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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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A few hours later after the horses had had time to rest, Tavington
ordered his Dragoons to move out. William paused a moment and pulled out of the
formation, turning back to looked at the once proud plantation, now reduced to
ashes and smoke in a matter of hours. It was not his house, but it had held
something very priceless inside of it that belonged to him. Heather was in
shock, but she was quite alive.


Just before dusk, the green dragoons made camp with another British unit
several miles away from where the attack on Cornwallis�s ground had been
staged. They had gotten another set of woman�s clothing and given it to
Heather so that she could get cleaned up in a nearby creek and change out of her
tattered and dirty garments. Tavington stood near the door of his tent in
silence, just watching her as she sat next to a campfire, sipping at a drink,
and clutching the Colonel�s coat around her as she starred into the flames.
She�d not uttered one word since she had said his name, and he found her
behavior extremely odd for he had never seen her this way before.


The few privates that he had sent to patrol the area rode into camp and
immediately reported to Colonel Tavington. They reported their findings,
explaining that all the rebels that had attacked the General�s property
earlier in the day had fled. Except for an unlucky few whom they found not to
far away from the house. �There wasn�t a whole lot left of them Colonel
Tavington. The scene plainly told of the servants having been tortured before
they died. Perhaps to be questioned about General Cornwallis�s secrets. Yet I
can�t even begin to imagine how the death of those six Colonial rebels
occurred. Either way, it was a knife or a dagger of some kind that had brought
them to their ends. They had several stab wounds on their bodies and one of them
had been shot.� Tavington listened to their report in silence as they give him
the rest of the details.


Almost instinctively, as if it were some sort of a sixth sense, he knew
how those men died. There was only one logical explanation, and all the facts
pointed to the one whom he had taught how to wield such a weapon over the course
of the past several months. �We also found countless of these sir.� The man
in charge said handing him an empty bottle. Tavington took it and looked at the
bottle.


�I see the thieves discovered the General�s wine cellar before they
decided to set the house to flames.� He said boredly. Tavington really did not
care a bit about the General�s possessions, but would keep them safe to avoid
more confrontation and scoldings that could lead to worse problems for he and
what was left of his family. This time he was not to be blamed at all and could
care less. He tossed the bottle away as he broke on a rock. �Alright, we are
heading back to our encampment near Cornwallis�s fort tomorrow morning at
first light. I want every man to keep a sharp eye for any of these rebel scum.
Just six of these incompetent farmers couldn�t have done so much damage
alone.� They saluted him and dispersed to tend to their horses and see to
their duties.


Tavington walked towards the fire where his wife sat, and watched her for
a moment. She didn�t even seem to acknowledge him or realize he was there as
her eyes continued to stare blankly into the fire. Her small delicate fingers
still clutched at the coat to keep out the bone chilling cold. Even with her
effort, she still seemed to fail miserably. William stepped over on of the
fallen trees that had been laid down as a sort of bench for those who wished to
keep warm to sit near the fire. Sitting down next to her, they both sat in
silence for several long minutes with Williams eyes turned to her wanting her to
talk to him about what was going on inside of her after all she had gone
through. Yet she still remained silent as the grave.


Giving a sigh he wrapped an arm around her pulling her against him a bit,
and found that she easily surrendered to the comfort melting into his arms.
�Why did they do this? What had we done?� She whispered her eyes still
looking into the dancing fire.


�Nothing. There was no reason to attack that manor, and no reason to
attack you. The war hasn�t been strong in this direction for several years
which is the very reason you were brought here. You were supposed to be safe.
I�m certain they were mostly looters, vandals who used the war as an excuse to
steal and destroy anything they chose.� Reaching up, he touched her chin and
raised her face towards him even though her eyes shifted looking down. Leaning
down towards her he whispered, �And you have done nothing wrong, nothing to be
ashamed of. You had every right to defend yourself as you did.�


Heather�s eyes quickly met his at these words, and she realized he knew
about the lives she had taken. How did he know? How could he know? She was still
a bit in shock and several parts of the day were missing, including the part
where she was still holding the bloodied dagger in her hand when she stumbled
out of the trees. There was nothing that could bring them back and undo what was
done. Her eyes turned down once again for a moment before moving back to gaze
into the fire once more. The flames danced and flickered as they consumed the
bits and pieces of broken trees that fed it�s light.


Tavington�s eyes didn�t move back to the flames, he kept them on her
trying to gage what was going on inside of her. �What happened.� He
whispered, moving a hand up to stroke her hair and sweep it back off of her
face. �Please . . . tell me.� A few long moments passed, until he decided
that no answer was going to be given, but out of no where she began to speak,
and her words broke the silence.


