Part 1. I Know Who You Are

When the seemingly endless torture stopped, I was so enervated that I felt as if I would faint.

Steele got off of me, shoving my torn clothing into my hands.

"Get dressed tramp; we're taking you to The Ghost."

"The ride through the woods to meet Martin was long and hard. When we finally reached the meeting area, I collapsed when I was lifted off the horse and placed back on the ground in front of Martin himself.

Martin reached out and helped me up off the ground, placing a hand on my side to steady me.

"Are you well?" He asked softly.

I nodded numbly, not wanting to look him in the face, but he saw I was lying.

"Steele did you feed her?" He asked crisply.

"Sir I.."

"You know that we try to keep our captives in good health; it's obvious she's not well."

"I apologise Sir."

"Well then, give her some food and make sure she gets some rest before I talk to her."

"Yes Sir."

"Oh and Steele, behave yourself or I'll have you in more hell than you can handle."

Steele swallowed hard and replied, "Yes Sir."

He then led me into a tent and instructed me to sit on the cot while he got me food. Then he disappeared momentarily and returned with some bread and water. I took the water and bread, glaring at him, and began to eat slowly.

Steele smiled evilly.

"Well my lady…"

"Steele, get out of there and leave her in peace!"

I stifled a malicious laugh as Steele rushed out of the tent.

After I was finished eating, I curled up on the cot and fell into a fitful sleep.

About two hours later I was awakened by Benjamin Martin.

"I spoke with Steele. It appears that you were in British territory of your own free will and being as you are a patriot, you have committed treason. Also I was told that you murdered one of my men."

"Please forgive me for being bold Sir, but I was captured by the British and after my family, or rather, what was left of them, was killed, I had no place else to stay. And yes, I did kill one of your men, but only out of defense and not because he was a patriot."

Martin nodded and was silent for a moment; then he said, "I see your clothing is torn."

"Courtesy of one of your men; Steele, I believe, is his name." I replied, an edge in my tone. "I ask that you don't question me on the incident any further."

Martin winced. "I apologise for the actions of my men. You shall not be harmed like that again."

I turned away form him; I was beginning to lose my composure and did not wish for Benjamin Martin to see it.

He took the hint and stood to leave. As he reached the flap of the tent to let himself out of the tent he turned to me.

"I know who you are, Lady Mary Tavington."

Part 2. Punishment

After Martin left, I burst into tears. They knew everything; they knew I had married Col. Tavington, the Butcher of the Carolinas. Surely, when all was said and done, I would be killed; I knew they wouldn't kill me right away. They would use me as a lure and then when they were satisfied, they would finish me off.

Suddenly I was pulled from my thoughts by voices coming from just beyond the tent.

"What the hell were you thinking Steele!" Said an enraged voice.

It was Benjamin Martin.

"I don't care if she's committed treason or not, you know that that type of behaviour is extremely repulsive! What do you think Tavington will do when he finds out! He'll raise even more hell!"

"You're not going to tell him are you!" Said Steele, his voice full of worry.

"No, I'm not going to tell him; I don't need to stir his already unquenchable bloodlust. But I will most definitely shoot you."

"Sir please! Spare me!"

"I don't spare monsters who force themselves on women!"

"Sir please.."

A gunshot sounded and there was the soft sound of Steele crumpling to the ground.

"Billings, dispose of his body. I have a letter to write."

Part 3. Forced to Wait

(From William's POV)

I stood outside my tent, staring out at the horizon that was stained orange from the sunset. I was tired and stressed; Martin had managed to elude me once again. And it didn't make matters any better that I had literally managed to work myself ill with a fever.

"Colonel."

I turned around to face my captain.

"Shouldn't you be inside your tent? You still are ill."

"I hate being inside all day. I'll get through it; I've been ill before while on duty."

"You look pale; go back inside Colonel."

I knew the captain was right; I felt like I was gong to vomit but I replied, "Ill be fine."

"The last time you said that, you were so ill you nearly died. Colonel go back inside."

I sighed.

"Alright, I'll go, but only because you'll keep pestering me if I don't."

But before I could make it half a step, my stomach lurched and I vomited all over the captain's freshly polished boots.

I looked up at the captain with an embarrassed expression on my face.

"It's alright, I'll take care of it. Just…just go back inside." Said Bordon, an air of disgust in his voice.

I went into my tent and was about to lie down when I spotted a letter on my pillow. I picked it up and upon seeing the seal I quickly became nervous. The seal was the same seal that had been on the last letter I had received from the damn Ghost when Mary's father and brother were hanged. Tentatively, I broke the seal and began reading.

Tavington,

We have your wife.

My eyes grew wide in fear and anger.

"God damn it!" I cursed so loudly that Bordon, who was in the tent next to mine, came running in.

"Sir what's wrong?"

"They've taken her!"

"Who?"

"Damn it Bordon, they've taken Mary!"

"What! Who!"

I shoved the letter into Bordon's hands and he quickly read it.

"Damn it!" Said Bordon angrily. "There's going to be hell to pay! No one touches Mary and gets away with it!"

"I have to go." I said quickly.

I got up and started for the entrance of the tent but before I could get very far, I started feeling lightheaded and dizzy; I felt weak and unsteady; Bordon gripped my shoulders and guided me back to my cot.

"You're in no condition to go anywhere, let alone ride around trying to rescue Mary. Besides Martin will personally fillet you alive if you show your face in any of his encampments. They won't kill her, at least not yet."

"That's not what concerns me!" I said coughing painfully, my chest burning form the effort. "Mary is undeniably attractive and both of us have seen how the other men look at her. I doubt that it will be any different with the Colonials. And the fact that Mary is my wife probably makes her even more of a target."

"I understand that, but you still can't go. He's using Mary as a lure to get to you. I know it's not easy but wait until you're feeling better. Like I said, they won't kill her; I've even heard form our own men that Martin is a man with high morals, which probably means that he won't let anyone touch her. And when you are feeling better, I'll go with you to try to find Mary however, it may be better if I go into their encampment and get her and then meet you at a post and deliver her to you there; then we can continue back to camp. I don't doubt your skills, but if you go in there, even at night, they'll most certainly kill you."

I nodded swallowing painfully.

"Very well Captain. Good night."

"Good night Colonel."

After Bordon left, I fell into a fitful sleep, plagued by nightmares of Mary and the Colonial militia and woke up in a cold sweat; thankfully after that, I didn't have anymore nightmares, but my sleep was still disturbed by six quick trips outside my tent to vomit my insides out.