Chapter one - (Mississippi, 1861)
The very words 'Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free . . ." sent shivers down the spine of Raven Darkholme, the announcement made not long after this statement, that Abraham Lincoln had indeed been victorious in his campaign for presidency, turned her into a nervous wreck. A woman born into the higher classes of society, privileged to a certain degree of education for her gender, enabled her to decipher that quote and link it to the political stability her country of birth was in - doing nothing to qualm her fears.
She had heard many statements and rumors of republicans in the north making known of the fact that they wanted slavery abolished, agreeing with the rising protests and rallies in the industrialized cities for race equality - this all led her to believe that her way of life, the south's way of life was in jeopardy.
Two months later, the first news that the state of South Carolina had seceded from the union threw her completely - and in her silently frantic disposition wrote a letter to her childhood friend Priscilla, in hope of some comfort that she was not alone in her worries. It was all she needed, her dear husband having died but two years ago - leaving her in sole charge of the small but flourishing plantation on the banks of the Mississippi. Though in great shock at his sudden death, she had managed well considering her largely viewed gender-misplacement - if the newly established president and his northern politicians were to have their way, she would have nothing and so needed all the support she could get.
Not a week later, she received a letter in return from Priscilla who cordially assured her that she was not alone in her qualms and that she was most welcome to stay with her family down in Louisiana. This relieved Raven a great deal to know that she still had a reliable ally to turn to - though for the moment she conceded, despite her nervous tension - it was not necessary for her to abandon her late husbands home just yet.
But two months soon after, in the bleaker weathers of mid February - her mind changed yet again and as soon as she had become aware of the news that the majority of the southern states including Mississippi, had followed South Carolina's lead and had seceded from the now primarily northern union, had her recently calmed fears come rushing back to her.
Despondently, she sighed from the floor-length window of her lately departed husbands study as she looked out onto the open garden beyond. She wanted to smile at the peaceful scene of her son and daughter sat beneath a tree before her, but found herself unable to. The shuffle of feet behind her, made her turn her head abruptly at the unexpected disturbance - but she soon calmed herself as she realized it was only the house servant Ororo.
"Oh, Ororo . . . you did scare me" She admonished lightly as the tall, African-born woman stepped further into the room - stopping as her mistress spoke to her.
"I am sorry, I did not mean to frighten you" The serenely faced Ororo replied respectively.
"It does not matter. Could you be a dear and request that the carriage be made up, ready for tomorrow please" Raven asked pleasantly.
"Yes, of course. May I ask why?" The dark-skinned woman stepped up closer to her mistress as she returned her gaze to the window.
"We are leaving to stay with friends in Louisiana. As much as I hate to admit it, I think a war will tear this place apart and I don't know if I can keep it together" Raven glanced over to the woman beside her, receiving a nod in reply.
"You will be free Ororo, as will the others. Times are changing," She continued.
"Thank you, . . . forgive me, but I would wish to accompany you to Louisiana. You have become my family as well as my life, I would have nowhere to go if I did not follow you" Ororo said gently but firmly. It was true, she had been with the Darkholme family since the children were small, having been a large influence as they had grown-up and in return had been treated well. Yes, she did hate the idea of slavery and the degrading, dehumanizing mark it left on her people - but, to say that she had completely hated her time with the Darkholme's would be a lie and she felt tied to them, despite her pending freedom from a life of servitude - even if she was to leave, she would have no work, no place to go - her parents having passed away when she was a child, leaving her vulnerable to slave gatherers in her native homeland.
"Thank you Ororo, you are a true friend" Raven replied softly with a small, grateful smile. Ororo returned the facial gesture and made leave to complete her task. Raven watched the woman leave before turning back to the window - now all she had to do was tell her offspring and that was going to be easier said than done. With a deep sigh, she exited the study and made her way outside. Stepping onto the dusty track below the colonial white steps leading up to the back porch, she lifted her floor-sweeping, moss green dress so that it did not drag through the dirt and began to walk to the large tree of which her son and daughter were sat beneath. She admired them both as they sat there, completely oblivious to her approaching figure - the eldest, her nineteen year old daughter Anna sat up against the rough bark on an overly protruding root, engrossed entirely in the book she was reading - Kurt, two years younger than his sibling, sat a few feet away, legs crossed with what she assumed was extra study, folded out on his lap. She drew closer to them silently - unwittingly stepping on a brittle twig hidden in the grass below her feet, instantly making the two youngsters look up swiftly as they realized her presence. Raven smiled apologetically as she walked the last couple of steps toward them and stopped graciously, twisting her hands together before her as she built up the nerve to tell them the potentially devastating news.
"Anna, Kurt . . . I have some news to tell you" She began calmly. Anna and Kurt looked up to her attentively.
"What is it Mother?" Kurt pressed lightly, noticing the slight uneasiness in her body language and tone of voice.
"The state of Mississippi has withdrawn from the Union. You both know what that means and so we are going to leave" She finished quietly.
"Whaht? No, we cain't" Anna protested as she looked on astounded, her book dropping to her side.
"Please Anna, the north will surely cut off supplies and everything we need to run this place and we simply have not got the means to carry on without their trade" Raven tried to convince her fiery daughter as well as herself.
"Momma they might not! Givin' in now is doin' exactly whaht they want us ta do!" Anna replied hastily, standing up to make her point more clearly.
"I'm sorry, but this is my decision and we are leaving - tomorrow. So be helpful and pack up your things" Raven responded sharply before turning about and making her way back to the house - she could see her daughters point and she felt the need to end the conversation quickly, incase she changed her mind yet again. She had it all planned out, she would send off a short letter to Priscilla to let her know of their arrival - hopefully, it would get there before they did - and leave first thing in the morning. She would be able to arrange everything to do with the business when she reached Louisiana, she may need help from Priscilla's husband Owen for that.
Anna watched her Mother walk away briskly. She clenched her fists in annoyance, she didn't want to leave and couldn't see why her Mother thought it necessary to do so. This was her home, she had grown-up here and despite her childhood longings for adventure away from the quiet up bringing she had experienced, she loved it none-the-less.
"It's not fair" She seethed quietly, watching quietly as her Mother disappeared back into the house.
"I know, but she's right" Kurt countered quietly, standing slowly and taking a few steps to rest beside his sister. Anna simply sighed resignedly, there was nothing she could do. Her Mother had struggled to run the plantation single-handedly since their Father had died and despite her and Kurt being old enough to take on more responsibility, she knew it would be a hopeless battle. She felt an arm wrap around her shoulders and she looked over to see Kurt smiling at her sympathetically.
"It'll be alright Rogue" The use of her given nickname made her smile. She was widely known around these parts as The Rogue, mainly because of her tomboyish nature and refusal to act as a young lady of her standing was expected to. Despite her hate of the word, she was a debutante - but had flat out declined any suitor that either her Mother had tried to match her up with, or any gentleman brave enough to approach her with offers of the same kind. It wasn't that she didn't want to marry - she just wasn't ready, wanting to experience adventure and independence before she submitted herself to the life of a gentleman's wife. And so, it was - she was Rogue and although at first she had rejected the name ardently, had grown to like it and become more comfortable with it than her given birth name.
On that note, she elbowed Kurt lightly in the ribs, smirking mischievously as he cried out an 'Ouch!' and frowned at her. She laughed a little and taking his arm, they began walking toward the house before them.
New Story! Continuation depends entirely on the response from this chapter, so if you liked it please R&R and if you didn't like it, well you can still review if you want.