�Early this morning, just before dawn, I was reading in my room. One of
the books off the shelf in the library down stairs. I have not been able to
sleep since you were called back to duty, last night seemed worse then any
other. I rose from bed, bathed, and dressed then sat down to read. Not even the
servants were awake yet.� Tavington was patient even though her story seemed
to be going around in circles a bit and waited to hear more. �Then suddenly, I
heard a crash down stairs. The sound of broken glass as if someone was trying to
come in the front door. I put my book down and went outside of my room to see
what could have made such a noise. I heard shouting, screaming, the sound of
more things being smashed and thrown about. When I looked down towards the
foyer, . . . there were so many of them. I didn�t know what else to do, so I
went back into my room and pulled the bolt on my door. Something inside of me
told me that it wouldn�t keep them out if they came upstairs and starting
searching the rooms. They would break the door in for a locked door meant there
would be something important, maybe even valuable behind it. I moved to my
window and unhooked the latch pushing it open. I moved outside and began to
climb down the eves that held the ivy and the roses bushes against the side of
the house. I thought I was safe when my feet touched the ground, but when I
turned around . . . .there were three of them standing there. I struggled when I
felt them cease me, and even . . . kicked at them and bit one of their hands.
The next thing I knew, one of them was raising the butt of their musket towards
my face, and everything went dark.�


Tavington reached up and touched the tender bruise around her eye, this
instance must have been where it came from. It became darker and more defend
after she had had a chance to get clean. His arm pulled her a little closer to
his body, and he reached across for her hand with his free hand. They weren�t
completely alone, as there were some other dragoons near by talking about one of
the recent battles they had fought and the smoldering manor from which they had
just come away from. When Tavington pulled his wife�s hand towards him a bit,
she jumped and jerked a little with a slight whimper as if something had just
caused her pain.


Heather�s a bit more towards him as he released her from his grasp,
careful not to brush it again. William pulled her sleeve up her arm baring it to
his eyes. There on her arm was a bright red, raised mark, with skin that had
been seared black with heat taking the form of an H. It was an extremely bad
burn, one that only came from an iron brand specifically cast for the purpose of
branding a human. Pure anger overtook every last one of Tavington�s senses at
the mere sight of it. �What is this!?! Who DARED to mark you with such a vile
thing!�


The woman was still a little out of it and looked at her arm, speaking
softly. �Because they found me there, inside the manor . . . they assumed I
was Lord Cornwallis�s mistress. For what other reason could I possibly have
for living in his house for. One of them, I suppose it was their leader I
couldn�t see his face, kept calling me a traitor. He said �if she is going
to live with the British like one, I should be marked as one� then I heard him
send someone to get an iron.�


The Colonel had been becoming more and more enraged as his eyes remained
on the sight. The fact that anyone mistook her as Cornwallis�s made it even
worse. This mark of shamed burned into her flesh, HIS flesh, was far beyond an
outrage. William stood still holding onto her arm dragging her to her feet as
well. At once, his anger that had turned to rage, erupted into pure fury.
Heather took a step back, frightened seeing the harsh temper that had been
hidden away, and it seemed that it was she who had brought it out. Tavington
paced back and forth a few times, before stopping in front of her. She was
frozen in place looking at him, stricken with terror. All at once, he pushed her
roughly into two of his dragoons that were close by, and they caught her before
she fell to the ground. �Take her to the camp surgeon immediately! Have that
mark removed, do you hear me? REMOVE IT! NOW!!!!�


The two dragoons were a bit in shock themselves as they were well aware
of the high regard with which he held his wife. They took hold of each of her
arms to do as they had been ordered. Heather just starred at him in horror, she
could hardly believe this and all she could do was breathe, �William.�
Tavington looked up at them finding they had not moved an inch, �Did you not
hear my orders? WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE!!!!� The two dragoons were more then
anxious to get away from their commander when he was in this sort of mood, and
turned dragging her off towards the medical tent even though she didn�t fight
them.


The Colonel took a step towards them and shouted, �I WILL NOT HAVE MY
WIFE MARKED AS A COMMAN HARLOT!!!!� William stayed behind, and turned back
towards the flames, as he began to tear up the entire area. Kicking and smashing
whatever was close to him, throwing what ever crossed his path. Then stormed
into his tent disappearing from everyone�s eyes.


A while later, Tavington came out of his tent. He had taken off his vest
and removed the ribbon that held his hair in place. William made his way through
the camp towards the medical tent and stepped inside. He saw her immediately
laying on one of the cots resting looking very tired and half asleep. No doubt a
side affect from whatever sedative they used before removing the skin that had
been burned sometime between last night and this morning. Heather�s sleeve had
been rolled up out of the surgeons way, and a white bandage was wrapped around
the length of her forearm. One of the doctors passed in front of him but the
Colonel didn�t even seem him. Finally he moved across the tent and stood
beside her.


She smiled up at him as if nothing had happened and he had come to visit
her, �Hello.� The woman was as sweet and gentle as could be and it crushed
him worse then if she had screamed at him, or even turned her eyes away angry
for his behavior. He found himself wishing that she would throw something at
him. He moved to kneel down beside her, and took her hand looking at her long
and delicate fingers a moment before inclosing them in his hand. �I�m sorry
Heather. I didn�t want to cause you more pain and suffering. You have already
endured more then you should have ever been made to. I never
wanted to be the one to hurt you.�


She smiled once more, and reached across putting her other hand over his.
�It�s alright William, you didn�t hear a scream, or a cry come from this
tent did you?� Moving his hand so she could take it in hers she continued to
look into his eyes. �You had every right to be angry. I�ll be fine, you�ll
see and it will all be forgotten in time.� Tavington looked back into her
eyes, before running a finger over her bandage.


