Disclaimer: If I owned Tavington I wouldn't be sitting here would I?
A/N: Alrighty, back for another chapter. Sorry guys but this one is a gonna be more serious then the last ones. But what did you expect after everything that happened in the last one. Don't worry guys we'll get back to the funny stuff soon. Also, I'm gonna try a new way to break up certain parts of the story that keep running together, because wpd files don't save right on So it will be where there are time or character switch overs. It most likely be a long line of random letters or something. So if you see that you know there is a time or character change. Ok? In the mean time bear with me and enjoy this chapter!
FLFLFLFLFLFLF
General Cornwallis was seething. One would have had to be deaf, blind, and stupid not to notice that the second they stepped in the room. The General was stomping about the room and ranting at the top of his voice while his second in command, O'Hara, and the Dragoon's commander, Tavington, stood silently by the door. Both waited with nervous anxiety for Cornwallis to turn their wrath on them. Tavington resisted the urge to shift his weight from one foot to the other, instead he clenched his fists tighter behind his back.
Finally, the General turned to face them and as Tavington suspected Cornwallis's anger was aimed at him.
"Colonel Tavington, I have reason to believe that you knew something about this rebel attack prior to its happening. Is that true?" General Cornwallis asked in a deadly calm tone.
The Colonel shifted slightly. Cornwallis's calm expression was much worse than his earlier ranting. He could not read much of his superior's emotions the way it was being masked and that was not good. "No, my Lord, I did not." he answered truthfully.
"Yet, earlier in the evening you told General O'Hara that you suspected something of that sort and had the transfer of supplies changed. Correct?" Cornwallis's eyes bore into his subordinate's.
Tavington replied quietly. "Yes, my Lord."
"And yet, you say that you knew nothing of this attack. That is rather suspicious sounding, would you not agree? Would you please explain to me how it is you seemed to have known and not to have known about it?" the General growled, his calm exterior beginning to be strained.
Tavington muttered something inaudibly as he stared at the floor.
"Colonel Tavington! Answer the question!" Cornwallis nearly shouted, his calm exterior cracking in one explosive outburst.
Tavington's head snapped up and he stared his commanding officer square in the eye. His pride stung at the way the General yelled at him like he was an insolent child. His father had done the same to him to many times to count and he hated it! "It was meant as a prank, my Lord," he answered louder.
"A prank?" a note of disbelief crept into Cornwallis's voice.
"Yes, sir, on General O'Hara. I gave him false information to change the order and there by getting him in trouble with you. I knew nothing about a true intended attack meant for tonight," he confessed, much to O'Hara's delight. "I swear that was all it was, my Lord."
General Cornwallis was amazed. "You lied to a superior officer as a prank? May I ask why?"
"It was a foolish whim, my Lord," he whispered almost to softly to hear.
O'Hara looked ready to spit fire. Tavington had planned the whole act on purpose as revenge on him! Surely, Cornwallis would see right through such a blatant lie as that! However, he was not willing to face the General's wrath if he spook up now. Let Tavington take Cornwallis's anger. He wanted no part of it.
If at all possible Cornwallis's expression became even more disbelieving. "You gave General O'Hara false information on a whim!?"
The Dragoon's leader lowered his eyes to the floor again as though it had suddenly become very interesting. "Yes, my Lord. I suppose I thought it would be amusing."
General Cornwallis's face went red with fury. "Your foolishness caused us to lose more than half our ammunition and guns when that ship was destroyed!"
"Pardon me, sir, but you did order O'Hara to unload your wardrobe even after hearing about a possible attack, whether the information was true or false." Colonel Tavington pointed out.
"Do not dare be insolent with me, Colonel Tavington! One would not expect the Ghost and his vagrants to be able to sneak onto our loading docks surrounded by capable soldiers so close to such a large gathering of enemies and blow up our supply ships!"
Tavington took a deep breath, his own temper beginning to creep into his expression and tone when he spoke. "Yes, I understand that, my Lord–"
"I want to know how those militia men got near those supply ships!" Cornwallis raised his voice, cutting his subordinate off. He had no interest in what Tavington had to say. Frankly, this crisis was all the Dragoon's commander's fault and he wanted retribution. It did not matter from whom. "There were soldiers at every for see able location a spy might break in! This was all planned carefully from the start of this ball. That Middleton probably invited us here to witness the display first hand. He is a suspect. We must find proof that was involved so he can be apprehended for his actions! As for those rebels..."
