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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.

Chapter List
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The next two weeks they spent together, it was easy to feel isolated and
there was no war, no hardship, no fighting and dying. It was just Lord and Lady
Tavington, alone in a large manor on a vast and glorious plantation. It was a
nice fantasy that they both eagerly gave into, considering the fact everything
that surrounded them was owned by Cornwallis, and it seemed that neither of
these two were comforted in that fact.


There were countless activities they did together. Horse back riding,
walking together in the garden, exploring the house, enjoying quiet dinners
together and even a picnic somewhere in the green grass every other day. There
were even days when he furthered her knowledge in how to defend herself with the
weapons they had at hand. He had taught her the basic rules and movements in
wielding a sword. She was far from the best, but she learned quickly and was
more then able to hold her own ground. Her shot had improved greatly with his
pistol, and if he were the sort to admit that a woman was better at something
then he, he would say that her ability to hit her target was equal if not better
then his own. He had also taken the time to show her how to use a dagger.
Obviously a mostly obsolete weapon in a war of this kind, but it was something
to do and a kitchen knife could work just as well if she was in a tight spot.


Even with all of these different activities they indulged in together,
each one seemed to always lead them to the same place. Laying side by side in
each others arms, just happy to be together, every time finding it more
difficult to let go.


Two weeks went by quickly, and Heather stood in the foyer with William
holding his helmet and gloves in her arms for him while he finished buttoning up
his jacket in the mirror. Her eyes shifted towards the open door seeing the
detachment of Green Dragoons that had been sent as an escort for Tavington back
to General Cornwallis�s headquarters. Her eyes turned back to her handsome
husband once again in a soldier uniform which he kept absolutely perfect.
Turning around he reached out taking the helmet and gloves from her, taking her
hand in his taking her out to the porch with him. She stood there as silent as
she had been since first light when they had first awoken. The twenty Dragoons
stood in perfect formation waiting for their commander, there horse with him and
ready to go. �I�ll write to you William. I promise it.�


Tavington shook his head turning towards her, �No my dear. You must
not. If one of your letters were to be intercepted by the colonial rebels, it
would put you in danger.� Tears started to fill her eyes as she looked down,
knowing it meant she wouldn�t be hearing from him either. He took a breath and
raised her eyes so he could look into them. �I want more then anything to hear
from you, and read the script from your hands so that I may feel we are not as
far apart as we are, but I will not take such a risk. You are worth more to me
then letters.� William kept his voice low, for it was a private conversation
and no concern to his dragoons whatsoever.


�When will I see you again.� She whispered in a shaky voice trying
her best not to burst into tears and embarrass him. In all honesty he could not
say. Most of his orders came on a day by day basis and were often changed on a
whim of Cornwallis, still he had to try to wipe those tears from her eyes.


�Soon, I promise.� He reached for her hand and raised it to his lips,
gently kissing it as anymore of a display of affection then that and he would
hear about it from Cornwallis. News travels fast through the British ranks,
especially when the subject had anything to do with Tavington, so that his evil
and horrid reputation would grow as well. Releasing her hand he put on his
helmet pulling the strap across his chin and fastening it and began to pull on
his gloves. They were both trying to be strong, but it was Heather who decided
not to care and caved in. Her arms wrapped around him and held him tight,
holding on for all she was worth.


Tavington wrapped his arms back around her holding her, before placing a
kiss on her forehead instantly hating those 20 dragoons being in plain sight of
them, making it impossible to give his own wife a proper goodbye. After a moment
she pulled back and smiled for him as she always did. Taking one last look at
her, he turned and went down the steps of the house to his horse. After he
mounted, he turned his horse so he could see her once more, then he turned and
took the lead of the Dragoons as they all road away.


She waited as she did the day he had retrieved her until he was
completely gone and she saw not one trace left of him in the distance. Then it
seemed as any and all happiness she felt drained from her body. It fell silent
and there was no one around, not a servant, not an animal nothing. Heather
couldn�t help but feel like she was the last person on earth. Finally she went
back into the house, making her way up to her room and laying down in her bed
depressed and drowning in a overwhelming flood of sorrow.


