When Tally made it to Fort Salem she was so nervous she ate all the snacks she had packed with her. She had no idea how she was going to get to see the general but attending the speech was probably the best place to start.

She filtered into the giant hall with the rest of the new recruits and found a place as close to the front as she could get. She had the biggest smile on her face and couldn't wait for the general to come out and give one of her famous speeches.

Tally was afraid but excited to see how the general would react to meeting her, if she ever got the chance. The auditorium got quiet the moment general Alder made her way on stage with her biddies trailing behind her. And for Tally it was like seeing color all over again and it made her tear up.

She was even more beautiful and intimidating in person and Tally could've sworn she'd fallen in love at that very moment. Which seemed so cliche to her because she barely knew her, like the real her, she knew everything the textbooks told her. But she didn't know her likes and dislikes, if she had a favorite food she missed eating, or if she liked music. It was all something she was looking forward to finding out.

Before Tally knew it the speech was over and Alder was walking away, she hadn't even looked her way. Tally huffed out an air of frustration, this was going to be a little more difficult than she thought.

As she got introduced to her unit and sorted into her bunk she lay on her top bunk, "Hey, have you guys met your soulmates yet?"

Abigail only smiled, "Well, I've had fun with some people who wished they were my soulmates. But no, I'm still waiting."

Tally only heard a mumbled 'no' from Raelle from the bed below hers.

"What would you do if you knew who your soulmate was but they didn't know that they were your soulmate yet?"

Abigail smiled, "Wait, are you telling us that you know who your soulmate is?"

"Well, I...maybe?"

Ralle popped her head up, "No shit? You can see colors? How long?"

Tally sat up and looked at the two of them, she knew they all just met but being home and establishing trust was important. Tally blushed at how they both stared at her eagerly waiting for an answer, "Well, I could see colors since I was 8 years old but I didn't know about soulmates until I was 16."

"Wait, 8 years old? How? And how do they not know?" Abigail stood there hands on her hips.

"I uh, it's a long story, I'll tell you guys eventually. I just want them to know first."

"Whoa, you can't just drop a bombshell like that and leave us hanging," Raelle gripped the railing to the top bunk looking disappointed.

Tally flopped back down on her pillow, "I'll tell you guys tomorrow, hopefully, I'm going to tell them first thing in the morning."

"Wait, your soulmate is here at Fort Salem? Wow, I can tell this is going to be interesting," Abigail turned her light off and flopped down onto her own bed.

Yeah, tomorrow she'd tell her, she hoped. She knew the general was a very busy woman and Tally was just Tally and if she took time out of her very busy day to see her it would be a miracle.

Tally fell asleep thinking of those blue eyes she'd seen almost everyday since she was 8 years old, blue, her favorite color.

The next morning after she had eaten, she thought she'd have a chance to go see the general but of course training with her unit just started. By the time they reached lunch she ate as fast as she could and went to see about a general.

"Um, excuse me, is the general free?" Tally asked the woman at the desk outside.

The woman eyed her closely before asking, "Do you have an appointment?"

"Well, no, I guess can I make one or is she free now?" Tally looked nervous shifting from one foot to the next.

"Name?"

"Tally Craven, I just came in yesterday. I wanted to discuss something really important with the general."

The woman looked her up and down before standing herself, "Huh, a new recruit, already trying to get in good with the general? What would be so important that you would need to discuss it with the general after being here for a day?"

Tally wanted to cry, she couldn't tell this woman that she was the general's soulmate and it hurt her that this woman thought her a kiss ass already, "It's personal, please, can you just tell her it's very important."

The woman sighed and left her standing there as she made her way into the general's office. The wait only made her more antsy, she found herself staring at the painting of Alder crossing the Delaware and she smiled at the painting. The general was really pretty, especially with her hair down. She was interrupted by the woman coming out, "You're lucky Craven, she'll see you. It's not everyday she makes the time to see a new recruit."

Tally gulped suddenly, nervous, "Thank you, I appreciate it."

Tally headed over to the door and took a deep breath before she knocked on the door lightly, hearing the voice of the general tell her to come in made Tally's heart stop.

