I'm back. I really don't deserve you all. You are too wonderful. Well, this is chapter four and I hope you all enjoy it!
It had been an incredibly long and boring ride. At least the scenery was somewhat interesting to make up for the lack of action. Washington rode next to him, mostly silent as well, occasionally remarking about the land or the possible state of the army they were about to meet. But finally, finally after so long a wait, they were riding into the camp of the Continental army.
All around them, men paused in what they were doing to gawk up at the imposing figure on the stallion, and their gazes slid, confused, to the young man by his side. Of course they recognized the General, and they saluted. Cries of "Here comes the General!" rang out around camp. Before long, rows of men standing at attention met them.
It was certainly not the most impressive sight Alexander had ever seen. The men were rather dirty, and far too many of them slouched over, with dull weaponry and that wasn't even brushing over their lack of sobriety. At least a third of the men were in some state of intoxication. This army needed work if they were ever to hold a fighting chance against the redcoats.
All this and more flashed through Alex's mind before he realized that Washington was addressing the gathered crowd. It was only when he heard his name that he was startled out of his reviere.
"...and this is Alexander Hamilton, he will be assisting me."
Alexander straightened a bit, trying to appear a bit more professional and hide his nerves from the soldiers assembled before them. A few men in the crowd chuckled.
Washington wheeled his horse around, and Alex took this as his cue to follow the General. The two trotted through the camp a little further, until they reached a cluster of tents that seemed to be set a little ways apart from the rest. This area was a little neater, with fewer drunken fools stumbling about. The men here stood straighter, and they were also considerably cleaner. The older man dismounted gracefully, in sharp contrast to Alexander's awkward descent.
As the General addressed these men, he took the time to gaze around. He immediately noticed two boys who looked to be about his age, standing behind two older men. One of them had poofy brown hair and freckles, the other, who was taller, with dark hair held back from his face by a strip of navy cloth. The former caught sight of his gaze, and elbowed the other, who grinned and waved. Alexander grinned back, bouncing slightly on his toes, hoping for a chance to meet the two.
He'd have to wait, however. Washington finished his speech, and grasped Alexander's shoulder, gently tugging him into one of the tents. Turning, he smiled down at the young man. "So, son, what do you think?"
Taking care to word his response respectfully, Alex said, "Um, I suppose that they could be neater, and more disciplined. Also less drunk." he added as an afterthought. Washington threw his head back and laughed, long and hard. "I knew I would like having you around. Yes, I agree completely. We will definitely have to do something about that. Although it might be harder to keep them from spirits."
Alexander flushed, but Washington only broke into a wider smile, clapping him on the shoulder. "If you're to be my new assistant, maybe you should go and get some rest. Tomorrow I expect your help, alright Alexander?" Nodding his consent, Alexander sat down on a cot. Hopefully there would still be time to meet some new people, though.
Hercules was truly blessed. Not only was he here, able to assist the revolution by getting to spy on the redcoats, but now he was standing outside his tent with John, the tailor, and John's father, a grumpy- looking man named Henry Laurens. And he was catching his first glimpse of General George Washington.
The man was very tall, and looked every bit the military leader atop his horse. He was one of those people who could convince you to obey any command with a single word or glance. And perhaps what shocked him the most was the fact that there was a boy riding beside him. He had dark hair, pulled back into a ponytail, and looked almost skittish, though he was definitely trying to hide it. As Hercules listened to the General talk, he watched the kid glance around, eventually catching John's eye. John, of course, elbowed Hercules, pointing at the new boy. Herc waved at him, and the kid grinned and waved back. Washington pulled the boy into his tent, but he could have sworn that the mystery kid threw a glance back over his shoulder.
John was buzzing. He danced around, laughing. "Hercules, can you believe it? George Washington! And did you see the kid he brought with him? D'you think we'll get to meet him? I wonder if he's been travelling with the General for long? Maybe that's his son!"
He couldn't help but laugh. "John, relax. It was really cool to see him though. And I heard that the General didn't have any sons. I think that was his assistant or something." John shrugged. "Whatever his connection to Washington is, I hope he'll tell us. This camp gets better and better, I swear."
Laughing harder, Hercules followed John back into the tent he was sharing with his father. The tailor and Laurens had taken to talking long into the night, and Hercules and John did the same. Though they had not been allowed alcohol. Ah well, you can't have everything in life, he supposed.
The two sat on the beds, talking about the war, the General, and of course, whether or not they'd be able to be friends with the new kid. Both were incredibly excited to meet more new people, and hopefully more would be able to join them.
By the time the tailor returned to tell Hercules to sleep, accompanied by Henry, who had come to retrieve John, the boys were dead on their feet. The moon had long since risen, and the stars were bright in a cloudless sky. Laughter rang out among the tents, shadowed with drunken shouts. Hercules fell asleep not to the tailor's snores tonight, but to the tune of a rather badly sung drinking song.
Gilbert woke that next morning with the complete confidence that he'd be able to convince Miller to join the army. At breakfast, he brought up the matter again. "Monsieur Miller, perhaps today we could enlist, oui?" The man laughed. "Ah, Gil, you aren't one to forget, are you? Yes, I think we will. That is, if it's ok with you, Rebecca darling?"
Oh. Right. He had forgotten that Mrs. Miller might not be quite so keen for the two of them to fight in a war. Fortune was smiling upon him, however. Rebecca nodded. "I was wondering when you would ask, seeing as that's all you seem to talk about nowadays. I've had bags ready for you two for a week, in case you decided to depart." Suddenly fierce, she brandished her spoon at them. "You two go and make me proud, you hear?"
