Margo knocked lightly on Ellie's door.
"Enter," a voice said from inside. Margo entered the room slowly. Ellie was sitting on her bed under the covers with a book in her hands.
"Margo," she said looking up," I was wondering when you would come and visit me."
"Sorry," Margo said," I was just a bit afraid to walk down the hallways. You know, because-"
"Because of the red coats," Ellie said," I know." She pulled the covers off herself, and motioned for Margo to come sit with her. Margo's face lit up, and she went over to Ellie's bed, sat down, and covered herself with the blankets. She hugged Ellie.
"I wish I could be as brave as you," Margo said," Whenever that Colonel Tavington comes around me my body trembles. I try to be brave about it but I can't, and his constant insulting doesn't help."
"Don't worry Margo," Ellie said," One day, you and mother will have a break through, and be so brave that you two might as well be fighting the war."
The two laughed. Even though Ellie snaps at Margo and is sometimesdisappointed by her being so scared, she loved Margo and her mother a lot, and had very high hopes that one day they would act just as brave as she again.
"You're so kind," Margo said," You encourage me, Ellie. I'm going to keep trying, for you."
"And you'll do it for you too," Ellie said," Are you going to bed yet?"
"I'd like to," Margo said," but Colonel Tavington and some of the other soldiers are still awake. I was hoping that maybe you would let me stay in here."
Ellie laughed. Her bed was quite large, and could fit her, Margo, and Theresa in it perfectly.
"Alright," she said," You can stay in here." She put her book on the night stand, and she and Margo layed down, and went to sleep.
Ellie woke the next day and nearly fell out of her bed in fright. She had forgotten that Margo had stayed in her room last night. Once she saw that it was only Margo, she laughed silently to herself. She got out of bed slowly so as not to wake her. Margo usually slept until around noon. After Ellie changed into a light green dress, she went back over to the bed and covered Margo. She then left her room as quietly as she could. Ellie didn't know who else was awake so she moved cat like down the hall towards the stairs. She passed by Colonel Tavingtons room. The door was open and Tavington was visible. He was sleeping still, and from what Ellie could see, didn't seem to want to take off his uniform. She sighed and continued downstairs. Besides the servants Ellie was the first one awake...or so she thought. The floor creaked behind her, and she turned around quickly.
"Colonel Tavington," she said," I thought you were sleeping."
"I was," he said,"I opened my eyes and saw you passing by, so I got up."
"Oh," Ellie said," Well...I suppose you will be needing something to eat. Tabitha!"
"Will you be eating too?" Tavington asked.
"Oh..well..yes I suppose so," Ellie said," How late did the other officers stay up last night? They were up much earlier then this yesterday."
"There was a raid last night," Tavington said," A messenger came and gave us the news that we were to leave at once."
"I didn't hear you leave," Ellie said.
"I came to tell you," Tavington said," But you and your sister were already asleep. I thought it best to just go as quietly as possible."
Ellie sat down at the table, and Tavington sat next to her.
"Well I must say you succeeded in getting out quietly."
Tavington chuckled," Yes."
"You don't sleep much do you," Ellie asked. Tavington shook his head. At that point the servant, Tabitha came out.
"You called miss," she said.
"Yes," Ellie said. Before she said anything else, Margo came in slowly.
"Margo you're up earlier then usual."
"Yes, well all that noise last night had me wide awake I'm surprised to see myself up this early," Margo said.
Ellie looked at Tavington," Well, to some you left quietly."
Tavington shook his head.
"Tabitha," Ellie said," Can the three of us get some breakfast?"
"Yes miss," Tabitha said," I'll have it out in a moment."
She disappeared through the door. Margo sat down on Ellie's right side. She didn't seem to be shaking as much as usual. Ellie looked at her smiling.
"What,"Margo said.
"You're not shaking," Ellie muttered. Margo smiled.
"I told you I was going to try harder didn't I," Margo said. Ellie nodded," You sure did."
Tabitha and two other servants came into the dining room, each holding a plate of food.
"Thank you Tabitha," Ellie said. The three began to eat.
"I must compliment your servants' cooking," Tavington said.
"Thank you colonel," Ellie said," I'll be sure to let Cook know you said that."
