Ailéas

Ailéas (born 1280) was the twin sister of Fillan who was born and raised within the Children of Fal in the Highlands of Scotland. In 1288, the Children of Fal were nearly exterminated by the Lann Fala, a team of Templar hunters led by their leader Cornavii, with her and Fillan being the only survivors.

Finding a new refuge and home with tailor Alastair Aitken, they stayed in Berwick and away from harm. However, in 1296, during the battle of Berwick, the twins were found and escaped the Lann Fala. However, they got separated and Aileas was saved from death by English Captain Bradley Dacre.

During the war, Ailéas regained her strength, due to Commander Dacre taking care of her and making sure she stayed hidden underneath the English and the Lann Fala's eyes. Although at odds with the war, she was convinced that the war was futile due to Lann Fala's interference. During the early winter of 1297, she was found by her brother Fillan, who completed the task to kill Dacre over a piece of misinformation.

Together again, Ailéas joined the Brotherhood's mission to aid the MacDougalls and to safeguard the Stone of Destiny from the Templars and the Lann Fala. Wary of a traitor, Ailéas and her allies found Cornavii with the stone and then saw Assassin James of Crannach reveal himself to be the traitor. Fortunately, the twins faced off and defeated both James and Cornavii and recovered the Stone. Learning from newfound ally and druidess Moira, she proclaimed to become both a druidess and a member of the Scottish Assassins.

Biography

Early childhood

Born in 1280, Ailéas and her twin brother Fillan were born into the Children of Fal, a group whose bloodline derived from "Those Who Came Before" and close allies to the Assassin Brotherhood. However, their location was found by the Lann Fala, a group of Templar exterminators, who killed nearly of the Children of Fal except the twins. Both she and Fillan soon found refuge with an Assassin ally, a rich tailor named Alastair in Berwick. For the next eight years, she lived under Alastair without any interference from the Lann Fala.

On the run

In March 1296, the twins were told to evacuate as the King Edward I ordered his men to attack and ransack Berwick over King John Balliol's betrayal. While trying to tell other guild members to flee, Ailéas and Fillan saw that the English troops already started their assault and the village began to burn. Making their way back to Alastair, they returned to the shop only to find their guardian beaten up by the Lann Fala. Interrogated by Cornavii, Alastair remained silent. Witnessing Alastair being killed by Cornavii, the twins began to cry but Fillan let out a cry. Caught, the twins ran from the incoming soldiers and took to the roofs. Gaining distance, Ailéas soon lost sight of her brother and then lost her footing as she fell down from the roofs.

Hiding in plain sight

Grievously injured, Ailéas was found and rescued by English Captain Bradley Dacre and taken to his camp for recovery. Hidden with other injured personnel, she woke up to meet Dacre, who stated that her injures are too severe to move. However, she wanted to leave but was caught by a commander on patrol. Although Dacre found her and argued for her presence, the commander soon found out the truth. Instantly, Ailéas witnessed Dacre slit the man's throat and then tell her that he cannot save her again.

Ailéas soon began to recover after becoming ill and talked with Dacre for the first time. Prodding for information, she asked why he saved her. Dacre admits that in the past, he was a traveler and was saved a clan bearing the same mark as hers on her wrist. In return, he promised to safeguard anyone with the same mark. While playing chance, Ailéas learned that Fillan survived but discovered about the Lann Fala and how she must mask herself as a healer. Uncomfortable, she reluctantly agreed to keep Fillan safe.

However, Ailéas became enraged at Dacre after hearing how his men violated her people willingly without any consequnce. Dacre responded by saying this was part of a necessary evil to ensure no civil war within Scotland. From there, Ailéas spoke very little with him. One evening, she was outside his tent while Dacre planned to combat Sir Patrick de Graham's forces. However, she saw Cornavii walk in and declare command over his militia once they all arrive in Scone. Noticing Dacre's anger and unease, she felt a revengeful fire against Cornavii but remained hidden.

