Piercing Arrows
By: ninjagal

"Wait for my cue!" shouted the sergeant.
The men stood steady, guns aimed at the dummies.
Noticing one of the men's position, I thought to myself, He's going to miss.
Sure enough, when they were told to fire, he missed, and I rolled my eyes and went back to my work.
"Where's that damn wash?" John shouted, impatient as always.
"I'm working on it right now, sir," I replied, trying to sound polite but probably just coming across as irritated.
"Oh, it's you," he said, his demeanor changing. He stood up straighter, and talked deeper in a vain attempt to impress me.
"Yes, it's me. Since when do any of the men do the wash?" I asked in disdain, spitting the word "man" out like poison.
He was either unfazed by my comment or he was just plain stupid because he replied, "Never, I guess. You're the only one who could do it right."
Oh God, not again. I moaned internally. If he flirts with me one more time I swear I'll-
"Thomson!" Sergeant Steele shouted. "Stop talking to the wash maid and get back to work!"
John turned around and replied stoutly, "Yes, sir!"
I smiled at the sergeant gratefully. He could tell I hated it when the men flirted with me because I was the only woman at the camp. John always talked about his "loyal sweetie" back at home. If only she knew how loyal her man was.
I went back to washing the soldier's dirty clothes and glared at the soapy water. I could've been out there, shooting a gun a dummies and not missing, unlike some of the boys who called themselves men.
The only real man there was Levi. Well, I was supposed to call him Sergeant Steele when there were other people around.
He had arranged for us to be together, but no one knew he was courting me. If they did, John would be much more careful who he flirted with.
I noticed that he had been acting strange and more distant lately. I didn't know if I was just over analyzing things. He was obviously busy throughout the day, and he was tired when he went to bed. Even so, I wished he would talk to me if only a little.
Sighing, I brought my my attention back to the clothes and kept washing.

That night, before I left to go to sleep, Levi pulled me aside.
"Autumn," he said solemnly, "I need to talk to you."
I followed him slowly, afraid of why he wanted to talk to me.
"I know I haven't been giving you much attention lately, but I was just nervous."
"Nervous about what?" I asked, feeling anxious myself.
"Well," he reached into the pocket of his pants and pulled something out, hidden in his fist. "I just wanted to ask you something. We go into battle against the Union tomorrow, and I want to know that I'll go in with something to fight for."
He knelt down on one knee and opened his hand, revealing a small, plain ring.
"I want to know that I'm fighting for you, now and forever. I love you, Autumn. Will you marry me?"
I was awestruck. I felt tears in my eyes as I nodded my head vigorously.
"Yes, yes, yes! I love you, too, Levi!"
I hugged him tightly, jumping a little to get my arms around his neck. He hugged me back with his strong arms and ran his hand through my dark brown hair. He looked into my green eyes as I stared into his blue.
He slid the ring on my finger and smiled, showing his lack-luster teeth that were slowly beginning to match the shade of his sandy blonde hair.
"Good night, Levi," I whispered.
My night was swift and dreamless, when I woke I ran outside to see the soldiers getting ready.
I ran around until I saw my fiancé. When I caught sight of him, I hugged him tightly.
He smiled but pushed me away gently. "I have to get ready," he said sweetly.
I took a step back. I watched him gather his ammunition and gunpowder and gun. I stared at him as he got in line to begin marching to the battle ground.
"Just come back!" I shouted before he left my vision. Not hearing me, he didn't answer.

He's fine. I kept telling myself as I washed the clothes and the sheets and the dishes and anything else that needed cleaning. He's fine.
A day passed. He's fine.
Two days. He's fine.
A week. He has to be fine.
A week and a day. Just come home.
They came walking back, glum and defeated.
I ran up to them, shooting questions.
"What happened? Did you win? Did anyone die? Where's Levi?"
Silence. Heavy, deafening silence.
"Where's Levi?" I asked again, quieter.
No one looked at me in the eye. Everyone was staring at my finger with Levi's ring on it.
"So it's true," John said plainly. "He did ask you to marry him."
"Yes, he did. Now, where is he?" I asked through gritted teeth.
John looked at me, staring harshly. "They took him. He made sure we got away, but he got caught. He's probably dead." He didn't speak with remorse or regret, just anger.
I shook my head. "No, he isn't dead. He can't be dead. No, no, no! You're lying!" I shouted.
A younger soldier stepped forward. "He's telling the truth, Miss."
I stared at them. They were liars, all of them. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be dead.
"He was fighting for me," I whispered to myself.
The young man stepped forward and took my arm kindly. "Come along. Let's get you some water and you can rest."

He's fine. He's fine. He's fine.
It ran through my mind, my blood, my heart. I became sure that it was true, and I wanted to save him.
"No," John said. With Levi gone, John took his place as sergeant. "We're not risking all of us for one man."
I stared at him, begging, "Please!"
"No." For the first time, he had some feeling other than anger when talking about Levi's kidnapping. "I'm sorry, Autumn."
I turned my back sharply and walked out of the camp. If they wouldn't save him, I would.

