May 27, 1863
Dear Zachary,
I hope this correspondence finds you well. It's dusk, the western sky is a mix of yellows, oranges and pinks. It's quite beautiful really, a stark contrast to the bloodshed and suffering that I've seen too much of.
We've set up camp for the night so I took my leave to have a few moments to myself. I'm perched under a big leafy Oak tree. There's a light breeze tonight which is a welcome relief from the already sweltering heat. Tomorrow we'll resume our march to Virginia, a place called Cold Harbor. I don't remember Father ever mentioning it?
My shoulder still troubles me but it's better. I know I would have perished without her, my Elena. It hurt to have to say goodbye to her...
I'm sorry, Zachary, I have to close this, General Pickett is calling for us to assemble, he must have something to say to us.
Sincerely your brother, Damon J. Salvatore.
Damon stares at the parchment in his hands. He runs his fingers over the now fading ink. He's grateful that most of the letters are still legible despite their age. He feels a chill every time he opens one, it's almost like he hit the jackpot at a Vegas casino or something. When he feels Cooper stirring next to him, he glances up at the clock. His eyes nearly pop out of his head cause his mom will have his ass if he's late for supper. Very carefully, he folds the letter up, places it back in its envelope then gets up to put it away. They're all safely stowed away in a safe and he's also very aware of the fact that his erudite brother thinks he's certifiable for purchasing one. Even though Stefan uses every opportunity to take a swipe at his research, he trusts him not to take his valuables, but he does want them protected in case of a fire or any number of other natural catastrophes.
Once it's safely inside, he closes it and spins the combination lock. He takes a moment to stretch his limbs and then takes Cooper outside to do his business. He'd much rather stay home but his mama is one persistent lady, tough too. Damon chuckles at the thought then grabs his keys and disappears out of his front door.
Busy in the kitchen, Jenna Salvatore peeks out through the window to see if she sees her son's car. She squeezes her vegetable peeler tighter when he isn't there yet. Shaking her head, she goes back to what she's doing, chopping vegetables for her husband's shish kabobs. When she hears a creaking sound, she turns around and raises an eyebrow at Damon. "You're cutting it pretty close there, young man."
"I'm sorry mom, I lost track of time. I was reading the letters and then I had to take Cooper out before I left... I'm here now so.. how can I help?"
"Your dad already marinated the steak that's in the refrigerator. You can cut it up and help me skewer the kabobs."
"Sure thing." He kisses her cheek then grabs the meat out of the fridge. Between the two of them, they finish in short order. Damon puts them on a platter and goes in search of his dad who's outside standing in front of the grill, talking to someone on his cellphone. Having heard the sliding glass door opening, Zach turns around, smiling when their eyes meet. He quickly finishes his call and then takes the platter from Damon. He quickly puts the kabobs on the grill and after pulling a couple of beers out of the refrigerator, the two men sit down to chat.
Zach takes a long swallow, savoring the icy cold drink. "I haven't gotten this month's magazine yet. It's usually here by now."
"I don't know dad. My article was about Thomas Ward Custer. General Custer's brother. Not many people are aware of him, he's been pretty much overshadowed by his brother and Custer's Last Stand. He died there too along with George and another brother Boston. Tom was actually the first man to be awarded with two Medals of Honor, he's one of only nineteen two time winners in U.S. history. It's pretty amazing that no one knows who he is."
"I didn't know that myself. That's incredible."
'It is. Even General Custer himself often said that it was Tom who should have been the general, not himself," Damon adds, taking a deep pull from his own bottle.
"I can't wait to get my issue. Do you have any ideas for next months issue?"
"I haven't decided for sure but I think I'm going to write about General MacArthur and his father. Arthur MacArthur Jr. won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his leadership at Missionary Ridge during the Battle of Chattanooga, Tennessee. When his regiment's color bearer fell, MacArthur picked up the regimental flag and charged ahead with it in front of his men. They rallied behind him, stormed the seemingly impregnable entrenchments, and seized the strategic ridge for the Union."