"Perhaps, my Lord, the rebels disgui–"
"Silence, Colonel Tavington! If I wanted to hear your opinion I would ask for it!"
Tavington's mouth snapped shut as he tried to hide the anger and resentment simmering just beneath the surface. O'Hara smirked as he watched the Colonel's jaw clench as he scowled. Now, this was sweet vengeance to see his nemesis being verbally ripped apart in front of him. Feeling bold, because of his subordinate's behavior O'Hara decided now was the best time to speak up. Maybe if he pulled this off he would never have to see Colonel Tavington ever again.
"Perhaps, my Lord General, you are correct that it was all planned precisely from the beginning. Yet, they would need the help of a spy to plan such an attack as this so carefully. I wonder if Colonel Tavington was really involved in this. He could have purposely led me on so that he would receive praise for his foresight if he caught the rebels in the act of stealing ammuntions." O'Hara suggested slyly as he pretended to look 'sorrowful' at having to say such things.
Colonel Tavington looked ready to kill. Rage and hatred roiled sickeningly in his stomach as he glared over at O'Hara. There was also fear that Cornwallis would believe his second in command rather than he. No, it was not just fear, it was panic. "Surely, my Lord, you do not believe that! I abhor the Ghost and his legion of followers! I did not know they would attack tonight. I know it appears otherwise, but I assure you that I merely intended my information as a joke. I never–"he burst out, desperate to prove he was innocent of General O'Hara's accusations.
"Colonel Tavington! You will speak when addressed! Remember your place!" Cornwallis lashed out at him.
Tavington looked like a kicked puppy as he backed down and dropped his gaze to the floor once more. O'Hara felt like dancing for glee. It was perfect. Tavington's reaction practically screamed guilt. He could not ask for a better way to get back at his most hated enemy. He had won. He knew it. He was free of Tavington. He had just been accused of treason and the penalty for that was death.
Cornwallis stalked about his room once more this time in silence. When he seemed to have made up his mind about the matter he turned back to Tavington. "I do not believe you would do such a thing, Colonel Tavington. Your hatred for the colonials is to strong and genuine for me to suspect you of being a spy. However, you behaved badly this evening to a superior officer once more though thankfully it was not in your usual, violent manner. You will be receiving punishment for this, but later. First, you will be in charge of the investigation to uncover how those rebels were able to manage such a trick."
O'Hara's mouth dropped open in disbelief at the same time Tavington's posture went lax with relief.
"Surely, my Lord, you can not–"O'Hara sputtered.
"Are you doubting my judgement, General O'Hara?" Cornwallis turned his glare on his second in command.
"N-no, my Lord," he stammered out.
"Good." Cornwallis looked back at Tavington. "You are dismissed Colonel to begin the investigation. You will report back for your punishment at further notice. Is that understood?"
Tavington nodded. "Yes, my Lord," he murmured then hurried out of the room before anything else could possibly be done. O'Hara watched him leave, listening to Cornwallis rant further about losing his replacement wardrobe with half his attention and vowing silently that he would have his revenge upon Tavington.
FLFLFLFLFL
Tavington sat once more bent over a mug of ale. He had managed to sneak away to a pub after a 'full investigation' as to just how the rebels had snuck onto the docks. Bordon had, of course, come with him. He had been unable to dissuade his Colonel from coming, but Tavington had threatened to kill him if he didn't move out of his way. So being the wise, life loving person that he was he stepped aside then followed Tavington there. After all someone had to be there in case the Colonel got violent again. So here he was once more sitting beside his superior waiting anxiously for something to go wrong.
"Could you please explain to me, Bordon, why it is I who must be blamed for everything that happens to the General?" Tavington glared down into his mug as though it would give him the answer.
"Sorry, sir?"
Tavington slumped lower in his seat. "I, of course, got blamed for withholding information about a possible rebel attack, then I told him it was meant as a prank, and was told it was my fault the rebels had been able to destroy one of our supply ships. And he was also upset that his replacement wardrobe had only been half unloaded. So now he only has half of his outfits, God forbid. Never mind the ammunition and guns we lost. Never mind that we lost several good soldiers! Never mind that it was he who ordered O'Hara to unload his wardrobe before the necessary essentials! Never mind that if anyone is to blame for what happened it should be him or the Ghost and not me!!" He paused for a moment to catch his breath. "To make the whole evening exceptionally lovely the investigation only proved what I knew already. The damn colonials snuck on the docks in British uniforms stolen, off the dead judging by the smell. We found the uniforms left in an alley near by. I, then have to report this back to Cornwallis who yells at me once more for not having suspected something like that much sooner! Insufferable! That man, my military career, my entire life is insufferable! Perhaps I will go throw myself in front of a cannon!"
