Hawk's Nest

The Hawk's Nest was a Lunden tavern near the River Thames, but unknown to most, it was also a Hidden Ones base of operations from where they could coordinate activities in Mercia and across England.

History

In the late 9th century, the Hawk's Nest became a new Hidden Ones base of operations in place of the long-abandoned Londinium bureau as the brotherhood sought to re-establish their network in Britain. In 878, the Hidden Ones Hytham and Marcella of Rome, who led the Hawk's Nest, met with Niamh of Argyll, secretly a member of the Women of the Mist who had intercepted an invitation to the similarly named Nimue to join the order. After a brief discussion, Niamh rested before she had to prove herself to Hytham and Marcella, the latter of whom doubted her abilities and loyalty.

The next day, Niamh met with the Hidden Ones again as Marcella wanted to test her skillset. However, Hytham took the initiative instead and evaluated Niamh immediately. Jumping from the bureau's window, Hytham performed a leap towards a haystack as Niamh followed suit. After Niamh demonstrated her ability to blend and to hide for Hytham, the pair returned to the Hawk's Nest, only to encounter an irritated Marcella waiting for them. Within the bureau, Niamh informed the Hidden Ones of the disappearances of some nuns and the possible connection with a group known as the Order of the Ancients.

After a tense moment, Marcella and Hytham divulged the history between the Order and the Hidden Ones as they assigned a task to Niamh to find and assassinate one of the Order members, Father Deoric. Given full autonomy, Niamh hesitantly agreed as Marcella shared more information about the priest. Before leaving, she met Hytham, who asked her what she knew of the Women of the Mist and whether it was possible to forge an alliance with them. Unwilling to reveal her true loyalties, Niamh promised to find any intel about the group and then left for Cote.

After her mission, Niamh arrived back at the Hawk's Nest, only to find the Hidden Ones in discussion with their ally, the seeress Valka of the Raven Clan. After eavesdropping on their conversation, Niamh made her presence known. Despite some tension due to her own prejudices against the Danes, Niamh disclosed the mission's success and the consequences of her actions to which Marcella reluctantly conceded that Niamh was ready, as her honesty and accountability proved her ability to learn.

Hytham inducted Niamh into the Order once she rested from her mission. The next day, Valka talked with Niamh about their respective backgrounds and how she wanted to learn about all cultures living in England, though Niamh remained secretive. Luckily for her, Hytham came in and pushed the conversation towards a joint mission for Niamh and himself to find another Order member, Cyrus. Marcella admitted that Cyrus was tracking her, thus she could not go, while the others worried for Hytham's physical health. The task was to rescue a pagan woman, and despite concerns from Valka and Marcella, Niamh agreed to help Hytham on his journey.

After rescuing their target Ebba from Cyrus, an injured Hytham and a tired Niamh carried their new information source back into the Hawk's Nest as Niamh tended to both Hytham and Ebba. After she independently escorted Ebba out of Lunden before the Hidden Ones could question her, Niamh came back to an angry Marcella. However, she stated that she had interrogated Ebba and gave over documents Niamh had recovered from Cyrus' room at the keep. Hytham agreed with Niamh's actions, much to Marcella's frustration. The Hidden Ones told Niamh that the hunt for the Sword of Eden Excalibur had increased due to the Order's partnership with the Descendants of the Round Table and that the sword was a symbol for ruling England. Niamh disclosed her knowledge of the Order's sinister nunnery to her allies, who noted it as a growing concern.

The next day, Niamh found Hytham alone and asked if she could partner with Valka to help her find the nunnery, to which Hytham agreed. Hytham also asked Niamh to help him on their task to safeguard Excalibur, unaware of Niamh's true intentions. When the nunnery mission went awry, Niamh returned to the bureau but was stopped outside by Marcella. Angry, Marcella launched a tirade against Niamh, accusing her of being a thief and a member of the Order. Done with the Roman's underlying bigotry of the Celts, Niamh challenged the Hidden One to a trial by combat to determine the truth, at which Marcella immediately attacked her with lethal intent. Attention grew as the battle outside the bureau drew a crowd. With Niamh's words and Hytham's multiple interventions, Marcella ceased her attack and abruptly conceded.

Afterwards, Hytham took Niamh aside to discuss further matters of Excalibur and revealed to the witch-warrior that the blade was in the hands of Hytham's friend Eivor Varinsdottir, prompting Niamh to abscond with the Piece of Eden to see it returned to Avalon. Niamh was on the run with Excalibur when she learned from Order soldiers of their intention to burn down the Hawk's Nest. Further confirmation later came from a young soldier of the Descendants of the Round Table, who sought to demoralize her by boasting that the bureau and everyone inside had been put to the torch. However, Hytham and the Hidden Ones had received advance notice of the arson attack and were able to save themselves, though the fate of the base remained unclear.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Valhalla – Sword of the White Horse