AN: I'm baaaaack to my regular stories! Hope yall have had a good Halloween! And hang on, we're almost through!

Lee worked well into the night.

The noise went on around him until long after midnight. There were too many staff, they were far too small. He made a mental note to do something about that. But he could handle the world, and there were far too many decisions that could only be made by the commanding officer. And the commanding officer should know as much as possible about the logistics of the situation, the condition of the army down to the last detail. Lee learned that he could work through pain, the exhaustion, that there might come a second wind that he could use to his advantage.

However, while working in a rocking chair in the quietness of the room if you tried to move. So, he worked from the chair, not rising and every now and then rested his head in his hands, closed his eyes and blanketed his brain. The noise of the cicadas and crickets or the low conversation of the other officers outside did not bother him. He didn't like people crowding too close, made him feel…. overwhelmed. Claustrophobic. After a while, Lee knew that he needed to have some alone time. The conversations seemed to disappear as the officers dispersed for the night, leaving the headquarters in a blissful tranquility that he basked in.

Time to plan and decide on a plan of action. Lee stood and made his way to the window to view the scene just on the other side of the glass.

There were no more songs about well-endowed women from bars from the tents across the way, no more bands playing merry tunes that warm July night. The men sat in small groups around fires, talking quietly, their movements subdued and faces solemn. Lee remembered when he was a low-ranking soldier, how he would sit with his comrades on the grass underneath the large navy-blue blanket of a night sky, somber after hard day of fighting. The scene before him played out similarly to what he remembered, the sky a dark navy blue with diamond stars twinkling and with a pearl moon shining high.

A sharp pain on the left side brought him out of his musings. Move slowly…..slowly. Behind him, Major Taylor entered.

Lee asked, "What day is it now?"

Taylor extracted a large watch from his pocket and squinted at the face. There was small smirk that pulled at his lips, hidden behind his mustache, which he squashed before answering the general. "Sir. It's long after midnight. It's already Friday."

"Friday, July third."

"Yes sir, I believe that would be correct."

"And tomorrow would be the Forth of July."

Taylor seemed caught off guard. "Sir?"

"Independence Day?"

"Oh. Yes. I'd…I'd quite forgotten."

Very curious coincidence, Lee thought. Perhaps an omen?

"The Good Lord has a sense of humor." Taylor chuckled.

"Wouldn't be ironic…. if we should gain our independence from them, on our own Independence Day?" He let that stew in the air, wondering. He believed in a Purpose as surely as he believed that the stars above him were truly there. He thought himself too dull to read God's plan, thought he was not meant to know, because he was just a servant. And yet…. there were glimpses. To Taylor he said, "I apologize for keeping you late, Major."

"Not a bother sir. In fact, it is my pleasure."

"We should have a larger staff."

"Sir, I shall be offended."

Lee smirked. "Well, I want to think for a while. Alone."

Major Taylor left the room, leaving him with his thoughts. Two alternatives…. two paths laid before him.

They move away to better ground, just as Longstreet suggested, and flank around to Washington, D.C. Or…..

Or they stay. And fight until the end.

Lee leaned over the table, gnawing on his lips. And so, we broke the vow….

That bitter phrase spoken by Longstreet mostly echoed in his mind. He struggled to get his thoughts in order. But his mind went to that night in Arlington when the news came: secession. Separation from the Union. He remembered a paneled wall and firelight. When they…. when we heard the news, we went into mourning. Inside there was screaming at the stupid politicians, the men that had never seen battle, and who had only sat behind a desk and dictated the actions of a state behind ivory walls. But outside….there was cheering in the streets, bonfire of joy. They had their war at last. But was there any choice?

The sight of fire against wood paneling, a bonfire seen far off at night through a window, soft and sparky glows always to remind him of that embedded night when he found that we would march against his home, his sons. He was not only to serve in it but actually to lead, to make plans and issue the orders to kill and burn and ruin… He couldn't do that. Each man would make his own decision, but Lee could not raise a hand against his own. And so what then? To stand by and watch, become an observer of death? To do nothing? To wait until the war was over? And if so, from what vantage point and what distance?

How far do you stand from the attack on your home, whatever the cause, so that you can bear it? It had nothing to do with causes; it was no longer a matter of vows.

"You wish to see me sir?"