Later that night, she didn�t even stir when the servants called her for
dinner. Realizing she wasn�t going to come out, much less eat they began to
put everything away and clean up the wasted meal they had prepared for her.
�What do you suppose is wrong with her Reba?� She looked up at him putting
some of the dishes away.


�What do you think is wrong with her Joe? There�s a war going on that
her husband just rode of into. There�s no tellin� when he�ll be back, if
he�ll be back, if he�ll make it in one piece if he manages to get out of
their alive.� Washing down the counter she shook her head, �She�ll be
better in a day or two. She�ll begin tellin� herself that he�ll be back
any day, and then she�ll make herself believe it enough, she�ll feel better
to start eattin� again.�


�Do ya think she knows what all has been goin� on with him when
he�s off fightin� those colonists?� �Well I certainly ain�t gonna be
the one to tell her he�s earned the nickname �The Butcher�, much less how.
The last time I heard, he burned down somethin� like 10 farms and killed the
people that had been livin� in each one. Even women, and children.�


�You�ve seen the way she looks at him Reba. He can�t do any sort of
wrong in her eyes.� Reba sighed knowing the feeling all to well herself, as
most women everywhere do.

�Well, lets just get all this cleaned up so we can go to bed.�


�Yeah, she might be ready to eat somethin� in the mornin�.�


Two days went by and still Heather had not come down or stirred from her
room. Reba, the maid, made her way up the stairs with a candle and knocked on
her door. �Miss? May I come in?� No answer came to her call. Growing bold,
she slowly opened the door walking in a few steps until she could see. She put
the candle down on the table and sat on the bed next to the woman. �Are you
alright miss?�


�Yes.� She said plainly. �Are you gonna eat somethin�?�
�No.� Reba cocked her head moving closer trying to see the woman�s face.
�He�ll be comin� back miss. You�ll see.� Heather gave a sigh, �Yes,
but in how many pieces.� It was just as the maid had thought she would be
thinking. She wanted to try to put her at rest enough so she could at least try
to sleep. �He�s a professional solider in His Majesty�s army. He�s been
one for a lota years. You think that just because he got married, he�s gonna
die now? After all this time? If anythin� you�re his good luck waitin� for
him and prayin� for him. Cheer up, he�ll be fine.� Then the maid picked up
her candle and walked to the door. �Get some rest miss, you�ll feel better
in the morning.� Then she closed the door behind her taking the only light in
the room with her.


Back at Cornwallis�s headquarters, Tavington had reported back only to
find himself reassigned to the Ghost problem yet again. While he had been gone,
the other officers had made far less progress in solving this mystery then
Tavington had. He could not argue, even though still he was not being recognized
or given his credit for these efforts. He ordered Dragoon patrols to move all
across the countryside. More times the he cared to acknowledge, they found
themselves riding into the midst of what had once been British soldiers and
supply lines. It began to seem as if the criminals were always one step ahead of
them, and the Dragoons got there only after it was to late. This outraged him
beyond all imagination only aiding fuel to his hate and anger towards this
country and it�s inhabitants. Cornwallis was growing more annoyed as well, and
continued to summon Tavington to his office to blame him for the delay and any
men or supplies that were lost. Finally the day came, when Tavington had devised
a plan and set a trap for this band of rebels, using a unit of ground troops as
bait. The dragoons were successful in capturing 18 of the militia and killing
22.


One of Cornwallis�s aids was sent out to give Tavington a message. He
saluted William handing him the dispatch before riding away. Borden turned
looking at his superior. William gave a sigh, �It seems that General
Cornwallis would like me to deliver my report of this personally.� Closing the
message and putting it away he turned his horse. �I�m afraid that the
general shall have to wait until we return to camp.� Borden took a breath and
nodded following after him.


When William finally rode into Cornwallis�s headquarters, he was just
in time to hear the order given by General O�Hara to release the prisoners. He
stopped his horse in mid stride and dismounted removing his helmet angrily
slamming it into the gut of one of the privates as he walked through the ranks.
�General, What is going on here!?!�


�Prisoner exchange. He has 18 of our officers.� William turned and
looked at this colonial rebel and narrowed his eyes. Something about this man
seemed terribly familiar, but he couldn�t quite place him.


�Who is that man, I recognize him.� Suddenly a light went on when he
saw another familiar face waiting on one of the horses. It was that colonial
traitor that was harboring the enemy. He lost his home for his indiscretion. A
well deserved punishment for such an offense.