�How.� He said before looking up at her once more. �How could you
ever forgive me for letting my temper loose on you after everything that�s
happened.�


�For what?� She reached up and gently rested her hand on his arm.
�If there is anything to be forgiven, it has already been forgiven. Your anger
was well placed.� A larger smile swept her face as she closed her eyes for a
moment trying to stay awake, �Besides.� Her blue eyes looked up into his,
�You came and rescued me today.� Her smile was infectious when mixed with
her words, for it even brought a smile to his face. After everything that had
happened to her today, and all the horrid things she saw and endured, here she
was still thinking of him as her knight in shinning armor.


Her eyes closed once again as she felt like she could sleep for a week
from the sedative they had given her. Tavington stood pulling the blanket off of
her and lifted her into his arms. He turned and took her out of the tent and
carried her back to his own. He decided she had seen enough for a lifetime in
one day. In the event there was an attack or scrimmage that took place, she
didn�t need to be anywhere near this tent when the wounded came in.


Tavington held her close as they lay together on the narrow confines of
his cot, he told her about what had been going on these past months he had been
away from her. All about the Ghost and the Colonial militia. She did what ever
she could to sooth his grief and frustration, trying to encourage him in his
work and difficult tasks he seemed to be given day after day. The earlier
occurrences in the day seemed to be forgotten, as they were just happy to be
with each other after yet another long absence between visits. �Where will I
go now William? Back to the boarding house in Yorksbourgh?�


Colonel Tavington looked at her, she had no idea that the town she had
lived in was wiped off the map and destroyed for months. He saw absolutely no
reason to educate her with this knowledge now. �Certainly not. I�m taking
you back to Lord Cornwallis� headquarters. You will be safe there. Those
rebels wouldn�t be foolish enough to try to invade the fort. It�s to heavily
guarded and it is the safest place to be behind our lines.� Heather grew
silent and fell into deep thought so suddenly, Tavington couldn�t help but
notice. It was something that she had done each and every time Cornwallis came
into any of their conversations, and he didn�t think she even realized that
she did it. Tavington leaned up on one elbow studying her.


�William� �Hmm?� �Is he going to be there?� William arched a
brow at this question, obviously �he� meant Cornwallis.


�Of course my dear, Its his headquarters.� She sighed dejectedly as
if she was feeling trapped.


�Do you wish to speak of it my love?� He questioned with a growing
concern wanting to know why Cornwallis� mere name seemed to throw her into
this sort of devastation. Heather took a deep breath as her eyes turned to his.


�Several years ago, I took a gift to Lord Cornwallis during a ball he
was having at one of his estates. A black stallion that I had raised for as long
as I could remember. It was almost like we were children who grew up
together.�


�Yes. He spoke of it when he gave me the two week furlough to come to
you.� She paused a moment hearing this.


�Did he also tell you that he issued an order to seek me out? To bring
me back to him. He even offered a reward for any information as to my
whereabouts.� Tavington�s expression grew dark.


�He failed to mention that little detail.� He said as his jaw
clinched tight. Heather got up from the cot and walked to the front of the tent
looking out. Tavington watched her sitting up as she continued.


�I didn�t know what to do. I was a child and I was scared. So I ran.
I moved from place to place until it seemed like the whole assorted affair was
forgotten. I stopped running and at the end of my road was in that town just
outside Yorksbourgh. Now it seems he�s finally found me.�


�My love.� Tavington began as he got up and walked over to her,
kneeling down beside her. �Why did you run?� Heather�s eyes went down cast
remembering exactly why she had begun to flee.


�I heard some soldiers talking. About an Angel that had fallen under
Lord Cornwallis�s eye and he desired her for himself.� This was something
that Tavington has suspected since then day Cornwallis spoke of her in his
office, recalling their meeting with such great and clear detail. Her eyes
turned back out of the tent, and began to speak again in a broken voice, �I
admired him, I merely meant to give him my horse midnight as token of my respect
for him. For all he had done for us. I never . . . never meant to . . .� She
stopped there unable to go any further. Tavington shook his head and put his
arms around her pulling her close and stroking her hair.


�You are my wife, Lady Tavington. You have nothing to fear from him
now. You are a married woman and he knows this. He reached up turning her face
towards his, �If he is the Gentlemen that he claims to be, he will not do
anything to jeopardize his reputation. The king himself watches his every move
for at the moment he is highly favored for the services he has rendered to the
crown.� He kissed her forehead before looking into her eyes again. �You will
be safe, I promise.�


She smiled up at him, �I know. I�m always safe when you are
nearby.� Tavington chuckled a bit taking her hands and helping her to her
feet.


�Come, you need your rest. You�ve had a full and stressful day, and
we are to get an early start back to the fort in the morning.� She nodded and
kissed him, once more. He led her back to the cot and they lie together once
more, and fell asleep in each others arms.
To Be Continued .
. .
- 3
- 4
- 5
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Piety and Infamy