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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
- 5
- 6
- 7
Once the details of the arrangement had been completely discussed and
seen to, it was late in the night. Colonel Tavington walked down the long
hallway towards the foyer, with a triumphant smile that crossed his face. Now
not only could he continue his efforts without the burden of having Cornwallis
dragging him to his office each and every day to be reprimanded, but he and
Heather�s future together would be assured once the war was over.


His steps slowed as he could hear a hiss in the hallway. Yet another came
and he turned recognizing it to becoming from one of the doors. Taking a step
back, a third hiss came and he turned to see Heather�s face looking out to
him. Tavington walked to her doorway, knowing how late it was in the evening and
kept his voice low. �Why are you still awake? I was informed that you had
retired for the evening.�


�I tired, but I couldn�t sleep. William? What�s going on? You
arrived hours ago and I�ve been waiting for you to come from your meeting with
General Cornwallis.� Tavington looked at her eyes for a moment when he heard
the slight nervous trimmer in her voice before he answered her.


�I have to go away for a little while my dear. However, I will be back
before long. Why it will seem as if I was never gone at all.� He said
confidently as if it was nothing more then a slight errand. His eyes usually
managed to betray him when he spoke to her, resulting in his inability to keep
anything from her for very long. She knew him far to well.


�You�re going after the Ghost, aren�t you.� She said plainly, he
didn�t have to answer for her to know it to be true. Tavington opened his
mouth to deny it, but he had learned months ago that it was pointless to try.


�Yes. It is my duty and the assignment I was given.� He said in a
tone that let her know there was nothing anyone could do to stop him, even if he
hadn�t been sent out after him. He wanted this assignment; it was becoming a
personal issue quickly. Heather just looked into his eyes a moment knowing that
his mind was set.


�Be careful William. Please.� Tavington reached up and rested his
hand against her soft warm cheek and smiled. �Do not worry my dear. If
anyone�s head is brought to this fort in a basket, I assure you that it will
not be mine.� She smiled back and nodded. His fingertips stroked her face for
a moment, before he kissed her tenderly and then pulled back looking into her
eyes. �There is nothing to fear my love. Try and get some rest.�


Giving a slight sigh wishing that he was not leaving, but she knew he had
to go back. She kissed him goodbye and he turned and walked away. Heather
watched until he disappeared before she closed the door and moved back to the
window, pulling the shutter open. Moments later, she saw Tavington and his
escort riding away from the fort back to their campfires in the distance. It was
a full moon tonight, and it lit up the countryside with an eerie glow. Closing
the shutter back up and locking them tight, she laid back in bed and tried to
sleep.


Early the next morning, the Colonel and Major Borden made their way
through the camp and headed into one of the tents where the lower ranking
officers were quartered. Every man quickly halted their activities and stood at
attention. Tavington�s step did not stop or slow as she shouted, �As you
were!�. There was someone who had recently joined the ranks that he finally
found a use for. Heading strait for the loyalist who resided at the back of the
tend he found him laid out on his cot fast asleep. There was no mistaking how
much Colonel Tavington disliked he and the others of his kind. They were
traitors to both sides of this war and merely joined up with the side they were
sure would come out victorious. They would eagerly turn on their friends,
neighbors, and in some cases their own families and this made them dishonorable
and untrustworthy. There had been a few instances already where this mans
knowledge of the countryside proved to be quite useful in their campaigns. Yet
his eagerness to offer up such information that lead to the deaths and torture
of some of his own countrymen, only reduced Colonel Tavington�s opinion of him
that much more.


�WILKINS!� Tavington shouted rousting him from his sleep. Wilkins
jumped wide awake, and sat up still half asleep trying to rub it out of his
eyes. As impatient as Tavington was, he didn�t care that how roughly this
solider was treated, and frankly he half hoped the report of his death would
reach his ears nearly every day. �A plantation, seven miles from Wakefield, on
the Santee, east of black swamp, Who lived there?� He demanded to know,
wanting the information he required immediately.


