Part Three: A Snake's Tears
Tavington gently laid his sword and musket on the end of the bed on top of his jacket. He sat on the bed staring idly at the floor with his white shirt laying across one knee. As a firm believer that love was a waste, Tavington was at a loss. Unlike some of his officers, Tavington wasn't married or courting anyone. To him it was a waste of valuable time. Ah, but your revising your beliefs William. a nasty little voice whispered in his mind. Tavington frustrated pushed it away.
"ZAINE! Help!"
Without a thought Tavington jumped up, threw the white shirt back on, grabbed his weapons, and raced out of the room. At the end of the hall where Susan's room was, Susan was pushed against the wall while two men leered and laughed at her. "We know you all alone here missy." one said in a slurred, drunken voice. He moved closer to Susan who made pushing motions with her hands. Tavington rushed forward and pushed the closest one away while bringing up his sword to kill him. "Colonel Tavington!" Tavington paused and looked in the direction of the urgent frightened voice. The thief who Tavington heard talk to Susan had her pulled against him and a large knife placed expertly on her throat. "I know how to use this redcoat. You'd better just drop your weapons." the man stated in a steady voice with his eyes fixed on Tavington. Tavington's eyes flickered only slightly to two of his officers who were coming up the stair case behind the man, who must have seen it and moved until he could look at everyone. "I'll kill her, I mean it." He said as a warning. Tavington slowly laid his sword and musket down while keeping his eyes on the man. "Joe, get up, we're outta here." 'Joe' scrambled to his feet and together the two men slowly moved down the stairs with Susan still with them. "Let her go!" Tavington said quickly once the men got outside. The man holding Susan turned to Tavington and grinned amused. "Yeah, and have you shoot me as soon as I do." He said before getting on the horse and pulling Susan's lightweight body on too. The man looked at Tavington's anxious eyes and grinned nastily, showing his rotted teeth. "Don't worry Colonel. I'll let your Goddess go at the top of the road." he said laughing. Tavington slowly reached his hand to his musket, which he had grabbed before coming out of the house. Susan's eyes locked with his own as she stared at him intently. Tavington gently cocked the musket and in one fluent motion brought it up and fired at the man holding Susan, who had ducked into the horse a split second sooner. One short scream later both Susan and the thief had fallen off the horse, the thief dead. Susan's breathing came in short desperate gasps as she tried unsuccessfully to push the dead body off. Tavington, along with the officers and Zaine ran to Susan's aid, whose panic was tangling her up more with the corpse. "Stop, it's okay." Tavington said gently as he settled her and untangled her from the horse. Immediately Susan threw one arm around Tavington's neck and the other one around his waist; she cried into his shoulder. Tavington distractedly handed his musket to one of the officers and wrapped his own arms around Susan as she cried. The officers exchanged raised eyebrows that were quickly stopped by Zaine, who had moved over to them and began gently rubbing Susan's back. Slowly Susan pulled away, softly wiping the tears from her cheeks. Tavington looked at her then to his shirt, which wasn't only covered in tears but a certain amount of blood. "Susan.." He started and began examining her face and neck. Just under her jaw line a cut, about 1 ½ inches, marked her skin where the knife had been. Tavington glanced at the dead thief on the ground, thinking that it was good for him he was already dead. Together Tavington and Zaine led Susan back into the house where Zaine tended to the cut. "This may scar, Miss Susan." Zaine said as she cleaned up the area around her neck. Susan just shrugged in such a way that said she could care less while Zaine laughed slightly before bringing Susan into a motherly embrace. Tavington watched the exchange while shifting foot to foot uncomfortably and slightly jealous. After all, I saved her, shouldn't I be getting attention?! Tavington thought then mentally cursed himself. Susan nearly died or who knows what they would have done, and here he was thinking of himself. Tavington looked up at Zaine, who was watching him with one thin black eyebrow up ever so slightly and an amused glint in her ebony eyes. She focused her attention back on Susan, who was writing something. "Colonel Tavington, you should be aware that it really doesn't do one good to have mental conversations with ones self. Your much better off settling for what you feel." Zaine stated in a matter-of-fact tone with no sense of sarcasm. Susan looked up at Zaine briefly then to Tavington, her thin blonde eyebrows furrowed in confusion by the statement; both Zaine and Tavington pointedly ignored the look. Moments later Susan handed the paper to Tavington.
I thank you, Colonel, for saving my life. I'm not sure how to return the debt. If there is anything your men need please do not hesitate to inform me.
