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Piety and Infamy	By : MarianTheBlackadder Category: M through R > Patriot, The Views: 2093 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own The Patriot, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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The Captain Tavington had left in charge of this unit rushed up to him
and saluted. �Sir, there is a scrimmage down by the ridge on the north side.
The rebel forces have our troops surrounded and under fire!� Tavington gave a
sigh and looked at his new bride, the words that Cornwallis had said to him were
ringing in his ears about leaving her behind. However she saw the look in his
eyes and smiled gently, �You�ve got work to do. I�ll wait for you to
return.�


Tavington had not expected such a response, any other woman would have
become annoyed long ago that he had to run off. Her words stunned him for only a
moment before he took his command. �TO HORSE!� he ordered all the dragoons
that stood about them. The Captain started to walk past Heather to get on his
own horse but she caught his arm and whispered only loud enough for the solider
to hear, �Keep him safe Captain. Please.� The captain gave a slight nod
before hurrying to mount his horse.


The Colonel rode up beside his wife who stood beside the horse he had
brought with him to carry her. �I will not be long.� Giving him another
smile she nodded stepping back when Tavington shouted the order for the Dragoons
to charge. The entire unit took off making the sound of thunder and the ground
shake beneath Heather�s feet as she watched them ride away.


She kept the smile on her face until she was positive that even if he
looked back, he could not see her. It only took a moment before her fears
overwhelmed her and she had to close her eyes, bracing herself against the horse
with one hand. Each time he had to be away, or even was simply wearing his
uniform, she feared he would meet his death. Or even the worse fate of being
captured. Taking a breath, she walked over to a rock and sat down leaning on the
tree that grew behind it. Heather�s eyes shifted upwards towards the sky
feeling the warmth of the sun on her face. It was still clearly morning and the
sun had only risen perhaps an hour ago.


Two hours later, the Dragoons were rounding up their own soldiers,
tending to their wounded, and looking over the bodies of the colonials making
sure they were all as dead as they appeared to be. Unfortunately, by the time
the dragoons had gotten there, it was to late for the British ground troops who
had been ambushed. Colonel Tavington�s famous wrath had been unleashed. Not
many, if any at all, of the colonial rebels got away. Tavington�s captain rode
up beside him to give him his report. �Three of our riders were wounded, no
dragoon casualties, but all of the ground troops are either dead or will not
last the night. The rebel party has been eliminated.�


�Good. Send a detachment to round up any rebels that might have slipped
away during the battle, and have them shot on sight. I have no time for
prisoners today.� William went silent for a few moments taking into account
the events that had taken place this morning when he retrieved Heather from the
town she had been living in. It was not that far from this attack, perhaps one
half of a mile away. Tavington turned back towards his Captain. �Send someone
into the town to retrieve my wife�s belongings. Then I want the town to become
a memory. Have it wiped off the map.� The Captain turned towards his commander
a little in shock at this order.


�Sir?� He asked nervously.


�The rebels whom attacked obviously came from that town and acquire
supplies and aid from the town people themselves. If any escaped they will
surely return there for care and aid. Besides that, I�m not entirely sure
those degenerates were not aware of this attack.� His eyes shifted back
towards his Captain. �I will make this quite simple for you. Burn the town,
and kill the people. Leave NO one standing. Do not question my orders again
Captain, just do as I say or you will find yourself in a very unpleasant
situation.� The Captain gave a nod to let him know he understood.


�Good. Now after you have completed these tasks, my command will be
turned over to Major Borden. You can the other Captain�s will be under his
command. It would do well not to disappoint me when I return.� Tavington
narrowed his eyes at the Captain, letting him know that lives were at stake if
he came back and was displeased with the way things had been handled while he
was gone. �Yes Sir.� The Captain replied.


Clearing his throat, the captain rode into the center of the dragoons,
taking charge and heading off towards the town. William just waited silently
watching them until they disappeared. He half chuckled to himself as he turned
his horse back to the grove where he left Heather, �I should have given them
more explicit instructions of how that widow was to meet her demise.� A slight
breeze came up as he road and he stopped his horse, recognizing the sent of
fresh blood upon his own person. Reaching into his pocket he took out his
handkerchief and wiped a dead Colonial�s blood from where it had splattered
across his face and neck. William could only imagine the shock it would cause
his new bride to see her husband riding up to her dripping with blood.

Once he arrived in the grove he looked about, seeing the horse but not
the woman he had left standing beside it. Something did not seem right to him
and he grew cautious. Dismounting quickly, he listened to the silence for a
moment before drawing out his saber. Holding his stance in a manner that would
allow him to strike if need be, he continued to search for any movement at all.
Tavington didn�t dare call out for there might be rebels nearby. William
walked over to the horse and examined him looking for any clues to what was
going on, when something moved behind a tree and caught the corner of his eye.