It took the Colonel�s question a moment to register in Wilkins still
not fully awake mind, then at once he remembered, �Benjamin Martian.� Now he
had a name to go with the face, and a clue as to his whereabouts.


Borden told him exactly why this information was so important to their
soldiers, �He is the Ghost.� It didn�t surprise Wilkins very much, as he
knew the stories and legends as well as anyone else who lived nearby. Once
again, Tavington knew that this pathetic excuse for a human being would have
knowledge that would sufficiently serve the Colonel�s needs.


�What do you know about him.� He asked impatiently.


Wilkins smiled and laughed slightly. Benjamin Martin was the favorite
subject of boys and young men everywhere, and his stories were told over and
over again in the Taverns �Hell, everything. I could tell you the size of his
boot.�


�Does he have family?� The Colonel�s teeth began to grind
remembering the large mass of offspring that stood on the front porch of
Martin�s house. �Where would he hide his children.� The smile that had
adorned Wilkins face fled almost immediately. He would once again be acting as a
traitor and this time putting children in the line of certain death. His eyes
moved around to the other dragoons in the tent who were listening to the entire
exchange and starred at him, as their own opinions of him were shared with that
of Colonel Tavington�s. Yet the blood on his hands would not be on theirs, so
they would use him up until he had nothing left to offer.


Wilkins drew a nervous breath and closed his eyes, �His wife�s sister
has a plantation. It�s not far. . .� He began knowing that if he did not
follow orders, or try to lie then he would be kicked out of the dragoons and
treated like every other colonial that ran into the ruthless Colonel Tavington
who would happily execute him. William wasted know time in calling the dragoons
to their horses, taking torches, and loading their guns as they set out for
Charlotte�s plantation, Wilkins leading the way.


The next day at the fort, one of the officers from the field came to seek
audience with General Cornwallis. He was lead to Cornwallis�s study where the
General was devising new tactics that would be used in the next battle.
�Sir.� Cornwallis made a slight acknowledgement his attention still on his
maps and figures letting the officer know to continue with whatever news of the
war he brought with him.


�Yes, yes. What is it this time.� This was not the first occurrence
that this particular officer had come to complain about the same subject. It was
growing quite tiresome really. Heather had paid another visit to the library and
was making her way down the hall back to her room when she heard voices coming
from the study. Curiously she made her way to the door that was cracked open to
listen.


�It�s Colonel Tavington sir.� What a big surprise. �He has
attacked a civilian plantation yesterday evening, and defied your direct order
to cease the direct attacks on the Colonial civilians.� Heather had to cover
her mouth upon this news to keep a sound from coming out and giving her away,
and it was like a shot through her heart. It couldn�t be true, he must have
heard wrong or had seen something that he had misinterpreted.


The conversation continued as Cornwallis put down his quill and leaned
back in his chair looking at the officer that stood before him. �And what of
the civilians.�


�The servants were all executed by Tavington�s own hand, but the
woman and children who were believed to live there were not found. They were
either never there to begin with or they managed to escape.� There was a long
silent pause as Cornwallis sat in thought. The officer waited a moment before
speaking again. �Sir? What of Tavington? What disciplinary acts are to be
taken?� There was yet another long silent pause before Cornwallis�s voice
broke the silence.


�I fail to see why it would be any concern of yours. I shall deal with
Colonel Tavington when he returns.� He picked up his quill and went back to
work. �I thank you for brining me this news.� The officer looked stunned a
moment, before giving a slight bow and turning to leave.


