who are his two goons?" Elise asked.

Leonard nodded his head and cleared his throat.

"They are twins, who go by the names of Alfred and Cornelius Starrick. My spies tell me that they live here in the city, and that Alfred is on his way to a secret meeting over by St. Paul's Church. I have arranged a carriage for you to go there." Leonard replied. "Remain unseen."

Elise turned around and flashed a smile.

"I plan to." She said, with a wink.

Elise opened the door of her carriage, and stepped out. The nighttime fog was almost suffocating her. St. Paul's Cathedral dominated central London, looming stories higher than Elise. Elise ran up to the wall and began climbing up the westernmost wall. Heaving herself up, Elise stood up and flicked out her hidden blade, and flicked it back in, to see if it still works. She began to walk along the left side of the cathedral roof until she approached an open courtyard, where she saw several Templars having a discussion. Elise quickly hid behind a wall, and eavesdropped on the discussion.

"Do you have any whereabouts on the Shroud, Alfred?" The first Templar asked.

"Mr. Carroll will be most displeased, but I haven't found it yet." Alfred stated.

"So you mean to say you haven't found it yet? That's disappointing." The second Templar piped in. "I will report this to Mr. Carroll at his manor."

"I will continue my search here in London, that much I promise." Alfred replied.

Elise heard all she needed. I can't let you continue your search, Mr. Starrick. Elise thought, as she took a smoke bomb, ignited it and tossed it at the group of Templars. The Templars got lost in the smoke as Elise struck from above. Her hidden blade sunk into Alfred's throat, and her cutlass in her right hand swiftly took care of the other two Templars. She pulled out a handkerchief out and dabbed it in Alfred's blood, showing that the deed was done. Elise turned her head, and cracked a half-smile. She began to climb the wall to get to the roof. Elise was gone by the time the smoke dissipated.

Peter Carroll was sitting in his study, smoking a cigar when one of his followers entered the room. Peter turned around in his chair to greet him. His evil eye met the Templar before him.

"Out with it." Peter muttered.

"Sir," the Templar began, clearing his throat. " it is with great remorse that my brother, Alfred Starrick was found dead in St. Paul's Cathedral this morning."

Peter looked up, a look of disgust came across his face. "Do they know the killer?"

"No, sir." The Templar replied. "The only thing witnesses saw was a woman in black with red hair wielding the blade of our enemies."

Peter paused for a few moments to think.

"De la Serre, Marie's killer. It's got to be her." Peter stated coolly. "Dorian's little lapdog is here for the information on the Shroud." He leaned back in his chair, and reached back for a stack of posters. The top one featured Elise portrayed as a prostitute.

"Let us ruin her reputation. Spew out these propaganda posters and spread them across town, and may she be out of our hair. I don't care how you do it. You know what to do Cornelius."

Cornelius grabbed the stack of posters, and bowed his head.

"Yes, sir."

Peter let out a deep sigh, and spun back around in his chair to face the window.

Elise walked into the main chamber, where Leonard was waiting for her. Elise smiled upon seeing Leonard.

"Elise, I trust that it was a success?" He said, as he gave her another smoke bomb.

"Yes it was." Elise responded, as she caught Leonard's smoke bomb.

"Excellent, that's one less of Carroll's goons in this city." He stated. "While you were resting, Carroll initiated a smear campaign against you." He placed another poster on the table, this one a lot different. Elise scoffed when she saw what was on the poster. The poster bore a painting of a bare breasted Elise with some text underneath, which made her blood boil when she read it.

"Arrest this harlot! End her days of crime in the streets of London. One hundred Fifty thousand shilling reward!" Elise scoffed at this, and nodded her head in disgust.

"Trying to ruin me and my family's name." Elise muttered under her breath, enough for Leonard to hear. "Of course they would. Also upping the ante for my capture."

"That is what it looks like." He responded. "Trying to rid London of you so they can continue their tyranny over London."

"Do you know who makes these posters?" Elise asked.

Leonard looked at the poster, and spied initials at the bottom of the poster.

"Looks like a Cornelius Starrick work. With help of Carroll. Cornelius makes Carroll propaganda and on top of that, is Carroll's lapdog. Kill him and you will be led straight to Carroll."

"Looks like I have my next target." Elise replied.

"Yes, but for now, you must rest. I will look into his whereabouts." Leonard promised. "See you tomorrow morning, Elise.

Elise nodded her head, and went to her quarters. She stripped out of her Assassin robes, hanging them up on the hangers by her nightstand. She slid down her breeches, and folded them on the bed stand, only wearing her blouse and underwear. She crawled into the comfortable bed. As her head hit the pillow, she let tiredness consume her.

Elise awoke early in the morning, put on her Assassin robes, and put on her breeches. Elise fastened her belts and scabbard around her waist. She grabbed her weaponry, which was on the desk in her room. After letting out a deep breath, she opened the door, and met Leonard in the main chamber, where he was waiting with a smile.