Bordon opened his mouth to say something to hopefully calm Tavington down.
"No, I don't even want to hear any fake or half truths to help calm me or soothe my nerves," the Colonel cut him off.
Bordon stared at him in complete surprise.
"You didn't think I realized that's what you were doing? I'm not a fool, Bordon. I know why you follow me everywhere and know that Cornwallis ordered you to watch over me as though I was some delinquent child in need of constant supervision." Tavington sighed and covered his eyes with one hand. "Even the one man I might call friend is bought and paid for by my superiors."
"I think that is somewhat unfair," Bordon remarked quietly. He was taken aback to hear that his superior actually thought of him as somewhat of a friend. He was actually quite pleased to hear it.
"Are you going to deny it?" Tavington lowered his hand to gaze at him.
Bordon shook his head. "I will not deny that, yes General Cornwallis asked me to watch over you at first."
"At first?"
"I do not do it for the General, sir. Not anymore at least."
Tavington started to laugh. "I suppose you want to tell me it's because you think of me as a friend now. Rubbish. Friends are nothing. They can be bought, betrayed, and left at one's own convenience."
"I do not believe that, sir."
"Believe what ever idealistic shit you wish, but that is what I've learned."
Bordon watched Tavington as he drained his mug and motioned for another. He felt sorrow for this jaded man who never knew what it was like to have friends and family who loved you and would do anything for you.
"Perhaps, sir, you do not think of me as a friend but I consider you my friend." Bordon said almost inaudibly.
Tavington went very still before turning to face his subordinate. He studied Bordon for a long moment trying to judge to sincerity of his words. "That is almost believable, Bordon. Very good. You are becoming quite adept at acting."
He simply could not accept that anyone would ever want to be friends with him unless they were being bribed. He sighed heavily and chugged down the rest of his ale, then motioned for another. Neither of them said anything for a long time. Tavington ventured a glance at his subordinate to see a hurt expression on Bordon's face. He wanted desperately to believe that Bordon's words were true, but he had been betrayed and black mailed to many times by so called 'friends.' He would never trust anyone again.
Tavington drank until the room around him grew fuzzy and for once his manner did not become violent. It seemed he was to lost in his own despair and misery to get angry. It worried Bordon that his Colonel was so depressed. He tried to forget Tavington's words earlier but he could not. He had hoped that perhaps the Colonel would realize that he did have someone he could rely on. He did not know what he expected to happen since it was Tavington. Pretty soon he was feeling depressed as well and wondering if he could drown his sorrows in ale like the Colonel was.
"Never enough, Bordon," Tavington suddenly spoke up, startling his subordinate. Bordon lifted his head up from where he had been resting it on the palm of his hand. "I am never good enough. Not for General Cornwallis, not for my teachers, and most especially my father. They always found reasons to criticize me. No matter how hard I try I still fail in their eyes. If anything goes wrong it is always my fault. I always get blamed. For once I would just like to be good enough to someone," he propped his chin up on his hand, staring with partially glazed eyes past Bordon.. "I would like to be praised for once instead of being informed of my imperfections or where I failed."
Bordon pitied him now. "I think, sir, if I may be so bold, that you are an excellent commander despite what Cornwallis says."
"Bordon, stop trying to be my friend. You do not need to say such things to get on my good side," Tavington took another gulp of ale, then glared moodily down into his mug.
"I told you before, sir, that I thought of you as a friend and I was not lying then. I am not lying now. I wish you would believe that my words are true," Bordon remarked patiently with a hint of sadness slipping into his voice. "I find you admirable, Colonel. Granted your methods of achieving what you desire are some what unorthodox and cruel at times. Yet you always attain what you strive for."
Tavington looked up at his subordinate skeptically. "Would you still say the same if my 'unorthodox' methods were to put you in ill favor with Cornwallis?"
"Yes, sir, I would. Damn Cornwallis!" he snapped his patience and mildness slipping after the ale he had drunk and Tavington's stubbornness wearing at him.