�He is the commander of the militia. Your ghost� William�s eyes
went wide as he looked that the General. THIS was the man he had been searching
for? That had been attacking their supply lines, killing their soldiers, and
spitting in the face of Tavington�s authority? Instantly he drew his saber
intending to put a stop to this man�s terrorism.


�Sheathe that sword Colonel! He rode in under a white flag for formal
parlay!� Tavington stopped in his tracks unable to move under the eyes of
every man of Cornwallis�s army, he could not disobey orders this time.


�This is madness.� He declared in disbelief. They were just going to
let this man walk in, take the prisoners he had captured and walk out with his
life. He was right there, he had been chasing him for months. Now he was in his
reach and he could not touch him.


�If you harm him, you condemn our officers!� General O�Hara told
him seeing the wheels turning in the Colonel�s mind and the white of his
knuckles as he grasped the handle of his sword. Tavington shook his head and
quickly approached the General, and spoke only loud enough for his commanding
officer to hear.


�With all do respect, he�s killed as many officers in the last two
months.� O�Hara narrowed his eyes looking at this insubordinate officer that
should have been dealt with sometime ago, but his family name and station kept
him protected. He should know full well their practices and the rules that war
required among the gentlemen that lead the armies.


�He has shown no aggression here, hence he cannot be touched!� He
said through his teeth, annoyed that he had to remind this man. Tavington�s
eye twitched slight before an idea came to mind, and he knew exactly what to do.


�Has he not?� He said slyly before spinning about on his heel heading
towards the gate at a quick pace. �You! So you�re the ghost are you!!! I
remember you! That Farm and that Stupid little boy!� He said wanting to get
his digs in to this man enough to force him into confrontation so that the
Colonel could kill him and end this. The man stopped cold in his tracks hearing
these words and turned around looking squarely at Tavington, not believing that
this man had crossed this line. He had already taken his son away from him, how
could he speak of him in such a way. �Did he die, hmmm?� Tavington said in a
very disregarding manner. The man�s look darkened as he walked up to Tavington
with a look in his eyes like he was going to deliver a fist to his jaw. However
he stopped himself in time, knowing if he did this. Both he, his son, and the
rest of his men would be slaughtered today.


Tavington saw this and decided he only had to push a little more before
he could cut out his heart and put it on display in the courtyard. �You know,
it�s an ugly business doing ones duty, but just occasionally, . . . .it�s a
real pleasure.� HE said with a smirk. The man�s eye began to twitch and the
colonel was ready to kill him if he moved in anyway. However, even with the hate
that shone out from this man�s eyes he took a deep breath and let it out
slowly calming himself enough to speak.


�Before this war is over, I�m going to kill you.� Tavington�s
smile fled from his face as he felt his chance slipping away and turned his
sword towards the man offering him the handle, daring him to take it.


�Why wait?� The man took another deep and calming breath just
starring into the Colonel�s eyes.


�Soon.� Then he turned back towards his men that were waiting for him
and mounted his horse. He looked at Tavington for one moment longer, letting him
get a good look at his face, wanting him to spend sleepless nights thinking that
any moment this man would take his revenge for the death of his son. Then the
entire force turned and rode away together. Tavington grit his teeth together as
he took a step forward and watched them ride away.


A short while later he marched up to Cornwallis�s office as he had been
ordered to do, in the foulest of moods. Cornwallis�s mood was not much better,
for when the Ghost had left he had taken the General�s prize winning great
deigns with him. �Colonel Tavington I am not in the mood for your nonsense
right now. Our sudden decrease in officers id de to your brutal tactics on the
locals and their families which I have ordered you to cease time and time
again!�


�My lord, I know that man.� Tavington said quickly taking a step
forward.


�GOOD! Then you shall have no trouble in tracking him down!�
Tavington narrowed his eyes, he could have not only ended this entire ordeal but
they would have captured the man alive so he could be drawn and quarter then his
remains hung from the wall as a warning to anyone else who would try such
attacks on the kings soldiers. He took a step forward intending to reply, but he
was cut off when one of their Scottish scouts from the south burst into the
office.