Tavington read the note and looked at Susan, whose eyes were focused on him and no longer contained the mistrust she directed at him before but with gratitude. Tavington picked up her quill and after dipping it in the bottle, began to write his own note. 'Madam, me and my men will be leaving out tomorrow at mid-day. You may redeem the debt by making me two simple promises. First, I would like very much to write and visit you and second, please have the Cudds actually live here rather than in their cottage.' Tavington wrote and handed it back to Susan. Her face turned scarlet as she read the second request and realized he had known all along. Susan slid the paper over to Zaine, who looked at her curiously then read the paper. After a moment she looked up to Tavington with the slightest thinned lips. "If this is what you wish Colonel. I must ask though, how often will your journeys bring you close to here?" She asked as she looked him squarely in the eyes. Tavington stared back, determined not to be denied seeing her. "As often as possible." He stated truthfully. Zaine looked at him a moment longer before standing up abruptly. "I need to go tell my husband of our new residents." She said and walked out of the room. Susan turned in her chair to look up at Tavington whose back was against the wall. Tavington looked at her unblinking eyes and porcelain face and the thoughts came so easily he didn't notice them until he was already thinking. He loved her face and her eyes mostly because they were so innocent, so impartial to the war. She didn't get involved in the war at all, except to grant board to those who asked for it. He hated the look in her eyes in the portrait hanging above the fire place; it was the same look he had seen so many times before: deep wells of sadness so deep that even Tavington had trouble staring at them. Tavington drew his attention back to Susan, who was looking at him in a new way. Her gaze, although unblinking, was purely curious. Tavington smiled slightly at her before sitting in the chair Zaine had occupied. "I know you can talk madam. Why is it you do not speak?" Tavington asked as Susan's mouth stayed firmly shut and her eyes trailed to the other side of the room. Tavington shook his head out of frustration. 'Just when I thought I was getting through.' he thought aggravated before getting up. "Fine, have it your way." Tavington heard his aggravation in his voice and was stung when Susan flinched. He, with effort, ignored it and was walking out of the room when he felt a small hand rest on his upper arm. Tavington stopped and looked at Susan, who had gotten up and stopped him. She gently tugged his arm until he came and sat down beside her. "Zaine did not tell you everything." Susan said quietly as she stared blankly in front of her. Tavington blinked in surprise that she talked but remained quiet so she would continue. "What Zaine failed to tell you was that I was a mother." Susan took a deep breath as tears shinned in her eyes. "A few months after I was married I became with child. She was beautiful. She had small blonde curls and black eyes with ivory skin. My husband wanted nothing to do with her because she was a girl and not a boy, not a heir to his plantation. I named her Wednesday Olivia. Anyway, a few months after she was born I had taken her out for a walk in the gardens. You have seen them haven't you Colonel?" Susan asked as tears slid down her cheeks. Tavington nodded; Prince plantation had great aqua gardens with ponds and small streams along with exotic flowers. "I had stopped to rest on one of the benches and must have fell asleep. When I came to, Wednesday's baby carriage was gone along with her. I looked down below where we were sitting, at the largest lake and-" Susan stopped as she sucked in air. "and Wednesday's carriage was floating on the water. I rushed into the pond and to Wednesday, who was floating under the canopy of the carriage, dead." Susan finally looked Tavington in the eyes and he was slightly startled by them. Her eyes didn't burn as he had seen them earlier but something else was there. A cold fire that didn't flatter her eyes at all, the cold fire that Tavington had seen in men who just killed out of revenge. Suddenly the puzzle pieces began coming together: Susan's rage at Zaine telling him her story, Garth Prince's untimely death, and Wednesday's death. "You killed him." Tavington said quietly as he refocused on Susan, who didn't look at all like herself. She grinned slightly before nodding. "You'll never prove it Colonel. You can't even prove we had this conversation. After all, I don't talk." Susan stated in a small voice. There was no smugness or satisfaction in her voice. "He killed Wednesday, didn't he?" Tavington asked although he knew the answer. Vengeance melted from Susan's eyes as sadness replaced it. "He hated her before she was even born. She was a girl, not his precious heir." she said before closing her eyes and shaking her head slowly. "No more questions. No more conversation. I'm tired." She said before standing up slowly and walking to the stair case then to her room. It would be several hours before Tavington left the table.
A/N: I'm sorry it's taken so long to post this chapter. I haven't had a lot of time to write lately because term will be starting soon. When it does I won't be able to write much then either so chapters will be delayed. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and I'm very glad you enjoyed it. I will be adding another story shortly, one completely separate to this one. It's a Tavington/My character romance like this one will be. Anyway, thanks again for reviewing and keep 'em coming!