Colonel Tavington smiled. A true, genuinely pleased smile. It was amazing how much it transformed the Colonel's face. He suddenly looked like a happy little boy who had been told Christmas was coming early. "Now that, Bordon, I do believe." Feeling suddenly much better, he stood up and dropped a few coins for the ale down on the table. "Come, Bordon. We should go back before we are discovered to be missing."
He turned and headed out the door with his Captain following closely behind him. Bordon was a little taken aback at the sudden cheerful like change in Tavington's manner. Apparently, his words had finally got through to the Colonel and had made Tavington rather pleased. Of course, the Colonel did not say so out loud but his actions spoke for themselves. Bordon smiled secretly behind his superior's back, happy to have finally cracked Tavington's tough exterior–even if only a little.
FLFLFLFLFLFL
Tavington found himself once more called to Cornwallis's office. This time he knew for sure what he had been summoned for. It had been two days since the ship incident and he had yet to receive his 'punishment.' He knew that this was it. It was time to find out whatever psychotic disciplinary action he was to be given this time. If his previous punishments had anything to say for Cornwallis's creative nature then he was not looking forward to it at all.
He stood, straight backed and tense, in front of the General's desk as his superior pretended to be occupied with his map of Ohio once more. He gritted his teeth, knowing Cornwallis was doing it only to irritate him. He did not need a shop sign hung on his chest to announce that his superior's ploy was working. He took a deep breath a blew it out while his hands clenched into fists by his sides.
"Well, Colonel Tavington, I have devised a proper punishment for you foolish antic at the ball," General Cornwallis straightened up and stared at him. "You may thank General O'Hara for this one. It was he who gave me the idea."
Tavington felt a sinking feelings in his stomach.
"We were just graced with twenty new colonial recruits who will join our militia. However, they are in desperate need of some military training and bearing. They are undisciplined, uneducated, and to say the least quite beneath such gentleman as we, officers are supposed to be." The Colonel did miss the jab at his character, but kept his mouth shut–barely. "You are to be in charge of these...yokels. You will train them in the art of war. Each man must be able to load and shoot their guns quickly and accurately. You will see to it that they are outfitted and provisioned with the proper equipment. You will see to this all personally. They will be your responsibility. Captain Bordon will take over your duties as Dragoon's commander until your assignment is carried out. I want these men trained and ready to fight in under a month. Is that understood?" Cornwallis explained carefully.
Tavington stood for a long moment staring at him in complete disgust and disbelief. He could not hide how he felt about this punishment. Bull shit. That is what he thought. Colonials. He had to train colonials. He hated them! Their morals and loyalties were subject to change whenever the little bastards damn well pleased. Why the hell was Cornwallis accepting such questionable recruits? And of all the people to choose to train them! Oh yes, the whole thing was definitely O'Hara's idea. He was, of course, seeking revenge for what Tavington had done to him at the ball. It was the perfect plan to get the colonial hating Colonel caught up in. That pompous arrogant little–
"Is that understood, Colonel Tavington?" Cornwallis ground out impatiently.
"Yes, my Lord, very," Tavington answered in a constricted voice.
Cornwallis nodded in satisfaction. "Good, General O'Hara will take you to the new recruits now. You are to meet them today and begin their training tomorrow. You are dismissed."
The General waved him away. Tavington tried not to glower as he stalked stiffly out to where O'Hara was waiting for him. He wished that he could tell the pansy how much he hated his guts and that if he was not afraid of being discharged there would be a bullet lodged between those little pig eyes. O'Hara seemed to know all this without being told. However, he acted completely oblivious to Tavington's ice cold glare as he led the Colonel away to meet his new recruits. The next month was going to be the best yet, Tavington thought cynically. He did take comfort in the fact that he could take some of his wrath out on the colonials. That brought a pleased smile to his face.
"By the way, Colonel Tavington, General Cornwallis told me to mention that you are not allowed to harm the colonials," O'Hara destroyed those lovely thoughts before they got far.
Tavington felt the usual scowl return as his hopes that the whole deal was not a total lose shattered. He hated O'Hara. Damn him, and damn Cornwallis, and most of all damn those idiot colonials. His life was turning into a living hell.
Thanks for reading! Be a responsible reader and review!
Special thanks to all you that have read and reviewed. You guys really keep me going. I'm sorry that I don't answer all your reviews personally on here, but working keeps me very busy. All I can say is a ton of thank yous and that I hope y'all continue to come back for more. Anywho, until next time! I'm off to watch my Van Helsing DVD! Whoohoooo!! Hugh Jackman!!! ;)