"You're almost a walking encyclopedia, Damon."
"It is my job, dad... and in conclusion, General Douglas MacArthur received the Medal of Honor in the Philippines Campaign, which made him and his dad the first father and son to be awarded the medal."
Zach nods then gets up to check on the meat. He turns the kabobs and then sits back down to take another drink of his beer. Before he starts to speak, Jenna appears with plates. Damon jumps up to help her set the picnic table. He looks at her when he only sees three plates.
"What about Stefan and Caroline?"
"They're coming for dessert, they had plans already. What do you think of her?"
"I think that Stefan has met his match, quite honestly," Damon laughs, sticking a piece of steak in his mouth.
"You're right on the money there."
"You are, she keeps him on his toes," Zach adds, winking at his wife. When they finish eating, Damon helps his mom clean off the table. While they're doing the dishes, she pauses to look at him.
"At the party, I saw you dancing with Amber, several dances as a matter of fact. Do you like her?"
"Mom, not you too. Isn't it enough that Stefan is always riding my ass about settling down? She was a nice girl but she's not the one for me."
"She could be?"
"Mom, please. There has to be something more. I want what you and dad have. He told me that it felt like his heart stopped when he saw you for the first time. That's what I want, a love that consumes me, passion, adventure, I want it all."
"I understand, Damon. I was your age once too. But adventure isn't everything and life is fleeting. You shouldn't just write off something before it even has a chance to grow and develop."
"Don't do this mom."
"Alright, if you're sure. But if you really believe she's out there somewhere, it's up to you to find her."
"I hope I do." After that they finish the dishes in silence. He gives her a kiss on the cheek and then goes back outside to talk to his dad.
"Where's mom?"
"She's still in the house. Why is it that you're all trying to set me up with someone? I'm not that old that everyone needs to be in a rush to marry me off."
"You know your mom, the eternal matchmaker," Zach laughs, handing Damon another beer. He has a swallow and then turns to his son, "So why don't you tell me a little more about this Elena you mentioned?"
"Our ancestor, Damon, he was in love with her, with Elena. Seems his parents were keen on setting him up too," Damon adds, raising an eyebrow at his dad. "There was a girl named Martha Forbes and he liked her but she didn't set his blood on fire, you know the way it is with you and mom. I've told you before that he was a soldier and we know that he died at Gettysburg. I found out that he was injured at the Battle of Fredericksburg. It's only afterwards that Elena is mentioned. She was a widow, her husband died at Fort Sumter, the first battle of the war. She nursed him back to some modicum of health and in doing so, he fell in love with her. I think it was mutual, I mean, he never comes out and says it but it's a gut feeling I have."
He doesn't reveal the dream, for fear his dad will think he's insane if he tells him about it.
"I've never heard the name Elena before. I can ask your aunt if there's anymore things amongst the family antiques but I'm certain she would've given it to me if she found more letters. You know how fond she is of you."
"That would be great dad," he starts to say, stopping when suddenly Stefan's voice rings out. He has a beer in his hand and he takes a seat beside their dad.
"Seriously Damon, you're talking about that again. Face it, brother, you're obsessed." He shakes his head at Damon while twisting off the top of his bottle.
"Stefan?"
"It's not normal dad," Stefan protests, eyeing Damon suspiciously.
Zach brushes off Stefan and turns to Damon. "You said that she helped him after the Battle of Fredericksburg? Do you know anything else about her, a last name, anything?"
Ignoring his brother, Damon finishes off his drink. "No, I only know her name is Elena. He never mentioned her last name or anything else."
"Have you read all of the letters yet?"
"Yes. But since my obsession is a source of annoyance for your other son, I'm going to go home now and go trough them again in case there's something I missed. I'll say goodbye to mom on the way out. Bye dad." Damon doesn't bother saying anything to Stefan, he disappears through the patio doors.
"Why must you provoke him Stefan?"
"Dad, don't you think it's weird? This obsession of his borders on insanity."
"Don't you think you're being a little melodramatic? And what do you suppose the world thought of Galileo and Einstein? Cut him some slack before you cause a rift that's not so easily healed." Zach finishes his beer and then gets up and goes inside too leaving Stefan to contemplate his dad's advice.
As soon as he gets home, Damon pours himself a good stiff glass of bourbon. He unlocks his safe and pulls out the diary and a stack of letters after which he settles down on the couch with his dog laying by his feet. He sits up to pet him for a minute then lays back down and starts to read. He reads passages in the diary but his eyes soon grow heavy.
She wraps her arm around his waist and helps him to walk into the kitchen. Once Damon is sitting down, she goes over to the stove to stir the cast iron pot. The room is filled with the delicious aroma of chicken and potatoes. His mouth is watering at the thought. He watches her carefully, following her every move when she sets the spoon aside and then picks up a bowl of supplies. Damon jerks slightly when she pulls his shirt down to reveal his dressings.
Damon's skin erupts with goosebumps everywhere she touches him and after she removes the old, bloodied dressing, she puts a fresh one on and then covers his shoulder again. She goes to stand up but Damon grabs her arm. With their eyes joined, he brings her hand to his mouth, kissing the pad of each finger. It's such a simple gesture but erotic nonetheless. With his good arm, he pulls her onto his lap, fists his hand in her hair and brings her mouth to his. They kiss, it's smoldering and fierce.
When he releases her, she gets up to stir the pot again. When they hear a crack of thunder, she looks out of the window and then turns to face him..
His eyes snap open at the intensity of it. His heart is slamming against his ribs so hard that he has to struggle to take a breath. His chest is heaving so painfully that he needs to sit up. Once he swallows a breath of air, he wipes the sweat from his brow and throws back the rest of his bourbon that was still sitting on the end table. It was so real, when she turned to look at him, her face was a blur except for her eyes, endless dark pools of molten chocolate. Now wide awake, he turns on the light and takes the string off the package of letters. While thumbing through them, his eyes light up when he sees that two are stuck together.
As carefully as he can he manages to pry them apart without tearing anything. He pulls one out and starts to read Damon's letter.
June 30, 1863
Dear Zachary,
I don't know where to start, brother. I am in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. A battle is brewing, General Lee says it's pivotal and that the South must prevail. It matters little to me though for my beloved Elena passed from this world into the next just three weeks ago. I was at Cold Harbor when I heard talk of a Typhus outbreak near Fredericksburg. I was overcome with an alarming need to get to my love. I deserted, it was like some force was dragging me to her.
By the time I arrived, she was near death. But by the grace of the good Lord, I was able to hold her in my arms when she took her last breath. With her, she took my heart. After laying her to rest in a small cemetery, I chose to rejoin my unit. Because they need men, good men to fight, they punished me severely but stopped short of a court martial.
My biggest regret is that I didn't get to give her my name so instead of her marker saying Elena Salvatore, she will hold his name through eternity, Elena Wattles. I want to be with her brother and although I will do nothing to cause my death, she wouldn't approve of that, I will welcome it when it comes.
Sincerely, Damon J. Salvatore.
Damon's mouth is hanging open by the time he finishes the letter. She died first.
'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" Lao Tzu. Damon is on a journey...
Thank you all for everything. You all mean the world to Eva and me. You are the best of the DE fandom.
Thank you too, Eva. Since an ocean separates us, she often stays up till the wee hours of the morning helping me with our stories.
Chapter title: 'When You Close Your Eyes' by Night Ranger.
I did post "We Are Santa's Elves" Wednesday and updated "I'll Be Seeing You" yesterday. I hope you'll give it a read. Watch for 'Friends and Lovers', ICEM: Joy to the World, TGH to post in the coming weeks. I'm working on one holiday o/s.