Ailéas then begins to spar against Dacre, who trains her how to fight. Although being bested, she continued to improve but not enough to best her mentor. Soon, Dacre apologized to her for being drunk a past day and lying about his true feelings of the war. He admitted that the Templars are not only looking for her and Fillan but an artifact called the Stone of Destiny. Realizing that Dacre has trained her well enough, she asked when she can leave. Dacre joked why she had not left already but advised to leave when winter comes. Angry, she agreed and began to hope to see Fillan again.

Reunited

During the winter, Ailéas stayed with Dacre, who was becoming increasingly ill due to harsh conditions. Despite the Lann Fala's absence, Ailéas thanked Dacre for making contact with the Brotherhood, who recently had Fillan join them. One day, the camp was preparing to fight against a small rebellion but Dacre was too ill to be out. Ailéas guarded Dacre but came too late to notice him die by an unknown assailant. However, they engaged each other with Ailéas nearly dying before she realized it was Fillan.

Shocked, Ailéas embraced Fillan before being interrupted by a Lann Fala soldier. Killing him together, the twins left after Ailéas left a kiss goodbye on Dacre's forehead. With the camp in complete chaos, Fillan's mentor and Norwegian mercenary Sören, his mercenaries, and the Assassin spy Deorsa found them. They then told Deorsa about Dacre's death being planned by a traitor within the Brotherhood. Realizing William Wallace's revolt was underway, they all joined Wallace's revolt before finding out the traitor.

Joining the fight

Ailéas and Fillan continued to fight for two weeks, with her being given a Sword of Fal with Deorsa's permission. Later, they raced to Dunstaffnage to support Alexander Macdougall's fortifications. Although they suffered a setback with mercenary Edan being injured, they made it to the stronghold and met Macdougall, who welcomed back Sören and his daughter Kyle, one of Sören's mercenaries and Fillan's love interest. While there, they defended against the English attack, only for Ailéas, Fillan, Moira, and Deorsa to travel to the Isle of Mull to reinforce Wallace's forces while Sören headed to Iona to find the Stone of Destiny before the Templars.

Ailéas felt uneased while sailing to the island but talked with Moira about how both she and Fillan had different journeys to become who they are now. Arriving on Mull, they saw bodies around them but came to see Wallace's men, led by Assassin James of Crannach. Together, they all rode to Iona and took down every English soldier in their path. However, arrving at the monastery, they spotted Cornavii with the stone and his men killing the abbey's guards.

Ailéas and Fillan confronted Cornavii and tried to take back the Stone of Destiny from him but he begins to activate it with the words, "Lia Fáil." However, before it could activate, they witnessed Sören nearly assassinating Cornavii, who dodged his attack, while shocked by James' warning and subsequent murder of Deorsa. Ailéas fought against James, while the rest faced against Cornavii and his men. Ailéas was later taken hostage but Fillan and Moira managed to distract him and blind him, giving Ailéas time to kill him. Helping Fillan kill his attacker, Ailéas saw Sören taken aback from a slice to the stomach before joining Moira and Fillan to attack Cornavii. However, the Lann Fala leader used the stone to conjure powerful nightmares on them.

Ailéas suffered from her nightmares but was freed after Fillan broke through his nightmares and attacked Cornavii, who released the stone. Joining her brother, they began to fight Cornavii but grew overwhelmed from his strength. Fortunately, Moira stated to attack the stone, which led Fillan to hold Cornavii off while Ailéas hit the stone. With the stone's power, everyone fell back and the monastery fell. With this advantage, the twins managed to overpower Cornavii. With her sword, Ailéas cut him down while checking on Moira and Sören, who survived his injury. With Moira, they returned the stone back inside the monastery's hidden walls. Ailéas and Fillan then waited at the isle's coast and talked about how happy and proud they were of each other. While waiting for the MacDougalls to arrive, she admitted that she is considering both a newfound vocation as a druidess and to join Fillan into the Brotherhood.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Fragments – The Highlands Children