War Horse fic! Enjoy :)
One of the saddest moments is one's life is when your loved ones leave you. Sometimes, they say they're going to come back and they will. Sometimes they say they're going to come back. But they don't. Other times, they just can't come back.
You wish they could but they're just gone. So you've got to move on with your life for their sake.
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"You must be joking!"
"I'm not"
"James, she's not joking"
"She's a grown woman, she can take care of herself"
"Will you two just calm down for a second!" I heard an annoyed huff as I jumped over a bush. I quickly switched out of my skirt and into my trousers. Must aristocratic societies create dress codes? I folded my skirt and smoothed out my blouse. All better now.
"If your mother saw you wearing trousers she would throw a fit" Jamie called. He'd been kindly informing me about how 'proper young ladies' shouldn't wear trousers. He's known me since we were children, he should know I'm not a proper young lady.
"Yes, that's why she won't see me wearing trousers" I pointed out as I climbed over the bush. Both James and Jamie had turned away, even if I had been hiding behind a bush while I changed. Sometimes, I think someone had hypnotized them to be complete gentlemen, even in the middle of a bloody forest with no one around for another mile.
"You can turn around now" I said as I stuffed my folded skirt into the saddle bag. I'm actually glad I managed to drag them both away from their military duties for a nice day riding out. With Jamie being a major in the British cavalry and James being a captain in the same cavalry, they were always training the new troops. This war was tearing apart my friend ship with my two best friends. They were out, training troops for the upcoming war while I stayed home with the other women, cooking and taking care of children. That's not all women are good for! It's 1913, everything has advanced, so why can't women vote, or wear trousers, or help fight the advancing Germans?
"A proper young lady cannot wear trousers! How many times have I already said that?" Jamie exclaimed.
"If I can't wear trousers, you shouldn't be allowed to grow a moustache" I pointed out.
"What do you have against my moustache?" Jamie asked.
"Nothing" James and I said in unison. Jamie glared at us before fixing the tie in his uniform. Both of them were required to wear their official uniforms even when they weren't back at camp.
"Right then, shall we go?" James asked as he pulled himself into the saddle of his chestnut Thoroughbred.
"One day, I might lose my sanity because of the two of you" Jamie said before he galloped away on his dark brown Quarter Horse.
"Jamie, darling, you've already lost it because of us!" I called as my black Arabian and I galloped past him. I heard shouts of protests but it was muffled by the wind and the sound of leaves and twigs as the Arabian ran past them. I glanced over my shoulder at my two friends, who were racing after me. I urged the horse to go faster. Everything we passed was a blur of greens and browns. I saw a clearing far ahead but there was a hedge separating it from the forest grounds. I held on tightly to the reins as the Arabian neared the hedge. He galloped a bit faster before leaping over the hedge. It felt like we were soaring for a moment. Then his boots hit the grass and we trotted away from the hedge as a fury of chestnut and dark brown burst through the forest. I couldn't help but smile as I glanced at my friends. They've known each other for god knows how long. People assume they're brothers because of their closeness and the fact that they look a lot alike. Both very, very tall with golden blond hair, pale skin and piercing blue eyes. The only difference is that Jamie has extremely sharp and visibly cheekbones (as well as a moustache) while James has a defined jaw line and no moustache. I've also noticed that Jamie's eyes change color. They aren't as blue as James' eyes but they vary from turquoise to icy blue to green. The two of them are like brothers, maybe not in blood but definitely in bond.
"I won" Jamie stated proudly, the Quarter breathing heavily and trotting around James.
"Won what?" I asked curiously, jumping off the Arabian.
"I said I would give him 10 guineas if he could beat me in a race" James explained, sliding out of his saddle.
"That was foolish of you. You know he always wins at races. Unless it's against me" I pointed out, holding the bridle so the horse didn't wander off.
"Is that a challenge?" Jamie asked. I glanced around the clearing. Well I assumed it was a clearing. It was actually a grassy field overlooking the river.
"Most likely" I said, setting my foot in the stirrup and pulling myself back into the saddle.
"I'll draw the light shall I?" James said sarcastically as he picked up a stick and set it on the ground in front of the 2 horses. The Arabian pawed at the ground restlessly.
"Of all the women I know who ride horses, you are the only one who prefers a black Arabian to a white pony" Jamie stated.
"Is that a compliment?" I asked playfully, tucking an auburn curl behind my ear.
"Certainly" He said, offering me a kind smile. I always missed the way Jamie smiled. With the war and the military and whatnot, he almost never smiles and I never get to see those dimples.
"Ready?" James asked. We both nodded.
"Finish line is right there" He said, pointing to the edge of the field.
"Basically, if we don't pull the reins, we'll go flying over the cliff?" I asked.
"Yes, precisely" He said as he ran off to the side before throwing his officer's hat as the go signal. Like the horse had a mind of it's own, it broke into an even faster run then in the forest. I could hear the pounding of hooves on the ground as Jamie's Quarter picked up speed. We were nearing the edge before the Arabian burst into a full sprint, leaving Jamie in the dust. I pulled the reins exactly 10 seconds before we reached the edge. Even then, a few pebbles fell off the cliff and into the murky waters.
"I told you I always win against you" I said as Jamie trotted up next to me.
"Or maybe you just let me win" I suggested.
"Certainly not" He said. I glanced at James who was laughing at the far end of the field.
"Maybe next time you'll win" I said as I jumped out of the saddle, taking the reins and leading the black horse back towards James and the Thoroughbred.
"I don't think there is going to be a next time" Jamie said quietly, walking by me, reins in hand.
"What are you on about?" I asked.
"James and I are leading a cavalry charge in September of the next year" Jamie explained.
"What? But you could get hurt! Or-or worse!" I exclaimed.
"We knew that when we signed into the military" Jamie said. I looked at him with pleading eyes. He couldn't do this. I couldn't lose either of them. I don't know what I'd do if they died in that dreaded war.
"Jamie" I tried again. He was averted my pleading gaze. I stopped walking and took his arm, making him face me.
"We'll be fine. After all this is James and I. What could possibly happen to us?" Jamie said with a kind smile.
"You better be careful out there. Or so God help me because I will haunt you to your grave" I warned him. Jamie chuckled lightly.
"Jamie Stewart, mark my words because they shall haunt you till your dying day!" I exclaimed. This statement caused the major to laugh even harder.
"Hurry up would you! We've got to get back to the camp by tonight!" James called. I let go of Jamie's arm and walked ahead, the black Arabian nudging my shoulder every so often until we reached James.
"Shall we head home?" Jamie asked.
"Come on then" I said, pulling myself into the saddle. The Arabian reared and galloped back into the woods, Jamie and James following close behind.
Major Jamie Stewart - Benedict Cumberbatch
Captain James Nicholls - Tom Hiddleston
Kate Greene - Lily Collins
Charles Baker - Orlando Bloom