Lee's eyes shot up to see Jeb Stuart, taking off his plumed hat in respect. The old man's anger boiled upward. Licking his lips and pushing down that anger, Lee said, "I asked to see you alone. I wished to speak with you alone, away from other officers. That has not been possible until now. I am sorry to keep you up so late."

"Sir, I was not asleep." Stuart drawled, smiled, gave the sunny impression that sleep held no importance.

Here's a man with faith in himself. Must protect that. And….a lesson to be learned here. He said out loud, slowly, deliberately, "Are you aware, General, that there are officers on my staff who have requested your court-martial?"

It was apparently news to the man, as he froze, his brow furrowing and his eyes going wide. He shook his head.

Lee continued, "I have not concurred. But it is the opinion of some excellent officers that you have let us all down."

"General Lee…."

Now, Lee thought, Now there will be anger.

"General Lee, sir. If you will tell me who these gentlemen-"

"There will be none of that. There is no time for that."

"I only ask that I be allowed-"

"There. Is. No. Time." Lee took a breath. Stuart stood like a beggar, hat in his hands. "General Stuart. You, sir, were the eyes of this army"

"General Lee, if you please…"

"You were my eyes. Your mission was to screen this army away from the enemy cavalry and to report any movement by the enemy's main body. That mission was not fulfilled."

The general stood motionless.

"You left this army without word of your movements, or of the movements of the enemy for several days. We were forced into battled without adequate knowledge of the enemy's position, or strength without knowledge of ground. It is only by God's grace that we have escaped disaster."

"General Lee." Stuart begged. He was in pain, and Lee could see that. Could see that and felt pity, but this needed to be done, it was necessary. It had to be done, much like how a bad tooth had to be pulled. Lee's brow pulled together in thought, trying to figure out how he could've possibly been the reason for this situation.

"It is possible that you misunderstood my orders. It is possible I did not make myself clear." Jackson always understood. "Yet, this must be clear: you with your cavalry are the eyes of the army. Without your cavalry, we are blind, and that has happened once. But it must never happen again."

A moment of silence passed. It was over. Lee wanted to reassure him, but he waited, giving the verbal lashing he had just received time to sink in. Stuart began to breath, audibly. After a moment, he reached down and unbuckled his sword theatrically, and Lee had to avoid rolling his eyes. Stuart handed it over with a high drama in his face. Annoyance, yes that is what he felt. Annoyance at the damn theatrics.

Stuart was saying that since he no longer held the general's trust…..Lee turned.

SLAM.

"I HAVE TOLD YOU THERE IS NO TIME FOR THAT!" Stuart jumped at the tone of voice, the action of Lee. Lee who has never had a moment of lost temper. The man fell silent as Lee, after taking a deep breath, continued, "There is a fight tomorrow and we need you. We need every man, God knows. You must take what I have told you and learn from it, as a man does. There has been a mistake. It will never happen again. I know your quality. You are a good soldier. You are as good cavalry as I have known, and your service to this army has been invaluable. I have learned to rely on your information; all your reports are accurate. Always. But no report is useful if it does not reach us. And that is what I wanted you to know."

Stuart nodded.

"Now." Lee waved his hand. "Let us talk no more of this."

Stuart remained where he stood, still as a statue, with his sword still in hand.

Lee sighed heavily before repeating, "General. This matter is concluded. There will be no further discussion. Good night."

That was all the dismissal General Stuart needed. He moved out of the house, leaving General Lee by himself.

All in God's hands now.

X

Henry slipped out of the house, and returned into where the army was mingling. He sighed as he processed everything he had heard.

Tomorrow….General Lee had said there was going to be a fight tomorrow.

And as someone who had led men into battle more times in his adult life than anyone here, Henry could always tell the night before. That sinking feeling in his gut, the pull of his heart, the way the air felt…..it was electrifying.

Almost like the calm before a heavy storm.

He took a deep breath of the summer air and turned his eyes up towards the sky. The storm would break tomorrow, the rivers of blood would wipe away everything in its wake. Henry didn't know if he would be able to face it. Unlike all the other times that he's been fighting…..the dawn tomorrow will bring something he couldn't think he could do.

"Margaret," He whispered. Tears pricked his eyes but he dashed them away. "Margaret, I hope you're still alive."

He made his decision then and there.