Part Four: The Guardians
William Tavington stepped out of his small bedroom, trying not to feel the effects of a sleepless night crushing him. He had done just what Zaine said and stayed up all night, sometimes pacing, sometimes staring out of the window, but most of the time just laying on his back, staring blankly and pointlessly up at the bland ceiling. He heard the sound of bright, joyous laughter ringing through the house, originating in the kitchen. He had come to recognize the laughs as Delilah's. When she was happy you could hear her before you ever saw her. Tavington walked down stairs and into the dining room where several of his officers where already seated. Wilkins was chatting happily with one of the officers, telling some humorless joke. Borden, was sitting quietly as he always did, eating his breakfast slowly as if he really didn't want to leave. Tavington sat down and glanced at Borden several times as he ate, realizing Borden was the closest thing to a friend he had. He had pulled him out of potentially dangerous situations when Tavington had been foolish enough to get drunk. Luckily for both of them these rare times usually had to deal with Cornwallis and his lack of appreciation for Tavington. Although Cornwallis voiced his dislike for Tavington and used very opportunity to put him down, Tavington could handle it most of the time. It was when O'Hara, the doll face jack-ass was standing behind Cornwallis, smirking, that Tavington would loose it. Many of times Borden caught the most of Tavington's tantrum after a meeting. He looked back at Borden and thought secretly that he really was a good, loyal friend. "Will you need food for your journey Colonel?" Tavington looked up from his plate at Zaine, who was standing in the door frame, her black eyes gazing at him unnervingly. Tavington shook his head before answering. "Ma'am we won't." Zaine barely inclined her head before walking into the kitchen. Just then
Susan had chosen to make her entrance, which silenced the officers and required their attention. Her hair was down and hanging in soft blonde curls; it framed her face while a few stray curls rested on her chest, which was displayed in a modest manner yet delightfully appealing. The officers immediately stood up when Susan entered, which warranted a smile from her. Although many seats remained vacant around the table, Susan chose the one across from Tavington and gracefully sat down. As if embarrassed, the officers immediately began talking again. Tavington glanced up several times during breakfast to Susan, who, as usual, ate in complete silence. "We will be leaving out in just over an hour m' lady. You will be rid of us." Tavington said, watching Susan's face intently. Her eyes glinted with displeasure a moment before she quickly masked them with an indifferent air. Tavington dropped his eyes to the table, inwardly laughing at himself for thinking she would want him bad enough to say something. Tavington felt a pair of eyes on him and looked over at Borden, who was watching himself and Susan at the same time. Breakfast went by oddly quiet after that. Susan had excused herself just moments from receiving her meal, no muttered reason at all.
Shortly after, after the officers moved outside to finish last minute things, Borden watched until Tavington also joined them outside, shooting off orders out of aggravation, or, perhaps anger. Borden walked into the library where Susan sat, poised as a statue, reading a book. Slowly Borden sat down in the overstuffed chair across from her and stared at her until he saw the book lowered just enough for him to see her big blue eyes staring penetratingly back at him. "Madam, I shall not mask my reason for coming to you." Borden began as he saw one perfect eyebrow arch ever so slightly; he wasn't phased by the gesture. "Colonel Tavington can be a difficult man," Borden hesitated, wondering exactly how he should continue. "but he is a good man. I have known him for a long time. For ovious reasons, Madam, I shall not tell you what sort of men you should allow to call on you. But, if it is a good man you seek, I believe you shall find him in the Colonel." Borden stood up quickly as if embarrassed and rushed in a gentlemanly manner to the door. He nearly ran into Zaine, who was leaning against the door frame, her long arms crosses across her chest. After Borden hurried out, Zaine looked back in at Susan then walked to her chair and sat at her feet, her hands resting on her knees. "Miss Susan- Susan, Captain(*) Borden is right." Susan looked down at her chewing her bottom lip. She looked into Zaine's steady ebony eyes, her own blue eyes having too many emotions tearing away at them.
