Chapter Two:

February 7th, 1864

Dear General Lee,

I have met Elisabeth, and I have started to become friends with her. I figured that this, indeed, must help me to get on her good side... I realize how hard it must be for you to not sound worried, but she was asking about you.

She wants you to write to her, sir. She misses you, and loves you, it is very apparent. Try to sound more delighted to hear from her, she is frightened that you are angry with her for refusing to leave Atlanta.

The house seems to be holding up, although if you are right about Sherman heading straight for Atlanta, than I am sure it won't be any longer. She seems to be very well locked out for, if you ask me, but I will help as much as possible.

She doesn't suspect anything, I'm quite sure of that.

I doubt that she would ever think anything wrong of you, even if she had indeed suspected anything. The way she speaks of you, you would think yourself a god. She respects and loves you more than anyone else. This is apparent in every word she speaks of you.

Though, General, I was not prepared for her, I think I made quite a good impression when we met yesterday. You made it seem as if she were younger than she is. And that photograph of you that you showed me certainly does not do her justice. She is more beautiful than I ever could have imagined. You must be proud of her.

She nurses, you know, for the wounded soldiers. She's smart, modest, beautiful, and kind. You have a great reason to think such highly of her. I will do my best to keep her safe, General. Even if it means my life is on the line.

Sincerely,

Jasper Whitlock

"Miss Lee, it is lovely to see you again." I said, bowing as I met her at her door. I took her hand and brushed a soft kiss along her knuckles again, smiling warmly, before placing it on the inside of my arm, taking her umbrella from her and holding it above her head.

She smiled back. "Thank you, Major Whitlock. The feeling is mutual." She said. "May I—" she paused, but then shook her head.

"No, go on. Now I'm curious." I said, grinning now.

"Well—It's just that, pardon me if I'm being nosy, but… Why you are in Atlanta, anyway, Major…?" she asked.

My smile faded. "Well, I… I'm not entirely certain I should entrust the information with you, but… I do anyway." I smiled again, quickly thinking of a lie to tell her that would seem believable enough. "I am here because General Lee wants me to help with the soldiers here. He thinks that my training could help…" I pushed my shoulders up nonchalantly. I would have to have General Lee send word to the base here, in case Elisabeth decided to check on my word.

"Oh?" She looked even more impressed than she had the afternoon before.

And more beautiful, which I had not thought possible. Her pale hair was tied into a neat not on the nape of her neck, exposing her seraphic face, and her very soft and feminine features, even more. Her lips were painted today, in a soft peach color that really caught my attention to her supple, pretty mouth more than a bright red would have. Her dress was the same color as her dark blue eyes, and made of satin, making her skin look ever softer. She seemed to have dressed trying to look more beautiful. I hoped it was for me.

She blushed when she noticed my staring, her face growing lovelier.

She nodded, looking away from my gaze. "I see." She added to her earlier exclamation. "You must be very talented, then, I suppose."

I ignored her praise. "You're quite bashful, aren't you, my dear?" I asked, as my brow furrowing. I had never met a woman who blushed quite as often as she had, when she had no reason to blush at all. She knew she was dazzling, she had to know, but, when someone complimented her, or simply admired her beauty, she turned red as a rose.

Her color deepened at my words. "Uhm, yes…"

I stopped then, lifting my arm away from her's, in front of a newly built house, whose huge garden was overflowing with wild flowers of all sorts. Roses, both pink and red, violets of the deepest blue, delicate white lilies, strong yellow daisies, purple tulips, standing straight and tall with arrogance at how appealing they knew they were. Yet, all I could see was the face that turned crimson under my gaze. "The color looks lovely against your skin." I murmured, unable to resist reaching my hand up to stroke her cheek with my knuckles gently. Her eyes lifted to mine and held, as she flushed even more. "Elisabeth, how exquisite you are." I sighed; I let my knuckles sweep the soft skin once more.

She took a step back, and arched one eyebrow inquisitively. "Jasper—I mean Major Whitlock—"

"Jasper is fine." I commented.

"Major Whitlock," she insisted. "Unless you plan to court me, I suggest you not touch me again."

She was joking, of course, yet I felt as if I should. Even though courting was so old fashioned. No one courted these days, but she was so elegant and imperial that she deserved special treating. I beamed and returned her arm to mine, lifting the sunshade once more. "No, I suppose not." I agreed.

"Major, how old are you?" she asked, suddenly, taking me by surprise.

"Why?" I questioned.

"I was only wondering."

I knew I should have lied to her and told her the age I had convinced her uncle I was, but I wanted to tell her the truth. "I just turned 18, love." I said.

She stopped walking and stared up at me. "But… That's so young! Surely they—Surely General Lee… What… How… Why are you…" she was at a loss for words, but I understood. How could they, her uncle mostly, allow me to fight when I was so young?

"He doesn't know. They think me older than I am." I explained.

"H-how old is that, may I ask…?" she was taking heavy breaths, her face flushed. I was starting to worry for her health…

"Twenty… Well, turning twenty-two, now…" I said.

Her face started to turn a very sickly color… deep purple, like blackberry jam, or something. Her eyes were bugging from her face, and her hands were clenched into tiny, delicate, white, elegant fists.

"You, Jasper Whitlock, are a shameless liar!" she exclaimed, suddenly, shocking me. I had never seen a woman so angry in my life…

Sooo tiredddd… -yawn-.

Ugghh. This is what I get for putting stuff off for so long. I write this stuff down in a notebook during school, and then I type it up. I've had this chapter written for ages, but I was too lazy to boot up my computer and let my fingers fly.

Aw, oh well.

I got my dues. I opened the notebook, stretched my fingers, and rubbed my over texted thumbs together… And there, right on the first page of the notebook, lying on my lap… Was a huge freaking spider!

Needless to say I freaked and started screaming and had my five year-old brother Rooney chase it with my shoe, and then started crying and yelling at him not to kill it and take an innocent being's life…

But it was creepy! Roonster caught him in a pickle jar with air-holes in the cover and I named him Yucky, and I plan on letting him loose in the morning.

So… There you go. One of my many five year old acts of being stupid and scared of anything that moves. (:

Niiggghtttie night, loves. (: