Yes, I know I have a few stories running, but I'm in a complete hole on what to do next in them. Give me some more time, please. I ask my readers to treat this as an entertainment in the meanwhile. Maybe entertainment isn't the right word, but you know what I mean. I promise I'll continue "The Devil And The Slave Girl" and "The Flames Of War" as soon as I'll feel satisfied with the idea I'll get for the next chapter of any of them.

xxx

Disclaimer: I don't own "The Patriot", Elizabeth and Christine are mine.

xxx Grey Skies xxx

I. The Veil Of The Future

It was a beautiful, warm, summer afternoon. An afternoon like many others in June. The sun was near to dive beneath the horizon as a delicate wind gently moved the tall grass in the green meadow. A few girls – none older than fifteen - were running through the grass, playing. But one wasn't running with them, she slowly followed the laughing group. She had light brown, curly hair and a pale complexion that combined with her delicate face features, made her look a bit ghostly.

"Elizabeth, please, let's go home." She said to her sister that was with the group of laughing girls. "Mother forbade us to stay out after sunset." She continued, following her sister.

"Oh, Christine, why must you obey everything that mother says? You act worse than a slave. Have some fun in life." Elizabeth spoke smiling as she turned away from the rest of the girls. Her features were slightly sharper than her sister's and her skin had a more humane color. She also had brown hair like Christine, only they were darker and straight instead of curly.

"You know we should do what our mother says. It's better that way. We should go back." Christine tried to persuade her sister into returning home.

"Then you go back. I have only one life to live and I don't intend to spend it on listening to our mother's orders." Christine tried to say something, but before she could Elizabeth cut her off. "And that's the end of this discussion."

Out of the two Elizabeth was the one with more spine, though she was a lot more concentrated on enjoying herself than obeying rules and thinking about true life. Christine was a lot more serious than her sister, but also, a lot more meek.

"Liz! Look!" One of the girls pulled Elizabeth from her sister and pointed to an old woman walking across the meadow, heading in their direction. "You see that Liz? A Gypsy. Maybe she'll tell us our future." The girl said excited.

"You really believe in fortune telling?" Elizabeth asked, arching an eyebrow.

"No, but I'm still curious what she'll say. Besides, it's harmless. Come on." The girl replied with a smile.

"I guess you're right, it can't hurt to ask out of curiosity." Elizabeth said and started walking towards the old woman who was already talking with the other girls, who obviously got the idea of asking about their future also.

"Don't do it, Elizabeth, it's a sin." Christine said, deadly serious.

"Oh stop it. You're boring!" Elizabeth replied annoyed. Even if she thought fortune telling as rubbish, she would go and ask that old Gypsy woman about her future only to anger her sister. As she came closer to the other girls, she saw that after hearing their fortune every one of them gave the woman one pence. From what she heard every of her friends had a future before herself that included a husband, children and a nice house surrounded by fields. Elizabeth wanted to laugh, knowing that she'll hear the same story.

"I suppose you want to hear your fortune also." The old woman said to Elizabeth when she finished with the other girls. "It costs one pence." The woman said blankly.

"Alright." Elizabeth agreed.

"Give me your right hand." The old Gypsy took Elizabeth's hand and started looking at her open palm. As the woman gazed at her hand, Elizabeth observed her face. The woman must've been quite attractive once judging by her face features, but her beauty was marred by time and wrinkles that now covered her face. Suddenly the woman sighed and closed Elizabeth's palm. "I'll tell you this much, child. Laugh as much as you can, as you won't have too many reasons for it in the future." The old woman's voice was hinted with pity, pity that Elizabeth sensed was meant for her.

"Wait, what did you mean by that I won't have many reasons for laughing in the future?" Elizabeth stopped the woman as she started to walk away.

"Ask yourself if you really want to know." The Gypsy said.

"I want to know." Elizabeth firmly stated.

"Very well. But remember my words and don't treat this like a joke." The old woman said and returned to Elizabeth. She took her hand once more in hers and looked at her open palm. "As I said, laugh as much as you can, as in your future there will be more tears than happiness. A great burden will be placed on your shoulders. You will make many hard decisions and sacrifices in you life."

"What about a future home, a family?" Elizabeth asked.

"You will never marry nor have children." The woman replied.

"What about love? Will I fall in love?" Another question from the young girl.

"Oh yes, you will fall in love, but that feeling will bring you more pain than anything else."

"Do you know in who I'll fall in love with?" The old woman raised her head and looked straight into Elizabeth's eyes.

"The Devil." She said shortly and dropped the girl's hand. Elizabeth somehow couldn't believe what the woman was saying, but what she told her, was so different from what she told her friends. She automatically reached into the pocket in her dress and took out the one pence for the Gypsy. When she was about to give it to her, the old woman stopped her. "No, keep it. You'll need it in the future more than I need it now." The Gypsy said and started to walk away. Elizabeth threw a glance at her friends and then turned into the old woman's direction, but she was nowhere in sight.

If you like it and want me to continue, PLEASE REVIEW. If you think it is crap review and tell me.

Oh, and by the way, for the ones that are wondering, Tavington appears in the second chapter.