Removing his pistol from his holder, he cocked it as he slowly crept
closer to the tree. Once just on the other side, he spun around it quickly
taking aim at whatever it was that was moving. Heather�s eyes opened slowly as
she made not a move looking down the barrel of a loaded pistol before her eyes
met with Williams. Tavington lowered his weapon feeling rather embarrassed as he
put it away giving a sigh of relief. Heather had fallen asleep and had not heard
him ride up. �You�ve been gone for hours, I was beginning to worry.� The
Colonel reached down and helped her to her feet.

�We had better get moving. We have a long way to travel before
nightfall.� Heather nodded as he took her hand and led her back to their
horses, lifting her up and placing her in the saddle of her horse before
mounting his own. She was fully capable of climbing up onto a horse on her own,
but he seemed to always want to lift her so she let him. They turned their
horses towards the south and galloped off down the road together.


In just a few short hours, they had made good time and put a lot of
country behind them. On the road there was a much larger town then the one
Tavington had retrieved her from that they had to ride through just afternoon.
Every eye in the town starred at the two as they rode past. A British solider
and a Colonial woman riding together. This time it made Heather a little uneasy.
It seemed like an eternity before they passed out of the city limits, but once
it felt as if they were out of danger Heather rode up beside William.
�William, would you do something for me please?�


He turned and looked at her as they continued on their way. �Of course?
Anything you wish my dear.� She looked at him a moment.


�Please take off your red uniform coat and put it away. Your not on
duty right now, there is no reason to stand out like this. So far we haven�t
exactly been traveling through British friendly territory. I don�t want
someone to try and . . . I don�t want. . .� She stopped looking down, and
Tavington pulled back on the reigns bringing his horse to a stop as he looked at
her. She was genuinely worried and upset about this. Heather stopped her horse
as well looking back at him hoping her request had not upset him.


However a smile swept his face for her as she had always done for him
when he needed it, �Alright. It is getting a bit warm anyway isn�t it.�
Reaching up he removed his helmet first, and she reached out taking it from him
to hold it while he took off his coat and vest down to his white shirt. He
folded them carefully and put them away in his saddle bag. �There, does that
put your mind at ease my love?� She smiled and nodded.


�Much better.� Something about the exchange seemed so amusing and
they both smiled laughing a moment before they turned and continued on their
journey. Tavington was completely different with Heather when ever they were
together then he was with anyone else. No one knew of this soft and tender side
but her. He was not the only one she had a gift for bringing out the strangest
attitude for, but she belonged to him and that made him able to smirk at the
rest of the word who had to suffer because of it.


By sunset, they came upon the hill overlooking Cornwallis�s plantation.
They had been riding since early morning at a quick pace through unseen dangers
until Tavington let her know they were well behind British lines. Heather looked
down over the vast plantation in wonderment. �What . . is this place
William?�


�Lord Cornwallis�s plantation. At the end of our two weeks together,
he has requested that you remain here, and so do I. This is a good long way from
any battles, and the war is not expected to come in this direction at all. Since
it has been months since we cleared out the resistance here. You will be safe
here.� Heather looked at him in silence for a moment before her eyes turned
back to the enormous house that seemed set in the middle of acres and acres of
land. The entire lay out seemed to boast of the man�s wealth that lived here.


�My lord Cornwallis is most Generous.� Tavington looked at her for a
moment, noticing that her words weren�t exactly spoken allowed to him, but to
herself and she had fallen deep into thought. A few minutes went by before he
sunk his spurs into his horses side and began to ride down the hill. Heather saw
him moving and quickly followed after him not wishing to be left behind.


Once they rode up to the front of the house, servants came out and took
their horses for them, as another showed them inside the house. Both of these
newly weds were tired and a bit dingy from the long rode they had traveled and
wanted to get cleaned up as soon as they could.


A few hours later, a servant knocked on Tavington�s door before opening
it a bit and stepping inside. �Colonel Tavington. A solider is at the door
carrying a case with your wife�s belongings.� Without a word to the servant
whom he thought of as a lower species, he headed down stairs to the foyer where
the solider had been asked to wait. Tavington raise a brow finding that the
solider carried with him was a single case that was not very large in size. His
eyes looked about the floor as he approached the dragoon. �Where are the rest
of her things?�


�This is all of her belongings that were in her room sir.� Tavington
just starred at him for a moment before reaching out and taking the case.
Setting it down on a nearby table he opened it. A look of surprise and
bewilderment crossed his face, �All of these things . . . were gifts from
me.� He said allowed to himself. The solider stepped forward, �We searched
the entire house and these are the only things that were hers.�


Tavington nodded dismissing the solider to return to his ranks. Reaching
into the case he held one of the objects in his hand looking it over. She had
kept extremely good care of all of them and they were all in excellent
condition. His eyes shifted upwards to the second floor of the house as he
wrapped his fist around the trinket, �My little enigma.� Putting the object
back in its place, he closed the case and headed up the stairs with it.


Heather was in their room they would be staying in getting cleaned up and
ready for bed. Tavington knocked on her door, �Come in!� She called out
putting down her brush. Switching her case to his other hand he pushed the door
open and stepped inside, finding her sitting at the vanity putting her hair up
in silver clips. She smiled seeing who it was and rose to greet him. William
couldn�t help but smile as he closed the door behind him walking over to her
vanity and setting down her case.