Heather heard the officers footsteps approaching the door and she took a
step back quickly looking around, and she backed up and slipped into another
doorway and remained there until the officer had left the hallway before she
came out once more. It was unbelievable, it was false! It had to be a lie.
Looking into the study she saw Cornwallis at his desk a moment, the she watch as
he rose and walked to the window looking out in deep thought. Heather couldn�t
stop her self as she entered the room a bit in shock, �Sir?�


Cornwallis turned around seeing her standing just inside his door and a
smile swept his face, �I�m sorry my dear, I didn�t know that you were out
and about yet. You are feeling better this morning I trust?�


�Yes my lord, much.� She wasn�t really in the mood for formal
pleasantries after what she had just heard, and was unable to keep her meek
demeanor. �My lord, you can not honestly believe such things about willa. .
.Colonel Tavington.� She had the hardest time remembering how to address her
husband in the presence of others. �They couldn�t be true . . .they just. .
. they COULDN�T.�


Cornwallis looked at the door before looking back at her, �You heard
what that officer reported to me, didn�t you.� Heather stopped for a moment,
as her eyes went downcast as she felt a little ashamed she had been ease
dropping. Her hands found the way to the back of a chair she was standing
behind, and her fingers turned white from the tightness in which she held it.
Cornwallis took a moment to think of what to say, �My dear . .� He began,
�It is strictly a military matter, nothing more. Do not worry yourself about
such things.�


Heather just starred at him a moment in completely and utter disbelief,
he would surely know better then her the ways of the British aristocracy. �My
lord, if these rumors circulate through the military, they will dishonor Colonel
Tavington. He will never be able to show his face in England again. How can you
tell me not to worry?�


Cornwallis noticed that her words and concern only held Colonel
Tavington�s well-being and not her own. She continued to say �he� instead
of �we� even though as his wife, any dishonor he suffered she would suffer
as well. However it was absolutely clear that she didn�t care about such
things, but she knew that Tavington did. Cornwallis approached her and took one
of her hands from the chair and led her to sit down, before sitting in another
chair that sat across from her.


�In war time, many things are done in the field among soldiers . .
.that are not necessarily spoken of in polite society. These. . .rumors, if that
is what they truly are . . .� The darkened look that crossed her eyes and
shown in her face, let him know his implied meaning in his words were not
acceptable to her. �Uh. . .what I mean to say, is that they will most likely
be forgotten in time. There is no need for concern.�


Heather felt extremely hurt at this, he apparently thought she was dim
witted and ignorant not to know exactly what was going on. �I have seen the
way you and the rest of your officers speak of him General.� Her common sense
was lost for the moment as she continued, �I hear it in your tone, and it
drips with contempt whenever he is spoken of or he is brought into your
conversations.� Tears started to well up in her eyes and her voice was
breaking, she stood up from the chair and her anger began to show, �I will not
believe your accusations, or the way you and your officers accuse him of such
horrid atrocities like he�s some sort of inhuman monster, nor will I listen to
anymore of these rumors that you and the rest of your �brave� soldiers are
so eager to pass around!�


Cornwallis stood up as well, completely outraged that she would stand
there and address him in such a manner. �MADAM!!!� Yet his own shouts
didn�t intimidate or slow her tongue, �If you cannot see what a great and
loyal solider Colonel Tavington is to the crown, and give him his due rewards
for doing your dirty work that you and the rest of your puppets don�t have the
courage to do yourself, It is YOU I pity!� With that she turned and ran out of
the study, down the hall to her room slamming the door. Cornwallis was left
standing there with his own temper, half in shock that she would display such
behavior.


Heather threw herself down onto her bed burying her face into the
pillows, She struggled to control the tears that were fighting to flow freely
from her eyes, but they were coming anyway. She had become an emotional mess in
a matter of minutes and she hated herself for that. Angry, heartbroken and in
completely despair at the hopelessness she felt for this entire situation. After
a while, she was finally able to calm down a bit and she rolled over and looked
up towards the ceiling. �I don�t believe them William. I don�t care what
you really did or did not do. Just please come back soon . . .and safely.� The
tears began to come again and she pulled a pillow over her face.
To Be Continued .
. .
- 5
- 6
- 7
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Piety and Infamy