John Miller embraced his wife as Gilbert let out a whoop. Dashing up the stairs, he sped down the hall, snatching up his boots and coat, then thundering back down, hopping around as he attempted to put both on at the same time. Miller opened the door for him, grinning as he raced into the street, calling over his shoulder, "Allez allez! nous devons être rapides, pas de temps à perdre monsieur!
A few people graced the steps of the makeshift enlistment office, but it still wasn't enough to prevent Gilbert from hurtling in the place at top speed. Speaking in rapid - fire French, he addressed the man at the desk. "Oui! salut! Nous sommes ici pour rejoindre l'armée et combattre pour la liberté de cette nation! Où dois-je signer?"
Thankfully for the poor clerk, John Miller followed Gilbert shortly after. Placing a placating hand on his shoulder, he smiled apologetically at the flustered man. "What my boy means to say is, we'd like to join the army and we were wondering where to sign up. The man nodded, looking relieved.
"Yes. Well, it might take a bit, but if you have the time to spare we can get you sent off to the very same camp that General Washington is at now, within a week."
Gilbert let out another ear- shattering whoop of excitement. The rest of the afternoon flew by, filled with paper, ink, signatures, and details of enlistment and agreements. But when the sun set on fateful day, both had officially sworn their loyalty to their new, fledgling country.
Rebecca greeted them both on the doorstep with a strong embrace. Looking up, Gilbert realized that she had tears in her eyes. "I'm so so proud of you two, going off to liberate this land. Now, don't you dare get yourselves killed."
Miller laughed. "Ah, don't you worry, dear. I wouldn't dare get myself killed, and frankly I think it would take a lot more than a redcoat's bullet to kill Gilbert here."
He shrugged. Miller wasn't wrong. The couple laughed, and led the way back into their home. Glancing back at the city, Gilbert found himself hoping that he'd be able to come back to it.
The morning dawned bright and warm. John Laurens sat bolt upright in bed, startling his father, who groaned and waved his hand, telling him that if he really must, to go and get whatever he was so happy about out of the way. John happily complied, shooting out of the tent, and bursting into Hercules's, who was pulling on his boots. Seeing John enter, he smiled. Straightening, he led the way out of the tent and into the hustle and bustle of the camp.
The two boys loped off towards the cooking fires, snatching up coffee and whatever food they could snag. The camp's cooks looked at them fondly and laughingly shook their fists at them. Strolling through the army camp, John chatted with Hercules while they ate. As they were approaching the General's tent, who should come stumbling out, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, but the boy they had seen last night.
Hercules pointed him out to John, who immediately raced over, startling the boy. "Hi! I'm John Laurens, and that's Hercules Mulligan." He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at Herc. "What's your name?" More questions would have followed, but Hercules lightly tapped his back, reminding him to take it slow.
The kid stuttered a bit, his dark hair in disarray, his brown eyes wide. "I- I'm Alexander Hamilton. It's nice to meet you, John Laurens and Hercules Mulligan."
John laughed, looping his arm through Alexander's. "You can just call us John and Hercules. Say, can we call you Alex?"
"Yeah, yeah sure." The poor boy looked terrified.
Hercules grinned. "Hey Alex, where are you from? John here is from South Carolina, and I'm from Ireland."
Alex relaxed slightly. "Well, I came to the camp from New York with General Washington, but I'm actually from the Nevis, in the Caribbean, even though I was raised on St. Croix, which is also an island from the Caribbean, but it doesn't matter because I'm never going back there. America is so much better."
John was slightly intimidated by the look that came over the new kid's face when he spoke of the islands. Nevertheless, he pushed on. "So, how did you come to be acquainted with the General?"
Blushing, Alexander responded, "Well, you see, it's a bit of an odd story-" He was cut off abruptly as the man in question walked out of the tent. "Alexander? Where, oh there you are. And who are you two?" He addressed John and Hercules.
Trying to look like a soldier, John bowed. "I'm John Laurens." Hercules added, "Hercules Mulligan, sir."
The General nodded. "Henry Laurens' son? And you're one of my spies, then?" He chuckled. Nodding, John felt secretly pleased that Washington had recognized his name. The man then turned to Alexander. "Come on then, Alex, I could use your help right about now. Have you ever written an official letter?"
Alex nodded, as John watched interestedly. As he watched, Alexander made to follow the General, but paused. He looked back at John and Hercules hopefully. "I'll see you later, then?" John nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! You come and find us as soon as you get the chance!" Hercules added, "Our tents are just right over there. We'll see you later, Alex!" Looking much happier, Alexander nodded and followed Washington.
John was practically bouncing. "Hercules, wow! We did get to meet him after all! Poor nervous kid, though. And Washington recognized us! How awesome is that?" Hercules laughed, and the two ran off, ducking around men and tents alike. As he ran, John thought of Alex and the budding friendship the three had formed.
Well, I did promise a quick update, did I not? It's not quite as long as I would have liked, but hey, better than last chapter, yes? Plus I thought that would be a nice spot to end on. I kid you not, I wrote this while listening to the soundtrack. Probably should have slept instead, but screw that. So three quarters of the Revolutionary Set is here, and up next, the trio will meet Lafayette. Please review, and if you'd like me to include anything for this next chapter, just let me know in the review section. Many of my stories come from inspiration you guys give me, so if there's something you want, just tell me! I have the honor to be your obedient servant, ~RedCoatsRedder