Tavington mounted his horse and looked at the front door before looking at Borden, who was on his horse, also watching the door. "I wish to speak to Sus-Madam before we ride out." He said to Borden, even though he was sure Borden already knew that. He watched as a blue dressed figure came to the door before coming out. Susan walked out onto the porch and Tavington looked at her eyes. They were vivid from struggling tears trying to free themselves while Susan's lips pursed and unparsed together as she looked at him. "Are you alright?" Tavington asked before quickly un-mounting his horse and walking up onto the porch. "Stay mounted. I will in a moment." Tavington ordered harshly before leading Susan into the house by the elbow. Once inside, Tavington turned Susan around to look at him as his eyes filled with concern. "Susan." He began before taking off one glove and using his thumb to gently wipe away the tears she finally gave into. "I don't want you to go." She said so quietly he barely caught it. "Susan," He began again and gently lifted her face up so he could look into her eyes. "I have been thinking about something. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?" He asked, just slightly unsure of her answer. He watched, slightly amused, as she seemed to stumble slightly and blink her eyes several times before looking up at him. He watched with pleasure as she grinned widely and hugged him around the neck. "Yes William, I will marry you." She whispered into his ear while smiling.
Minutes later the engaged couple emerged from the house, Susan's small hand placed in his. Tavington mounted his horse and looked down at Susan who stood waiting on the ground with a small grin. "I shall send an officer for you and the Cuddy family, unless, of course they do not want to come?" Tavington said to her as several officers watched, most slightly disappointed but one greatly pleased. "Zaine will probably go. Thomas and the children will want to stay here." Susan whispered so that only Tavington could hear. He nodded and reached down to kiss one of Susan's hands. "I will see you soon m' lady." He said with a smile before riding off, his Dragoons following close behind. Author's Notes: I'm sorry this chapter was so small. The next one will be bigger but may take longer. Not as long as chapter three but maybe a week or so. Anyway, I'm not sure exactly of Borden's rank, I'm not watching the movie at this moment, but I think it's captain. If I'm wrong tell me and I'll replace the chapter with that corrected. Uptosomething: thank you for your review! I tried to do as you suggested, can you tell a difference? Tavington's Angel: hehe sorry. Term has recently started so I'm quite busy. It's like AHH! I will try to post more regularly though.
Keep the reviews come'n!
William Tavington stepped out of his small bedroom, trying not to feel the effects of a sleepless night crushing him. He had done just what Zaine said and stayed up all night, sometimes pacing, sometimes staring out of the window, but most of the time just laying on his back, staring blankly and pointlessly up at the bland ceiling. He heard the sound of bright, joyous laughter ringing through the house, originating in the kitchen. He had come to recognize the laughs as Delilah's. When she was happy you could hear her before you ever saw her. Tavington walked down stairs and into the dining room where several of his officers where already seated. Wilkins was chatting happily with one of the officers, telling some humorless joke. Borden, was sitting quietly as he always did, eating his breakfast slowly as if he really didn't want to leave. Tavington sat down and glanced at Borden several times as he ate, realizing Borden was the closest thing to a friend he had. He had pulled him out of potentially dangerous situations when Tavington had been foolish enough to get drunk. Luckily for both of them these rare times usually had to deal with Cornwallis and his lack of appreciation for Tavington. Although Cornwallis voiced his dislike for Tavington and used very opportunity to put him down, Tavington could handle it most of the time. It was when O'Hara, the doll face jack-ass was standing behind Cornwallis, smirking, that Tavington would loose it. Many of times Borden caught the most of Tavington's tantrum after a meeting. He looked back at Borden and thought secretly that he really was a good, loyal friend. "Will you need food for your journey Colonel?" Tavington looked up from his plate at Zaine, who was standing in the door frame, her black eyes gazing at him unnervingly. Tavington shook his head before answering. "Ma'am we won't." Zaine barely inclined her head before walking into the kitchen. Just then
Susan had chosen to make her entrance, which silenced the officers and required their attention. Her hair was down and hanging in soft blonde curls; it framed her face while a few stray curls rested on her chest, which was displayed in a modest manner yet delightfully appealing. The officers immediately stood up when Susan entered, which warranted a smile from her. Although many seats remained vacant around the table, Susan chose the one across from Tavington and gracefully sat down. As if embarrassed, the officers immediately began talking again. Tavington glanced up several times during breakfast to Susan, who, as usual, ate in complete silence. "We will be leaving out in just over an hour m' lady. You will be rid of us." Tavington said, watching Susan's face intently. Her eyes glinted with displeasure a moment before she quickly masked them with an indifferent air. Tavington dropped his eyes to the table, inwardly laughing at himself for thinking she would want him bad enough to say something. Tavington felt a pair of eyes on him and looked over at Borden, who was watching himself and Susan at the same time. Breakfast went by oddly quiet after that. Susan had excused herself just moments from receiving her meal, no muttered reason at all.