"Good morning, Elise." Leonard greeted her. "I have some news that you will be eager to hear."

Elise smiled and hugged Leonard.

"What is this news?" Elise asked, placing her hands on the table.

"The whereabouts of Cornelius Starrick. It's barely morning and he is out and about spewing Carroll propaganda. One of my spies has reported that he is in the district of Whitechapel. If you hurry, you can still catch him. I have a carriage waiting outside for you, it will take you there when you are ready."

"Thank you so much, Leonard, I will see that the deed will be done." Elise replied, as she walked up the staircase.

Leonard nodded his head in approval as she disappeared from his sight.

Elise arrived in the bleak and desolate Whitechapel borough. The clouds were a gloomy grey, and hung over the borough. Elise found it to be rather depressing. She found a propaganda poster posted on the wall of a dilapidated building. She approached it and tore it down.

"He is nearby. Perhaps I should head up to the roof." Elise muttered to herself. "Can see a lot more from up there anyway."

She began to climb up to the roof, and as she got up to the roof, she heard a voice.

"Stay here, Robert, I am going to put this poster up here."

Cornelius Starrick, Elise thought to herself, I have you now.

Elise knew that this was her opportunity, so she sprung into action. She leap down from the roof and landed on Cornelius, with her hidden blade at his throat.

"Unhand me, harlot!" Cornelius shouted at Elise.

"Where is your boss?" Elise asked, inching her blade at his throat.

"In his Manor out in Cotswold! You'll find him there! You will need the key to enter!" He said, panicking.

"Thank you." Elise said politely. As soon as Cornelius got up, he shouted at the top of his lungs:

"I HAVE FOUND THE HARLOT..."

Elise quickly silenced him with her hidden blade. After looting his body, Elise discovered the key to the Manor's secret entrance, and a letter which stated Carroll's plan to demean Elise.

"Thank you, Cornelius, for leading me straight to Mr. Carroll." Elise whispered, before swiping his wound with her handkerchief. She saw some Templars approaching, looking for Cornelius. Elise quickly grabbed a smoke bomb and tossed it towards them. The men lost their sight in the thick smoke, and at the same time, lost Elise.

Elise met up with Leonard, who was in the main chamber, and presented him with the bloodstained handkerchief. He looked at it and looked back up at Elise, smiling.

"Excellent work, my lady." He said with a smile. "All that is left is Carroll." He handed her another handkerchief.

"It will be done." Elise replied, with a nod of her head. "That much I promise." She then walked outside, where a carriage was awaiting her.

"I will follow suit if you need any assistance, for I will try to remain out of sight." Leonard told Elise. Elise nodded her head, and went to look for the carriage that will take her to the manor.

Elise hopped into the carriage that was to lead her to Carroll Manor. The driver was suspicious of Elise's look and began to question her.

"Who are you girl, and why are you going to the manor?" He asked suspiciously.

"My name is Annabelle Scott." Elise responded. "I have business to attend to at the manor with Mr. Carroll. It is about sponsoring my Father's linen company. He's been waiting for me for quite some time." Elise noticed that the driver was wearing a Templar pin. Elise readied her hidden blade.

"Very well, girl. We are here..." he finished before Elise's blade met his throat.

"Don't call me girl ever again." Elise muttered.

Elise leaped over the wall, and found the manor grounds suspiciously empty. The manor itself gave off a haunting vibe that even got on Elise's nerves, with a thick fog hanging over the grounds. Through the thick fog, Elise hurried down the hill to the left side of the manor, and opened a door on the east side, thanks to the key she picked up from Cornelius. She found the hidden passage Cornelius spoke of and accessed the second floor. After ascending the stairs to the second level of the manor quietly, alerting no one. Elise found Peter's study, and he knew of her presence in the room as soon as she entered. Elise crossed her arms and smiled sarcastically as he began to speak.

"De la Serre. The woman who killed my daughter, is back to finish the job, except wearing the enemy's robes." He greeted Elise, a cold tone in his voice. "Have you not learned anything, you pathetic numpty?"

Elise scoffed at Carroll's comments.

"Oh, Peter, Peter, Peter. Didn't you know? You were always my enemy. Doesn't matter what robes I wear. I was informed that you have information on the Shroud of Eden. Care to tell me?"

Peter let out a huge laugh. "Never. Not to scum like you, French pig. The British Assassins are so pathetic that they rely on the French to do their dirty work." He pulled out his sword. "I'm going to end you Elise. In honour of my daughter."

Elise responded by pulling out her cutlass. The two combatants charged at each other and engaged in combat.

"What good is the Shroud to you, Elise?" Peter asked. "Are you going to use it to bring back your father, or your mother? He slapped Elise away, knocking her to the ground. Elise quickly got back up and the pair locked swords once again.

"To prevent you from extending your reign over London!" Elise shouted in return. "The Pieces of Eden were never meant to be in Templar hands!"