�My lord! The rebels have hit
to the southwest!� He exclaimed clearly out of breath from riding hard and
then running to the Generals office. This stopped both men cold and caught their
attentions.

�Where?� Tavington demanded
taking a step forward. The southwest was where he and his wife had spent their
two weeks together, and where he had left her to be safe.

�Many farms that we had taken
over to quarter our own troops, a few units of soldiers while on patrol, and . .
the lord Cornwallis�s plantation which seemed to be where they concentrated
their attack.� Upon hearing this Tavington turned on his heel and headed for
the door. Cornwallis stopped him before he could leave.

�Colonel Tavington, where are
you going?� He demanded wanting an immediate answer.

�I�ll not leave her to that
pack of insolent peasants that call themselves human! They might have captured
her!� Cornwallis�s knew this was a possibility and took a moment deciding on
a course of action.

�Alright Colonel. Bring her
back here, if you can� Tavington put on his helmet and ran out of the quarters
and mounted his horse as it began to gallop off. His Captain that had
accompanied him to the fort, couldn�t even mange to keep up with him as he
rode back towards the dragoon camp. Tavington began to shout as he rode through
the camp at a high speed.

�TO HORSE!!!� he shouted on
the first pass through the camp. He turned his horse and headed back through the
camp, his dragoons where either on horse back awaiting orders or getting to
their horse and mounting as quickly as possible. Tavington paused for only a
moment before giving the order to move out. To keep up with their commander they
had to ride hard and fast for what seemed like hours, for it was quite a ways
back to Cornwallis�s plantation and Tavington feared each moment that passed
was another minute that endangered her if she had not been murdered in cold
blood already. The horses were beginning to tire and they would be dead before
long if they were not allowed to stop. Finally they rode over the hill that
overlooked the plantation.

The manor was in flames and
nearly burned to the ground as black smoke filled the sky and the house had
already almost been completely reduced to ash. The fire had not spread to the
trees and the shrubbery around, as it was springtime and all of it was far to
wet and green. It looked as if the place had been torn to pieces and completely
looted and striped of its treasures by whatever creatures had done this. An
overwhelming sense of panic over took the Colonel as nothing looked as if it was
moving, and there were obvious bodies lying near the house. He refused to let
his inner feelings show and pulled his saber giving the order to charge.

Every man drew their swords and
they charged down the hillside into the valley. Once they were near the house,
several men dismounted with pistols in hand heading up the steps of the house to
search what was left. The others began to ride around the house to see if there
was anything or anyone left alive.

It was to late, and Tavington
knew it. He had been fighting battles and been in enough conflicts with these
colonists to know their practices. Their tactics were just as brutal as his own
at times, but it was to be expected from uneducated and uncivilized peasants.
�Captain, search the grounds and the out woods. Bring back anything or anyone
you find. Do it quickly.� The captain didn�t even take time to salute as he
divided up the dragoons that were still mounted and sent them in different
directions.
Tavington was left standing
alone and turned looking at the smoldering manor. He was barely able to keep
himself together as he could only imagine how she died and what was done to her
and didn�t want to even think about the horrors she might have . . . His
thoughts were interrupted hearing a nose come from the nearby trees. He pulled
his pistol and took a few steps in that direction, but stopped as Heather
appeared out of the trees. There was no expression on her face and it seemed as
if a completely blank look was in her eyes. Her hair was a complete mess, and
the dress she wore was drenched in blood, one sleeve in particular was dripping
with crimson and it appeared to be shredded.
The blood was still incredibly
fresh otherwise it would not be dripping so freely from her fingertips over a
knife that she held tightly in her hand. Her mere appearance was ghastly, and he
could not be sure if any of that blood was hers. She began to sway looking as if
she was about to fall, he dropped his pistol to the ground and ran to her
catching her and laying her down on the ground. He reached up touching her face
gently with his hand, �Heather? Are you alright? What has happened here?�
She seemed unaware of him for a few moments, before she spoke softly
�William?� She said quizitively . It seemed as though she was in shock.
After another few moments she repeated his name. �William.� But this time
rather then a question, it seemed like a sigh of relief. He kissed her forehead
and held her tight, even though the smell of blood was quite strong and nearly
overpowering.
To Be Continued .
. .
- 2
- 3
- 4
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Piety and Infamy