Lilly
Tavington gently laid his sword and musket on the end of the bed on top of his jacket. He sat on the bed staring idly at the floor with his white shirt laying across one knee. As a firm believer that love was a waste, Tavington was at a loss. Unlike some of his officers, Tavington wasn't married or courting anyone. To him it was a waste of valuable time. Ah, but your revising your beliefs William. a nasty little voice whispered in his mind. Tavington frustrated pushed it away.
"ZAINE! Help!"
Without a thought Tavington jumped up, threw the white shirt back on, grabbed his weapons, and raced out of the room. At the end of the hall where Susan's room was, Susan was pushed against the wall while two men leered and laughed at her. "We know you all alone here missy." one said in a slurred, drunken voice. He moved closer to Susan who made pushing motions with her hands. Tavington rushed forward and pushed the closest one away while bringing up his sword to kill him. "Colonel Tavington!" Tavington paused and looked in the direction of the urgent frightened voice. The thief who Tavington heard talk to Susan had her pulled against him and a large knife placed expertly on her throat. "I know how to use this redcoat. You'd better just drop your weapons." the man stated in a steady voice with his eyes fixed on Tavington. Tavington's eyes flickered only slightly to two of his officers who were coming up the stair case behind the man, who must have seen it and moved until he could look at everyone. "I'll kill her, I mean it." He said as a warning. Tavington slowly laid his sword and musket down while keeping his eyes on the man. "Joe, get up, we're outta here." 'Joe' scrambled to his feet and together the two men slowly moved down the stairs with Susan still with them. "Let her go!" Tavington said quickly once the men got outside. The man holding Susan turned to Tavington and grinned amused. "Yeah, and have you shoot me as soon as I do." He said before getting on the horse and pulling Susan's lightweight body on too. The man looked at Tavington's anxious eyes and grinned nastily, showing his rotted teeth. "Don't worry Colonel. I'll let your Goddess go at the top of the road." he said laughing. Tavington slowly reached his hand to his musket, which he had grabbed before coming out of the house. Susan's eyes locked with his own as she stared at him intently. Tavington gently cocked the musket and in one fluent motion brought it up and fired at the man holding Susan, who had ducked into the horse a split second sooner. One short scream later both Susan and the thief had fallen off the horse, the thief dead. Susan's breathing came in short desperate gasps as she tried unsuccessfully to push the dead body off. Tavington, along with the officers and Zaine ran to Susan's aid, whose panic was tangling her up more with the corpse. "Stop, it's okay." Tavington said gently as he settled her and untangled her from the horse. Immediately Susan threw one arm around Tavington's neck and the other one around his waist; she cried into his shoulder. Tavington distractedly handed his musket to one of the officers and wrapped his own arms around Susan as she cried. The officers exchanged raised eyebrows that were quickly stopped by Zaine, who had moved over to them and began gently rubbing Susan's back. Slowly Susan pulled away, softly wiping the tears from her cheeks. Tavington looked at her then to his shirt, which wasn't only covered in tears but a certain amount of blood. "Susan.." He started and began examining her face and neck. Just under her jaw line a cut, about 1 ½ inches, marked her skin where the knife had been. Tavington glanced at the dead thief on the ground, thinking that it was good for him he was already dead. Together Tavington and Zaine led Susan back into the house where Zaine tended to the cut. "This may scar, Miss Susan." Zaine said as she cleaned up the area around her neck. Susan just shrugged in such a way that said she could care less while Zaine laughed slightly before bringing Susan into a motherly embrace. Tavington watched the exchange while shifting foot to foot uncomfortably and slightly jealous. After all, I saved her, shouldn't I be getting attention?! Tavington thought then mentally cursed himself. Susan nearly died or who knows what they would have done, and here he was thinking of himself. Tavington looked up at Zaine, who was watching him with one thin black eyebrow up ever so slightly and an amused glint in her ebony eyes. She focused her attention back on Susan, who was writing something. "Colonel Tavington, you should be aware that it really doesn't do one good to have mental conversations with ones self. Your much better off settling for what you feel." Zaine stated in a matter-of-fact tone with no sense of sarcasm. Susan looked up at Zaine briefly then to Tavington, her thin blonde eyebrows furrowed in confusion by the statement; both Zaine and Tavington pointedly ignored the look. Moments later Susan handed the paper to Tavington.
I thank you, Colonel, for saving my life. I'm not sure how to return the debt. If there is anything your men need please do not hesitate to inform me.
