The first time I met her I still didn't believe in love. The last memories I had of such feeling were lost in a faraway time, when my mother used to hold me and kiss me before bedtime. However, the affection had been drowned in blood the night of my tenth birthday, never to return. With time, I forgot what it meant to have someone who took care of me, who woke me up after a bad dream and made sure everything was fine. So I had blindly accepted the truth that I was destined to be loved by no one. After all, who could accept a life side by side with a ruthless killer, one who had forgotten how it feels like to have a home?
I was so lucky to be wrong.
Love. Such a short word, so much involved. Many people, through the years, have tried to explain it in many articulate words, but they were always wrong. All of them.
It was so much more than that.
Everything began on a convoy. As a Templar agent, it was my duty to take the reins of the cart we had just tore off from the red coats' possession.
"Sir. How can we know that these natives will help our cause?" asked me John as soon as I was seated on the rider's place.
"I will try and talk to this woman, if she understands English" I whispered to him.
"As you wish, sir. We will make sure no one follows"
While my men positioned themselves in hidden places in front and behind the convoy, I cleared my throat. 'God. Come on, man. It is just a woman' I told myself, 'you have done more difficult things. Much more difficult things'.
"We are here to help you, along with those held inside Southgate Fort" I said, taking position next to her. My voice came out a like a rattling sound. 'Shit'.
She made no reply. I looked at her for any signs of her understanding me.
"Free me" she said after a short while. I looked at her with surprise. Her voice was sweet but determined, like if she was accustomed to giving orders.
"Not until we are inside the gate. I can't chance an inspection at the gate going wrong". She turned away from me after a hateful look, hiding her feelings.
"I will see you safe. You have my word" Not wishing to appear impolite, I looked away from her.
"Do you know anything of Silas operation?" I dared again after a while. Truth be told, I felt a little shame in recognizing that it was the desire of hearing her words and not that of of gathering information that drove me.
No answer.
"You must be rather important to him if you were given your own escort" I commented, and waited. 'Patience. She will eventually speak her mind'. Instead, she looked at me with silent anger and a little hatred, which made my heart shrink.
"You are misreading me. I do wish to free you. But not now I cannot risk any inspection to the gate going wrong" I apologized.
'From when do I need to apologize to stranger women to feel at peace with myself?' I thought. It was not like me at all.
Shortly after, with a little relief and a little regret from my side, we reached the fort.
In those silent minutes I had been repeating myself the right things to say once arrived in order to convince this mysterious and beautiful creature to help us: a small group such as ours stood little chance if we were to face a massive attack from the soldiers. On the other hand, if the natives in the cart would prove themselves willing to lend a hand, all could have been over soon.
Once inside the gate, having passed the inspection with no difficulty, I jumped down from the cart. I had precious minutes before the others reached me. I was determined to use that time to speak with the natives.
First, the woman.
"Here, just as I promised" I begun, cutting the rope that had tied her wrists. I noticed that the fetter had left a red mark on tender tender skin and I instinctively grabbed her armpit to check on her wound. She looked up at me and we found ourselves staring at each other.
For a long instant our eyes were locked. I noticed her irises were dark, beautifully dark, and devoid of any fear as they scrutinized my soul. In her gaze there was not the venomous anger that had threatened my mental sanity just a few minutes before; instead, I saw courage.
My heart pounded in my ears with such ferocity that I barely heard the muffled sound of shoes behind us. But she did, and with it came the realization of the danger around us. So the beautiful woman gently withdrew her arm from my grip, jumped down the chart and ran away.
It had all happened so quickly that for a moment I doubted the reality of what I had lived through.
'I am an idiot. It is official' I declared to myself as Charles approached.
"Sir. Where is the woman that was sitting next to you?"
Thank God. He had not seen the pathetic scene I had been protagonist of.
"I freed her. We will do as well with her Mohawk brothers. Come, let us explain them our aim".
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