"That's pretty rich, coming from a Templar family." Peter bellowed, as he let out another loud laugh, and shoved her beside the doorway. Elise regained her footing and froze. A pistol was firmly propped against the back of her head.

"I'm going to enjoy taking my own bounty." A female voice said from behind her. Elise recognized the voice as Maria Carroll, Peter's wife.

"Now, Madam de la Serre." Peter said, walking from side to side. "Tell me this. You were supposed to follow in you pathetic father's footsteps, but you chose to follow your idiotic husbands band of killers..."

"We Assassins kill men like you, who threaten the way people live their life! You are a menace to society, and have no RIGHT walking in this world anymore!" Elise shouted back, nearly in tears.

As Elise spoke those words, Peter was loading his pistol.

"Just by saying those words, calling yourself one of them. I'm going to do what I should have done a long time time ago. I'm going to kill you."

Elise felt a lump build up in her throat. Peter pointed his pistol in the direction of Elise and Maria. Sensing her life was in danger, Elise knocked the pistol out of Maria's hands, and hid behind her. The bullet hit Maria in the heart. Her body fell onto the desk, and then the ground, dead.

Elise unsheathed her hidden blade, leaped up on the desk, ready to plunge it into Peter's heart. But Peter had other ideas, as he shot Elise in the left arm. Elise clutched her arm in pain as she fell to the ground, blood pouring out of her wound, staining her black robes red. Peter approached Elise, with his loaded pistol pressed up against Elise's forehead.

"Now I will end you, Elise de la Serre. For Alfred, for Cornelius, for my daughter, and for my wife. Your interference in my plans of acquiring the Shroud won't matter, as you won't be alive to stop me. Good riddance, you pathetic frog."

Elise grabbed Peter's left arm, and the pistol was shot beside Elise's head, missing her. Elise then found the strength in her wounded arm to stab Peter Carroll in the jugular, ending his life in a spray of blood.

His body fell lifeless to the ground, dead. Elise couldn't make it to her knees because of the pain she was in. She dabbed her handkerchief in both Peter and Maria's wounds, showing that she was successful in her mission. She found the strength to get to her knees, and crawl to a hidden safe in the ground. She picked up the password off Peter's body. She then opened the safe to reveal Peter's research on the Shroud of Eden. Leonard Frye walked into the room, witnessing Elise covered in blood and two dead bodies around her.

"Madame de la Serre, are you alright? What happened in here?" He questioned.

"I avenged what was said about my family and I acquired vital information on the Shroud of Eden for your brotherhood." Elise responded between pants. "Take this." Elise handed him the papers. Leonard took them from her.

"Is your arm alright? It looks painful." Leonard asked. "Would you like me to assist you back to my carriage?"

Elise was short on breath. "Please, yes." Leonard came up to her and picked her up in his arms. Upon exiting the manor, he placed Elise in the back of the carriage. While the trek to London was being made, Elise passed out from the pain of her wounds.

Elise woke up two days later in London, the pain from her wound subsiding. Leonard and a few of his associates were standing around Elise's bedside.

"A Carroll free new year! Thanks to this brave and courageous young woman!" Leonard shouted with glee. Elise watched as Leonard and his associates exchanged toasts. Elise looked down at her wound, which was bandaged up, and then back at Leonard. She flashed him a smile and hugged him.

"Happy New Year, Leonard. Thank you for all of your help." Elise replied, as she hugged him while sitting in her bed. Leonard couldn't help but blush when Elise hugged him.

"Your robes are over here, Elise. Change when you are ready. Your ship back to Cherbourg will be ready to leave this afternoon." Leonard said as he left the room.

Elise smiled, nodded her head, and got herself dressed. She grabbed a cloth to wipe off the dried blood on her hidden blade, left the headquarters after bidding her farewells to Leonard's allies, and set off for the pier.

Leonard was standing on the dock, next to the ship Elise was to board. Luckily, it wasn't the same captain that got her here. The sun was just rising above the horizon when Elise arrived. Leonard and Elise exchanged a hug.

"Thank you for your help, Madame de la Serre. You have helped the British Assassins achieve a large victory, but not enough to dethrone the Templar clutches over London." Leonard stated.

"In time, you will." Elise replied, with confidence. "What will you do now?"

"I will ask for aid from the council." Leonard returned. "And if they refuse to help me, I may have to find oppressed citizens and recruit them to our cause. I will keep the information on the Shroud safe with me, and continue the search for it. With the Carroll family gone, whoever steps in their place will be just as treacherous, and will stop at nothing to get that information."

Elise smiled at him and winked.

"If you ever need help, France will always lend a helping hand."

"Thank you again, Madame." Leonard smiled, as Elise boarded the ship. "For everything."

Elise blew Leonard a kiss and waved from the deck of the ship. As he faded off into the distance, Elise's journey to France had begun, without the Carroll family on her tail, and a much more tolerable captain, the trip back to France will be more peaceful.