As night fell, I snuck around the dark camp, taking a gun, finding ammunition, and stealing gunpowder.
I slunk around noiselessly, my feet treading over the grass without a sound.
I slipped into John's tent carefully. I knew he kept a knife with him-he showed it off to the men if anyone challenged him. From what I had been told, it had a leather grip and a sharp point.
I saw it lying next to his head, looking surprisingly grand for an army knife.
Picking it up, I noticed it was lighter than i thought it would be.
I tucked it away with the rest of my provisions, and left the tent silently, walking out of the camp and towards Levi.
I walked through the woods and followed the beaten trail from the soldiers on their march to the battlefield and their defeated trek back to the camp. I followed it, determined not to return empty-handed. If I wasn't going to come back with Levi, I wasn't going to come back at all.
So, I set aside any fear and began running across the path. I had to keep the soldiers from being able to catch up with me, assuming they followed me at all. They probably would for the things I stole from them.
I kept running till the sun broke across the horizon. I slowed to a walking pace and trudged on, ignoring my growling stomach.
I was sure that I might pass out by noon. I stopped and pulled out my ration of stale crackers, eating two. Then I stood and kept walking.
After a day, I was at the battlefield. Abandoned bodies were strewn across the land, and though there were dead from the Union, I pitied them.
I stared straight ahead as I walked across the field of the dead, afraid that if I were to look down I'd see Levi, motionless, lifeless, eternally sleeping with his comrades and enemies. I followed the faint and fading trail of the Union, running quickly yet slowly inspecting to make sure I stayed on their path.

He's fine.
I dreamt that phrase when I finally slept. I ate my disgusting crackers slowly, cherishing every bite that would help me get closer to Levi.
When I woke up, I felt like it was my battle cry. I would run into battle-no, ride my horse into battle with my gun loaded and aimed at the Union general, and I would fire the trigger shouting that Levi was fine.
I reached for my gun, imagining it perfectly, but my hand didn't find it. Turning, I saw it was gone. My only weapon was gone. My best chance at saving Levi was gone! How could it be gone?!
My eyes darted around my camp until I saw the tracks. They weren't human, but I couldn't tell what animal they belonged to.
It took my food, too.
Well, I just fancy this! I shouted in my head. I have no gun, no food, and no chance!
In compete anger, I stood up and pulled out the knife, throwing it into the nearest tree. It sank deep into the bark, a perfect shot.
When I calmed down enough to retrieve it without throwing it again, an idea came to me. A hopeless, idiotic, so-insane-it-just-might-work idea.
I used the knife to saw off the lowest, thickest branch. My dad had taught me how to whittle, and I set to work. My knife was dull enough trying to cut through the branch, but it lasted long enough to let me finish my work.
I tried to bend it and make sure it was thin enough to be flexible but thick enough to not break when pulled back. I made sure it felt right when I held it, and finally pulled the string that served as a belt on my dress out. I tied the ends to each side, and made sure it wasn't too loose or too tight.
Finally, I broke off the longest, straightest, lightest branch I could reach and cut a notch into one end so it fit my string.
When I was completely ready, I fired my arrow. It hit the center of a tree with deadly precious.
This battle was not over yet.

I followed the trail until I had found the temporary Union camp. When night fell, I silently maneuvered my way around their tents until I was at what I was sure was the prison hold.
I entered the tent carefully, and saw that I was right.
One prisoner sat in the middle of the breaking tent, hands and feet bound and mouth gagged. He was so injured, I nearly didn't recognize him.
"Levi?" I whispered.
He tilted his head up, and when his eyes focused on me, he stared in shock and awe. He attempted to talk through his gag, and I pulled it out for him.
"Autumn? What are you doing here? How did you get here? Is that a bow on your back?!"
"Shh! I'm here to save you, I got here by walking because that moronic demon John wouldn't help, and yes. I do have a bow and an arrow with me."
He looked at me as if I was some alien, telling him I was here to take him to my planet.
I pulled out the knife and cut the rope tying him.
"Follow me, and keep quiet," I commanded.
We stepped out of the tent and started to sneak back to the cover of the trees, but I hadn't checked to see if anyone was about us.
"The prisoner is escaping!" a voice cried, rousing the entire camp.
"Run!" I shouted. "Give me a string!"
"What?" Levi asked, confused.
"A string! Give me one!"
He took a string left behind by the frayed rope and gave it to me.
This better work, I prayed.
While we ran, I tied the knife to my makeshift arrow shaft, judging how off the weight was and how far the wrong way I would have to fire it to hit whatever my target would be.
Just as it was tied, we were cut off by half-dressed, armed soldiers.
They aimed, but a voice shouted, "Wait!"
I turned around, and a well-dressed man was gazing down at me.
"What is a woman doing here, rescuing a soldier?" the man asked, not angrily but not nicely either.
I glared and lifted my bow and arrow, aiming at his chest and hoped it looked threatening.
Instead, he laughed. "I am Major Henry Abbot. Who might you be?"
I stayed silent. I recognized the name, but that didn't mean I was willing to tell him who I was.
"A strong will, I see," he said with slight appraisal.
I muttered, "Autumn, Major Abbot. My name is Autumn."
He seemed surprised. "Quite an unusual name, don't you think?"
I didn't blink, but just stared him down, my arrow still pointed at him.
"I see a ring on your finger. Is this man your fiancé?"
I nodded slightly, happy about that thought.
"Ah, young love is sweet." He seemed to consider something, then motioned for his men to lower their weapons. "Go. Don't tell anyone what happened, and don't go back to this war."
He turned to Levi, "Get out while you still can and live with the one you love."
Levi looked conflicted, but seemed to resolve himself. "Yes, sir."
Both smiled, and I lowered my bow. I took Levi's hand and we turned to the woods.
As we walked away, I thought to myself with a slight joking manner, He's a good man. I'm happy he didn't have to feel the piercing of my pathetic arrow.
After a few moments of silence, I asked him, "Where do you want to go?"
He seemed to think on that. With a smile he said, "North. Let's see where that takes us."
We walked, hand in hand, smiling, to wherever the future would take us.