Note: Someone had asked me what those men would do if they knew Oscar was a woman. I had read a fic about the men in the tavern knew that, and everybody can guess what they did…that fic effected me a lot, that was a wonderful fic, the author's really talent and I don't want to steal her idea. So, here's my idea :)
What if…
Chapter 4: Éliza
They had weapons, but they didn't know how to use them, it was easy for Oscar to dodge their blows
-What are you doing? Can't you even thurst him?- Élie shouted, then he whipped her with the rod. Oscar fell down on the ground, and Élie hastily grasp her with his strong arms…" thurst him now!" he intended to say that, but he didn't. He felt something, something under her jacket uniform …He imediately rushed her out.
-Élie?-one of his men asked, they noticed his strange action…
-All of you, out!-said when he was staring at her
-Élie?
-I said out!-he shouted, then he realized his voice was higher than he wanted-I had a plan, but you have to go out!-he lowed his voice.
-Ok…if you said so…
The men were puzzled, but they didn't know what to do beside follow Élie's words, he was the smartest guy anyway…
And now, there were only Oscar and Élie in the room…
-…you are a woman…-finally, Élie said
-I'm a commander!-Oscar replied
-A FEMALE commander, right?
-…
-Ok, let I make onething clear, I don't want to hurt you, so…
-hahaha-Oscar laughed-you don't want to hurt me? Why? Because I'm a woman?-she looked at him with despite-I didn't know you're a gentleman!
Élie felt his temp getting higher, he would whip her again, if she wasn't a woman…but then, they heard a loud noise, like an elephant had crashed into a porcelain store…
-Élie!- a man completely panic-stricken rushed into the room – they escaped!
-What? What had you done?
-We locked them in the room and left…we have to make weapons, you said so…
-Can you guys do anything right?-Élie was purple with rage, and Oscar knew she had her chance, her men had escape, now it was her turn…-Hey!!!!-Élie shouted when Oscar ran out – Get her!
-Her?
Élie didn't answer, he was busy with pursued Oscar, and he saw his men was fighting with the French guard, "at last, they're smart enough to come back, and stop those god damned soilders" he thought
-You, stop!-A man saw Oscar, he threw her with a rock…
-Oscar!-that was the last word she heard before fainted away with the pain…
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ah…Oscar opened her eyes, and once again, she found herself was sleeping on André…well, actually, this time, she was using him like a bolster*
-Hmm…-André opened his eye too, and he saw her wide eyes was staring at him-Oscar, you're awake?
Her mind was empty when he said that, and then she got up immediately. "They're not here" Oscar sighed with relief, of course by "they" she meant her men…But then, she realized a situation much more dangerous than her men's presence: she was on a bed and André was laying next to her (and one minute ago, she just slept on him, in case someone had fogotten). This was an old, obsolete, ragged bed, and seem like it would going to collapse by every move. But this was a bed! How it was, it still a bed. And Oscar was on the bed, with HIM! That shouldn't be a problem, after all those years sleeping with him. But today, she felt strange. She felt strange when she saw him with "miss Éliza", she felt strange when she thought of "jealousness", she felt strange when she woke up and saw HIM…and she realize one thing else, recently, she used to wake up and saw HIS face first…
Oscar knew André was looking at her, waitting for her answer, but she couldn't look at him, she couldn't face him now. What should she say? She was speechless…
-This's Élie's room – André said when he got of the bed. He wanted to save her, and himself, from this dangerous situation.
-Élie's room? Why are we here?
-After you fainted, he brought us here-André replied-but the other French guards had escaped. So, sooner or later, they will bring reinforcements…
"But that can't explain why were you and I on the same bed!" Oscar thought, but she couldn't let those words come out of her mouth…the air was getting heavier, before it turned to be a rock and weigh upon Oscar's head, the door was opened
-Finally, you're awake!-said Élie as walking into the room-you, get out!-he told André
-What?
-I said get out, my friends will take you to another room!
-Why?
-We can't let you both in a room togetther! We don't want our only two hostages escape!-Élie answered and looked sideways at his friends was standing in front of the door…
-But…
-I said go! Ok, take him!-he fliped, and two men pulled André out…
-Hey!-Oscar hopped off the bed
-Oh, no, you stay here!-Élie stopped her
-You let him stayed here with me and then take him out?
- Because you're awake, it's not too danger now! You can defend yourself very well!
- Danger? Defend?
- Don't you understand?- he laughed, sat flat on the ground, there was no chair in his room, maybe that why André had to be on the bed with Oscar…- A sleeping woman on the bed- he continued – And there're hundreds men out there, hundreds men didn't touch women for months…
-Oh, I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem when they had miss Éliza!- now Oscar was laughing.
-…Éliza is my fiancée…actually, she was…-There was a silent moment - she is beautiful, slender and she have blond hair, like you!- he looked at Oscar, not the flaming look before, this time, it was more genlte, more…painfull –One day, I found her on the ground in a dark nook of Paris, totally naked, her clothes was torn into pieces…- he stopped, hold his head in his hands
-Well, I…
-Sorry? People always say that! - he laughed scornfully - I don't know who did that, noble or commoner…she was bedridden for a month, and then disappeared. I couldn't find her, what I knew was only a note said that she didn't match for me…
-Is that why you said you don't want to hurt me? – Oscar asked solfly
-Yes…but I'm really sure my friends want, even I had said you're a man-he stood up- but they were suspected, and perhaps there was a bet. They would want to check when you was still in a dead faint – he streched his arms out, he was tired, after all day long with troubles – and after they knew, they will…who know? I don't have to protect you, you're a noble - he shruged his shoulders- but my conscience told me leave that man with you, so I did!
-André?
-When you had been thrown by a rock, he was in the forest, nearly escaped, but he ran back, called your name, and hold you in his arms, you know what does that mean?
-…
-hahaha, for a commander, you are smart, for a woman, you are stupid!-Élie nodded repeatedly out of satisfaction, he was enjoy this. He used to tease Éliza and loved to see her cheeks slowly turn red, he didn't have any chance to do that again after that accident… -Now I know why you stared at me with "that look", when I was talking with him as a woman!
-What look?- Oscar asked impassively
-The same way Éliza looked at other women when she saw me with them!-he laughed a loud rude laugh
-I'm not his fiancée - still with that impassive expression, Oscar said
-hahaha, I didn't say you are!
-Ok, this's all you want? Knowing about the relation ship between me and him?- Oscar was a really good commander, she could composed herself in every situation.
-I didn't know you two have a relation ship! Haha- well, after all troubles, Élie finally relaxed for a while – ok, get back to work, I said before, we want weapon!
-And I remember I told you go out and buy!
-I know, so, you have one night to think, and tomorrow, before we change the location, let me know your answer, and I'll think of leave you alone with my "hundreds men" or not!-after said that, he went out, and of course locked the room.
Oscar was alone again, she had plenty time to think, those mods were not really foolish, at least that man named Élie wasn't…Tomorrow they would change location, they know the French guard would come back again, that absolutely Élie's idea…Oscar though as sitting on the bed. The bed, just a few minutes ago, she was laying on, and André was next to her…she shook her head, not this time, not the right time to think about that!
To be continued
* I don't know how it was in your country, but in my country, people use to hold, hug, embrace… a bolster and sleep (like a little girl with her doll), so, just image how Oscar "used" André :))