�Your belongings came just a while ago.� He said unhooking the
latches and opening the case for her. Heather walked up beside him looking down
at her bag before looking back up at him. �Thank you William, I had wondered
how I was going to get them this afternoon. I had completely forgotten when we
first left. I was just so happy to see you.� Heather smiled and leaned up
kissing him softly, finding his strong-arms wrapping around her holding her
against him as his passion deepened their kiss that much more.


After a moment the kiss parted, and William looked down at his young
bride as his breath had deepened considerably. Clearing her throat she pulled
back slowly from his arms, reaching for her case. �I should . . . put these
things in their proper places.� She said nervously as she moved her case to
the dresser. Tavington was rather reluctant to let her go but didn�t wish to
rush her. He took a deep calming breath as he watched her graceful movements, it
was almost as if she glided along the floor her feet never touching the ground
once.


When she moved back to her vanity, she sat down and began to pin her hair
up again. William watched curiously as her hands moved swiftly and expertly
taming the soft golden curls that cascaded over her neck and shoulders. He found
himself taking steps towards her until he could watch her in her mirror. Her
deep crystal blue eyes sparkled in the candlelight that washed over her
beautiful skin. There were countless nights he would lay on his cot while away
on a campaign, dreaming of her wishing she had not been so far out of his reach.


Slowly he reached up and placed a gentle touch on her neck, not being
able to take his eyes off of this radiant beauty. Heather�s eyes turned up to
see him gazing at her, �William? Is there anything wrong?� She questioned
worriedly.


�I should say not my dear. Everything is absolutely perfect.� A blush
came to her cheeks at his words understanding what he meant and taking his
compliment to heart as she did with all of the ones he gave her. After a moment
her smile faded, losing herself in thoughts she had been stricken with since
they first rode down the hillside towards the plantation.


�William?� She said softly not knowing if she should inquire about
any of this, or simply keep her worries to her self. �Yes dear?� He
questioned when she didn�t continue right away.


�Why did Lord Cornwallis do this for us? I was my understanding that he
is. . . well he�s not very fond of you.� She said softly her eyes downcast
towards her vanity table. This snapped Tavington out of planning the rest of
their night together and back into the here and now.


�What? Who told you that?� He questioned a bit annoyed that gossip
had reached her ears. Heather turned and looked up at him a little worried.


�I heard some of your Green Dragoons talking at the wedding. They said
something about him sending for you, and that . . . you were in for it this
time?� She whispered trying to remember the words. Tavington gave a sigh and
shook his head before leaning down and kissing the soft velvet of her neck
before walking over to the large bed laying across the foot of it. Leaning up on
one elbow so he could look to her as he spoke wondering how he could explain
things to her.


�You know, as my commanding officer, I am bound to his orders. I must
follow them and carry them out to his specifications less there be consequences
for disobeying them. However, this colonial force will not fight as the British
military do. They wear things that hide them from the human eye, hide behind
bushes, rocks, and trees, jump out to fire at our troops and then disappear
again until they have reloaded their weapons. It is a dirty, uneducated, and
uncivilized way to fight. If they do not fight as honorable gentlemen should,
and follow the rules of war, how can I be expected to up hold these traditions
and keep our own men alive long enough to do their job?�


Heather put her brush down and turned to where she could see him as he
continued to speak. Everything he said was making perfect sense, and she
couldn�t understand why he was looked down upon for it.


�What General Cornwallis fails to see, is that when I am out on the
field with the Dragoons, I have to make decisions as these rebels attack. As
there tactics change, so must ours. If fear is what it takes to discourage them
from fighting and attacking in such a brutish form, then the steps we should
take to secure that will have to be just as brutal. In this war, to follow all
the rules that have always been followed in the past and to �fight as
gentlemen� is to seal your own fate. Lord Cornwallis will continue to turn his
eyes away and remain blind until he sees it or he befalls it himself.�


�If he doesn�t think you to be a gentlemen, and doesn�t approve of
your methods you use, then why this? Why did he send us here and give you two
weeks to spend with me after our wedding?�


�He did not do this for �us� my dear. He did this for you. He made
a point to be sure I understood that.� He said under his breath unable to keep
his teeth from grinding a bit at the thought. Getting up from the bed he walked
behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. �Lets not talk of this anymore
my love. Tonight is our first night together as husband and wife, and if you
don�t mind. . . .� Reaching down he swept her up into his arms and looked
into her eyes. �. . . .Cornwallis and all of his aristocratic nonsense is the
last thing I want invading my thoughts.�


She smiled a bit and leaned up kissing his lips softly, touching his
cheek with her fingertips, loving the feel of his face when he had gone a day
without shaving. William carried her over to the bed and lay her down, brushing
the hair back from her face gazing into her eyes. Tavington bent down and kissed
her passionately holding her body close to his. Thoughts of Cornwallis, the war,
the British, and the colonials all melted away with is touch. The night went on,
and they stayed together until long after the break of day, yet even then it
didn�t seem long enough.
To Be Continued .
. .
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Piety and Infamy