They had only been eating for about five minutes when someone ran into the dining room and practically flew into the wall when she fell.
"My lady," the girl squeaked," Your mother."
"What about her," Ellie said.
"I don't know," the maid said," She's-she-"
"Out with it girl," Ellie said.
"She must be sick, but she can't move," the maid said.
Ellie and Margo jumped out of their chairs, and ran upstairs.
Tavington waited in his quarters for someone to come out of Theresa's room. He sat at his desk and tried to fill out reports for the raid last night, but his mind was nagging at him to go and see what was happening. One of the loudest screams Tavington had ever heard in his life echoed into his room, and then changed into hard sobbing. A door creaked opened, and running footsteps could be heard going down the stairs. Tavington hurried to the door and saw Margo running out the front door and through the sea of officers outside.
"I'm sorry Miss Ellie," said a mans voice. Tavington recognized it as Johns', the one who took the food from Ellie the day they met.
"It's alright John," said Ellie's voice," You did what you could."
"Will you be alright," a womans voice asked.
"I hope so," said Ellie,"I'm going to find Margo. Be sure that if any officers need anything, to tend to them as best..."
Her voice trailed off. Footsteps could be heard leaving the room. Tavington saw it was Ellie and stepped forward.
"Yes colonel," Ellie said. Her voice was low, and the usual glow of pride she usually had seemed to have disappeared.
"Lady Rodkin," Tavington said," Is she alright?"
Ellie just stared at him. Without saying a word she turned and walked down the stairs and out the door. Tavington went towards the room Ellie had just come out of, and looked inside. Theresa was on the bed, her face pale as cement. John and the maid slowly covered her entire body. Theresa was dead.
"What happened to her," Tavington asked, startling the servants.
"She must have died in her sleep," John said," She was old though she didn't look it."
Tavington backed out of the room, and headed outside. Many of the officers stared at him as he passed.
"Where did Miss Ellie go," he asked a nearby officer. He pointed in the direction she had gone. Tavington thanked him and went in that direction. There was a stream hidden in a pack of trees, which was the reason Tavington had never noticed. Just by the banks sat Ellie and Margo. Margo had her face hidden in Ellie's shoulder, and Ellie held her tightly, tears streaming down her face, but she wasn't sobbing like Margo. It was so unexpected, and it even took Tavington by surprise. Theresa really did look very young, and he thought that besides the paleness in her face from fear, she did look very healthy. This told Tavington not to bother the two girls, for this was their time to grieve, and he had a feeling that one or both of them would take a while to get over it.
Tavington could hear Ellie and Margo in Ellie's room. Obviously with the sudden death of their mother, Margo's fear had suddenly increased, and this time Ellie had no problem with it, for Tavington heard her admit to Ellie that at this point she was scared too. A will had been read to them that day by Carlee, Theresa's former maid, the same one who had come to get Ellie before Theresa died. Tavington of course had listened in, and though Margo was older then Ellie, it was Ellie who had inhereted the house, and the Rodkin fortune had been split between the two, and though it was split in half, the two girls were both rich enough to buy two manors with their share. Ellie asked what Margo was going to do now that Theresa was gone.
"I'm staying here with you," Margo said," I'm not ready to leave," In a lower voice she said," I'm not leaving you here alone with a houseful of British officers."
"Alright," Ellie had said. The two girls sat together after Carlee had gone to resume her work, and wrapped their ar,s around each other.
"We have to get ready," Ellie said," The cerimony is in an hour."
Tavington was asked by Ellie to attend her mothers burial. When they arrived outside, the entire dragoon was gethered around the casket in which her mother was laying in. Tavington stood next to Ellie, who once again had tears streaming down her cheeks. Tavington took his chances at comforting her. He put an arm around her, and she buried her face in his uniform jacket. Margo was hugging Captain Wilkins. She had no problem doing this as she was hurting way too much to care who she was touching. Soon most of the the ooficers and servants cleared away excpet for a few who were assigned to bury Theresa. Soon the only people who were left was Tavington, Wilkins, Margo, and Ellie. Ellie let go of Tavington and looked at her sister. She held out her arm for Margo, and the two of them hugged each other.
"Good-bye mother," Margo whispered.
