AN – Hello there! Just a note form me to say thanks for the reviews. I'm going to try and get these chapters up every two to three days if possible, I've actually written the next few chapters already…I kinda digress from the real story but I figure that that doesn't matter too much.
Disclaimer – If I owned Hornblower would I be really wasting my time writing fanfiction?
Horatio Hornblower sat in the very place where he had sat the day previously, and the one before that. In this place he felt safe, calmed even. It was where he had last spoken to Archie. Where he had seen Archie take his final breath. Where he had seen the twinkle fade from Archie's eye, the blue depths suddenly as bottomless and empty as a serene ocean.
He had not shed a tear when Archie had died. It was not that he was not profoundly upset by this great loss. Nor was it because Archie was not worth his tears, Archie was worth crying the ocean dry over. He could not explain why he had not been able to shed tears over Archie. Perhaps because he knew that it would not have eased the aching inside him that he had felt since his dear friend's departure.
He now sat upon the bed, a thick bundle of papers in his hand. His first command. His commission. He was a Commander. The news had not quite sunk in, and he did not wish it to do so. Many times he and Archie had celebrated occasions such as this with nights filled with ale, food, women and yet more ale! It felt somehow, wrong, to perform such celebrations without his comrade in arms at his side.
He was unaware of the figure watching him from the doorway. It had not escaped Captain Pellew that Horatio, the man whom he regarded as a son, seemed unable to grieve for his lost friend. Yet he also had more news to deliver to the already overburdened officer, news that burdened him more with every passing day.
He had considered simply not telling Horatio of Mister Wellard's astonishing secret, and yet he knew that it was owed to Horatio that he knew the truth. Pellew did not know how the officer would react. He had hoped to allow Horatio time to lay Archie's memory to rest before allowing Horatio to discover that a woman had been masquerading as an officer on his watch. Now he was filled with doubt at how the young man would react, but he knew that Horatio had to know. He had to hear it himself, rather than catching a rumour upon the winds.
"Horatio." He said gently. The young officer jumped at the sound of his name, and turned with surprise to see the issuer of the call. He was unnerved to hear the Commodore use his first name in such an informal manner, when only an hour ago he had been presenting him with the most formal of letters.
"Sir?" Horatio asked, rising to his feet and turning to face his superior.
"Horatio, I…There is something that you must know." Pellew continued. "And I wish you to hear and see it for yourself, and perhaps ask the questions that come to your mind."
"Questions, sir?" Horatio asked, raising one dark eyebrow, nonplussed at this statement.
"If you would do me the honour of accompanying me…" Pellew said, indicating that they leave the empty cell. Horatio allowed Pellew to guide him out into the street. The sunlight burned his eyes and he shielded them from the glare. He walked, as ever, a step behind Pellew, his hands clasped behind his back and head bowed slightly. As they walked Pellew spoke, his voice low so that no other may overhear their conversation.
"I am sorry to have to burden you further in these cheerless times." Pellew continued. "I know that you are grieving the loss of a dear friend, as I grieve the loss of a brilliant lieutenant, one who would have gone far in his career. But there is more that you must know regarding the events that occurred during your commission upon the Renown, regarding a certain Midshipman Wellard."
Horatio seemed to slow at these words. His feet felt leaden at the mention of another fallen comrade. He bit his lower lip and closed his eyes for a moment. "Mister Wellard was an asset to me upon the Renown sir. He took with dignity and unwavering faith the beatings issued by Captain Sawyer. His sense of duty to myself and other officers never failed, and he risked his life on many occasion upon the mainland to aid our mission. His death grieves me almost as much as that of Mister Kennedy, for he was a young and promising officer."
Pellew stopped and surveyed the serious countenance Horatio gave. "You hold this…gentleman, in high regard I take it?" He asked.
"The highest! He was a fine officer, who died with valour in the call of duty." Horatio concurred. "I should like the opportunity to write to his family sir, sending my condolences for his death and my praises of his actions."
"There shall be no need for that." Pellew said, continuing their walk along the cobbled street. "I gather from your eloquent words that Doctor Clive informed you of the death of Mister Wellard. That is, however, not the honest truth, as it were."
"Wellard is not dead sir?" Horatio asked slowly, his mind racing with what Pellew could possibly mean.
Pellew stopped at a doorway and knocked upon the wood. After a moment the door was opened and Doctor Clive greeted them, allowing them entry into the relative comfort of the small building. It was a kind of hospital, not well equipped for surgery and the like, but rather a place where patients could recover in privacy and security. They were in a small reception room, and just off this room, through an open door, Horatio could see a collection of beds housing incumbents of varying ages and ailments.
"If you will come with me, Horatio." Pellew said, leading Horatio up a spiral staircase and along a corridor. "Midshipman Wellard is dead according to military records and in the eyes of his comrades and friends. However Mister Wellard is very much alive, although not quite the man he used to be." They passed swiftly down a narrow corridor, passing two or three closed doors evidently leading to private rooms.
Pellew knocked upon a door at the very end of the corridor. A muffled voice within granted him entry. He pushed the door open and stepped into the room, although not far enough to permit Horatio to glimpse the room or inhabitant within.
"My regards Madam." He said. "You are looking far better today. I have a visitor for you and, if you feel well enough to oblige, I should like you to relate to him your most fascinating tale."
Pellew moved further into the room, granting Horatio entry. He moved inside the room and closed the door. Upon a fleeting glimpse of the room he saw that it was small, but comfortable. Sunlight streamed through the open window and fell upon the bed, which was empty. A figure sat in the chair, an open book resting upon the arm of the chair.
When Horatio first saw the person in the chair he gave a gasp of surprise and took a step back, for sitting in the chair was undoubtedly Mister Wellard. Yet, he looked different. His hair was not tied back as usual but fell loosely around the shoulders, which now seemed somehow narrower than he remembered…and he was wearing…he was wearing a woman's night dress…
"Mister Hornblower, may I introduce Miss Felicity Burnley. Miss Burnley you have already met Commander Horatio Hornblower, although I do believe you referred to him as 'Lieutenant' and that he previously knew you as Midshipman Wellard…"
AN – My pathetic attempt at a cliffhanger. Please review and tell me how bad that was! LOL! I will respond to reviewers if you ask any questions or have any comments! Until we sail again…