She opened the door to see the general pouring herself a cup of some sort of alcohol, taking a sip and walking back to her desk to place the drink down. Not once looking up to meet her eyes.

Please look at me.

"I'm sorry to bother you, general. I did say I'd make an appointment if you were too busy to see me," Tally felt so small standing in that office.

I've been waiting for you for forever.

Before the general could sit she looked up to meet her gaze, a gasp escaping her lips as she just stared at her. A wave of emotion washed over her as she drank in the sight of Tally before her, all of the biddies having gone still as they all focused on Alder. Tears fell from the general's eyes and she found herself moved down to one knee as the overwhelming onslaught of seeing colors for the first time after 300+ years washed over her.

Tally rushed to her side in worry, "General, are you okay? I'm so sorry, I didn't know you'd react like this."

Alder looked up and stared into her brown eyes, bringing a trembling hand up to cup the younger girl's cheek. She searched her eyes like she'd found the answer to everything she'd ever wanted to know in those eyes.

"You knew? How long?"

"Well, I was 8 years old when I first saw color. You were giving a speech on tv and...your eyes, they're my favorite color, blue. The first color I remember seeing. But I didn't know about soulmates till I was 16. I'm sorry if this is disappointing to you," Tally licked her lips and gave her a look of uncertainty and nervousness.

Composing herself, Alder used the edge of the desk to hoist herself back to two feet, "Not at all, I'm sorry, I've lived for over 300 years and not once seen color. I'm merely overwhelmed," she took a minute to look around the room and marvel at all the colors.

Tally blushed as she cleared her throat, "My mom kind of disowned me after I answered the call, all of her sisters died in the war and I'm all she has. Plus, she said that being your soulmate would only bring me pain and suffering. But I came so I could fight, to help. I don't expect anything from you, I don't want to make your life complicated because of this. But if I can make your life easier by helping the army in some way, that's good enough for me. So please don't feel obligated, I just wanted you to know."

Alder brought her gaze back to the fidgeting girl staring at the ground like she didn't know her worth. Straightening, she took a step forward and titled the young girl's chin up to meet her gaze.

"I must say, I don't know what to think of all this but thank you for telling me. Or rather coming to see me, you've given me a gift," she paused for a second before continuing, "What color would you call your eyes, Tally Craven?"

"Um, they're brown, ma'am."

Alder smiled, "Brown. You have very kind eyes, Craven."

Tally returned the smile, "And yours are very beautiful."

Alder sobered up and sat at her desk, "You must know that this isn't going to be easy. Being my soulmate could put you at risk. And you won't get special treatment. I'm very busy running an army. And there might be things you find out about me that make you disappointed in me."

"I know, I don't want to be a burden or anything. I honestly just wanted you to know."

Alder's eyes softened, "You're young and innocent. You're going to be faced with impossible choices. Study hard and be a great soldier. I expect nothing less from my soldiers."

"Yes, ma'am. Well, I don't want to take up anymore of your time. Like I said I just wanted you to know and…"

The general tilted her head in curiosity as the young girl went quiet, "Speak your mind."

Tally blushed lightly and gave her a warm smile, "It just felt like I'd been waiting for you for forever."

Alder came around the side of the desk and stood in front of her, "Was it worth the wait?"

She gave her an eager nod and happily clasped her hands behind her back, "Well, I'll get back to my unit, ma'am. If you ever want someone to teach you the colors, I'm more than happy to help, if you want."

"Thank you, Tally, I'll keep that in mind. You better run along now."

By the time Tally reached the door, her hand about to twist the doorknob, Alder spoke up again, "Oh, and Tally?"

Tally met those crisp blue eyes and smiled with anticipation, "Yes, ma'am?"

Alder stared at her with pride, "I was waiting for you too."

Tally blushed and nodded and closed the door behind her, her heart racing, she had to get back to her unit and tell them everything.

She hoped she could make the general proud, she didn't want to give her hopes up, but the warmth in the general's eyes told her that there was more to her then the persona she showed to others. It felt like those eyes were pleading with her to break down her walls and save her.

Tally realized the general had called her by her first name and she squealed and ran to meet up with her unit who she knew was eagerly waiting for her.