Shortly after, after the officers moved outside to finish last minute things, Borden watched until Tavington also joined them outside, shooting off orders out of aggravation, or, perhaps anger. Borden walked into the library where Susan sat, poised as a statue, reading a book. Slowly Borden sat down in the overstuffed chair across from her and stared at her until he saw the book lowered just enough for him to see her big blue eyes staring penetratingly back at him. "Madam, I shall not mask my reason for coming to you." Borden began as he saw one perfect eyebrow arch ever so slightly; he wasn't phased by the gesture. "Colonel Tavington can be a difficult man," Borden hesitated, wondering exactly how he should continue. "but he is a good man. I have known him for a long time. For ovious reasons, Madam, I shall not tell you what sort of men you should allow to call on you. But, if it is a good man you seek, I believe you shall find him in the Colonel." Borden stood up quickly as if embarrassed and rushed in a gentlemanly manner to the door. He nearly ran into Zaine, who was leaning against the door frame, her long arms crosses across her chest. After Borden hurried out, Zaine looked back in at Susan then walked to her chair and sat at her feet, her hands resting on her knees. "Miss Susan- Susan, Captain(*) Borden is right." Susan looked down at her chewing her bottom lip. She looked into Zaine's steady ebony eyes, her own blue eyes having too many emotions tearing away at them.
Tavington mounted his horse and looked at the front door before looking at Borden, who was on his horse, also watching the door. "I wish to speak to Sus-Madam before we ride out." He said to Borden, even though he was sure Borden already knew that. He watched as a blue dressed figure came to the door before coming out. Susan walked out onto the porch and Tavington looked at her eyes. They were vivid from struggling tears trying to free themselves while Susan's lips pursed and unparsed together as she looked at him. "Are you alright?" Tavington asked before quickly un-mounting his horse and walking up onto the porch. "Stay mounted. I will in a moment." Tavington ordered harshly before leading Susan into the house by the elbow. Once inside, Tavington turned Susan around to look at him as his eyes filled with concern. "Susan." He began before taking off one glove and using his thumb to gently wipe away the tears she finally gave into. "I don't want you to go." She said so quietly he barely caught it. "Susan," He began again and gently lifted her face up so he could look into her eyes. "I have been thinking about something. Will you do me the honor of being my wife?" He asked, just slightly unsure of her answer. He watched, slightly amused, as she seemed to stumble slightly and blink her eyes several times before looking up at him. He watched with pleasure as she grinned widely and hugged him around the neck. "Yes William, I will marry you." She whispered into his ear while smiling.
Minutes later the engaged couple emerged from the house, Susan's small hand placed in his. Tavington mounted his horse and looked down at Susan who stood waiting on the ground with a small grin. "I shall send an officer for you and the Cuddy family, unless, of course they do not want to come?" Tavington said to her as several officers watched, most slightly disappointed but one greatly pleased. "Zaine will probably go. Thomas and the children will want to stay here." Susan whispered so that only Tavington could hear. He nodded and reached down to kiss one of Susan's hands. "I will see you soon m' lady." He said with a smile before riding off, his Dragoons following close behind. Author's Notes: I'm sorry this chapter was so small. The next one will be bigger but may take longer. Not as long as chapter three but maybe a week or so. Anyway, I'm not sure exactly of Borden's rank, I'm not watching the movie at this moment, but I think it's captain. If I'm wrong tell me and I'll replace the chapter with that corrected. Uptosomething: thank you for your review! I tried to do as you suggested, can you tell a difference? Tavington's Angel: hehe sorry. Term has recently started so I'm quite busy. It's like AHH! I will try to post more regularly though.
Keep the reviews come'n!