Tavington read the note and looked at Susan, whose eyes were focused on him and no longer contained the mistrust she directed at him before but with gratitude. Tavington picked up her quill and after dipping it in the bottle, began to write his own note. 'Madam, me and my men will be leaving out tomorrow at mid-day. You may redeem the debt by making me two simple promises. First, I would like very much to write and visit you and second, please have the Cudds actually live here rather than in their cottage.' Tavington wrote and handed it back to Susan. Her face turned scarlet as she read the second request and realized he had known all along. Susan slid the paper over to Zaine, who looked at her curiously then read the paper. After a moment she looked up to Tavington with the slightest thinned lips. "If this is what you wish Colonel. I must ask though, how often will your journeys bring you close to here?" She asked as she looked him squarely in the eyes. Tavington stared back, determined not to be denied seeing her. "As often as possible." He stated truthfully. Zaine looked at him a moment longer before standing up abruptly. "I need to go tell my husband of our new residents." She said and walked out of the room. Susan turned in her chair to look up at Tavington whose back was against the wall. Tavington looked at her unblinking eyes and porcelain face and the thoughts came so easily he didn't notice them until he was already thinking. He loved her face and her eyes mostly because they were so innocent, so impartial to the war. She didn't get involved in the war at all, except to grant board to those who asked for it. He hated the look in her eyes in the portrait hanging above the fire place; it was the same look he had seen so many times before: deep wells of sadness so deep that even Tavington had trouble staring at them. Tavington drew his attention back to Susan, who was looking at him in a new way. Her gaze, although unblinking, was purely curious. Tavington smiled slightly at her before sitting in the chair Zaine had occupied. "I know you can talk madam. Why is it you do not speak?" Tavington asked as Susan's mouth stayed firmly shut and her eyes trailed to the other side of the room. Tavington shook his head out of frustration. 'Just when I thought I was getting through.' he thought aggravated before getting up. "Fine, have it your way." Tavington heard his aggravation in his voice and was stung when Susan flinched. He, with effort, ignored it and was walking out of the room when he felt a small hand rest on his upper arm. Tavington stopped and looked at Susan, who had gotten up and stopped him. She gently tugged his arm until he came and sat down beside her. "Zaine did not tell you everything." Susan said quietly as she stared blankly in front of her. Tavington blinked in surprise that she talked but remained quiet so she would continue. "What Zaine failed to tell you was that I was a mother." Susan took a deep breath as tears shinned in her eyes. "A few months after I was married I became with child. She was beautiful. She had small blonde curls and black eyes with ivory skin. My husband wanted nothing to do with her because she was a girl and not a boy, not a heir to his plantation. I named her Wednesday Olivia. Anyway, a few months after she was born I had taken her out for a walk in the gardens. You have seen them haven't you Colonel?" Susan asked as tears slid down her cheeks. Tavington nodded; Prince plantation had great aqua gardens with ponds and small streams along with exotic flowers. "I had stopped to rest on one of the benches and must have fell asleep. When I came to, Wednesday's baby carriage was gone along with her. I looked down below where we were sitting, at the largest lake and-" Susan stopped as she sucked in air. "and Wednesday's carriage was floating on the water. I rushed into the pond and to Wednesday, who was floating under the canopy of the carriage, dead." Susan finally looked Tavington in the eyes and he was slightly startled by them. Her eyes didn't burn as he had seen them earlier but something else was there. A cold fire that didn't flatter her eyes at all, the cold fire that Tavington had seen in men who just killed out of revenge. Suddenly the puzzle pieces began coming together: Susan's rage at Zaine telling him her story, Garth Prince's untimely death, and Wednesday's death. "You killed him." Tavington said quietly as he refocused on Susan, who didn't look at all like herself. She grinned slightly before nodding. "You'll never prove it Colonel. You can't even prove we had this conversation. After all, I don't talk." Susan stated in a small voice. There was no smugness or satisfaction in her voice. "He killed Wednesday, didn't he?" Tavington asked although he knew the answer. Vengeance melted from Susan's eyes as sadness replaced it. "He hated her before she was even born. She was a girl, not his precious heir." she said before closing her eyes and shaking her head slowly. "No more questions. No more conversation. I'm tired." She said before standing up slowly and walking to the stair case then to her room. It would be several hours before Tavington left the table.
A/N: I'm sorry it's taken so long to post this chapter. I haven't had a lot of time to write lately because term will be starting soon. When it does I won't be able to write much then either so chapters will be delayed. Thanks to everyone who reviewed and I'm very glad you enjoyed it. I will be adding another story shortly, one completely separate to this one. It's a Tavington/My character romance like this one will be. Anyway, thanks again for reviewing and keep 'em coming!
Lilly