Broken Soldier ~ Assassin's Creed 4

Chapter Thirteen

I think I awoke at around midday. The sun threw streams of orange through my window, giving a warm glow to everything. If that was the case, then I would have slept about six hours. I looked up to the ceiling which was peeling in the corner and painted an awful brown colour. The walls were the same shade of brown and the paper had been picked at until little parts had actually come free, leaving tear marks. A few framed paintings, probably by other students, were hung over the worst torn sections, though the rips were still very visible.

I rolled slowly out of the bed, my white night gown cuffed around my ankles once I stood up again. The sleeves had worked their way up to my shoulder on the left and to my elbow on the right arm. I pulled them back down to my wrists, then tucked my necklaces back inside the night gown. I peered into the mirror which was simply just a small circle of glass, and smiled at the makeup which had smothered my face in a golden film of dark glitter. Clearly, I was in need of a long bath. I clicked my fingers, remembering my uniform. The drawer was open slightly already, and it squeaked when I pulled it all the way out. A grey dress was inside with ruffles around the sleeves and chest. There were loops around the waist for a ribbon, which laid next to the dress in the drawer, and a small pouch was tied to one of them. I grabbed two towels from the rack in the corner of the room and carried them with me to the bathroom. A key hung from the door handle which I used to lock the door once I was inside. I drew my own bath with the water in the room already, not bothering to heat it up. I quickly undressed and stepped in.

~~

After my bath, I plaited my hair across my left shoulder with a few shorter strands slightly obstructing my face. It was still wet and the easiest way to keep it in one place was to plait it. I had also dressed in my uniform, my necklaces hidden in the bodice. The skirt hung off of my hips loosely, and flowed to my ankles. A pair of ugly, scuffed, grey boots were to accompany the dress. However, I do think I managed to make it look a little nicer with the bow I tied in the front with the ribbon in the little loops. I dropped my room key into the pouch. The sleeves of the dress stopped at my elbow, though the ruffles puffed out far enough to brush against the pouch when I did place the key into it. The bodice fit tightly to my body in a corset with beautiful lace up the front, which was probably the only pretty part of it; the lace.

I looked into the round glass again. My face was clean from any makeup, and I didn't plan on wearing any ever again, unless absolutely necessary. The hair which brushed against my forehead and cheeks was a pale red colour, much lighter than the maroon of the rest of my hair. Groups of freckles formed on my cheeks in big bunches. I smiled and turned to my case. I flipped open the catches and retrieved my violin and its bow from inside. Resting it under my neck, I tried to work out how to play again. A few minutes passed before I finally got the hang of it, then I was able to play a Scottish folk song - The Unusual Girl With Brown Hair. I used to play it a lot for my youngest sister to help her sleep. She was quite unusual with brown hair.

Granted, it took almost an hour for me to play the song the entire way through without failing, but I had a lot of fun doing it. Just as I was going to set the violin down, a knock came at my door. I answered it. A stocky woman in a brown dress stood with a grin on her face.

"I trust you are Elisa?" I nodded and shook her hand. "I am the music teacher here. Everyone calls me Jane."

"It's lovely to meet you, Jane. I am taking violin lessons, I believe." She smiled.

"Yes, I have seen your name on my timetable. I look forward to teaching you every Thursday." With that, she simply turned and walked towards the stairs. I left my violin perched up against the wall and locked my door as I left.

The reception was a lot nicer than it had been early this morning. A teenage boy was sweeping around the chairs and fireplace. The fire wasn't currently lit but a few candles lined the desk where a woman wearing large glasses perched on a stool. She looked up and finished what she was writing.

"Elisa Ward, yes?" I nodded. "You will be wanting an oil lamp." She placed it in front of me, along with a large pad of paper and ink. "Paper and ink to write letters home. For an envelope, you will have to visit me to be given one." I nodded. "We give the letters to the post office every Friday. That's all you need to know for now."

"Thank you."

"In around twenty minutes, the other girls will be having their lunch. You are welcome to join them, if you are hungry."

"I will do that. Just let me put these back in my room first. Thank you again." I made my way back towards my room yet again.

I set my lamp on my bed stand and left the paper and ink on the tiny desk. My violin being perched so precariously began to scare me so I slipped it back into its home, laying its best friend - the bow - next to it. My sister once named it - him. His name is Benedict, and he is one of my best friends at this school.