January 28th 1814.
Well, it had taken us several days to finish burying the rest of the dead from Newark, and by that time, I made the decision to stay there for awhile. You see, I had started to fall into the darkness from the past few years, as this war merged with the memories of the last one. An Immortal carries a heavy load, and if you aren't careful, the darkness, the depression, will take you, drive you mad. I've seen It happen, it's not a pretty site. So, I stayed in Carlington for nearly a month to help these people rebuild, and to allow myself some time to regrow. I spent Christmas and New Years with them, all the while praying as much for these people as for myself that the war would hold off on them, just for a couple of months. Fortunately, it did, and I spent a lot of time with Sharon and Katie, who was doing much better than anyone could expect from someone whose parents had just died a month before. I had even found myself a little local lady to entertain. Her name was Claira, and man was she good in the sack! This brings us right to our story this time:
I lied in bed with Claira by my side. She was a 28-year-old redhead, slightly on the chubby side. She had nice breasts, a huge, shapely butt, and a sweet, soft face. Her husband had died at sea 10 years earlier. She lay there in my arms as I rubbed her smooth skin.
"Mmm, Anthony, must you really leave, so soon?" She asked, in that usual irresistible French-Canadian accent of hers.
"Sorry, sweetheart. I have to, I really do wish I could stay, at least until Spring, God knows how much I hate the cold!"
"Yes, Anthony Stiles! why, you're going to be going out in the harshest time of tha year! And leaving me all alone here in de cold!"
"Oh, Claira," I said, grabbing her around her soft belly and tickling her mercilessly. She giggled until she was almost out of breath, then I held her in my arms and began nibbling at her chest and breasts, and then kissed up her chest and neck until I reached her lips, where I held her in a long, passionate smooch. Finally, I broke off reluctantly; all things have to come to an end. I could see the sorrow in her eyes as I got out of bed. I put my clothes on and walked to the door, turning back to her.
I blew a kiss to her saddened face, then I was gone.
With that, I was off. Normally, I would have done these "other" good byes the day before, spending the night with my girl, and then leaving first thing in the morning. But it was just too damn cold in the mornings now to travel so early. I first went down to the bar, where I had spent many an afternoon-AND/OR night, while there in Carlington. A funny guy I knew named James was first to greet me as I walked in.
"Hey, Stiles! Still Keepin' warm this winter, I see!"
"You betcha!" I said, "Hey, get me a Scotch, make it a half this time, I'm leavin' today," I said, glumly."
"Wow, Anthony, you really Are trying to hold back today, aren't you?"
It was George that I met back at Newark.
"Hey," he went on, "we really have appreciated having you here with us. Not to mention helping us from Newark get here in the first place."
"Hey, I said, "just doing my duty to my fellow Americans."
"Well, Anthony, even though there were many who didn't make it, there were even more who did, and many of them wouldn't have been here without your help that night. And for that, we thank you."
Pretty soon after, several more of my friends ended up coming into the bar to share a few last drinks with me.
Ah, this reminded me of other good times like this I'd had in the past.
Like that time around AD 430
It was one of the first real battles I had ever participated in. I had just helped a group of Nobles who were being kicked out of their region here in the Northern part of the Empire by the state. One of the farmers was a really good friend of mine. So, after carefully considering his situation, and after replaying the words of my old friend Marcus Constantine in my head, I had decided to go directly against my better judgment and my own survival logic and help them. And, miraculously, we had won. 200 farmers against an army of 300, including nearly 100 seasoned Roman soldiers. We were victorious, for now, and for now, we celebrated.
"Hahah! Oh my GOD! I cannot believe we just did that!"
"HahaHO!" Shouted my big burly friend Claudius, slapping me on the back, "How does it feel, friend, Antonius! We have beaten back the Statesmen and won our freedom for now! The Lord has blessed our lands this day! Drink up!"
"Ah, I said, downing a huge, leather mug full of some strange drink. (I still wasn't too familiar with the drinks of this region.) Still, the drinks of the Empire where Always one of the few things I preferred over those of Greece. "Wow, I definitely feel grateful to have survived! And grateful to have been fighting alongside all of you all!" I raised my mug, now almost empty, in toast.
"Where the heck did you come up with moves like that, Antonius?" Asked a young friend, Paul, with long, blonde hair.
"Well, I told you I was in the army. Heheh," I gloated, stretching out my arms, "looks like it payed off, heheh."
A young, thin, fare-skinned, dark-haired lass came over and sat in my lap.
"Well, I just love a big strong soldier to hold me at night. Especially with a face like yours, Hansom," She said, leaning up close to my face, and looking straight into my eyes.
After giving her a short kiss on the lips, I said, "well, sugar, let's wait till after dinner, and then you and I can go share some sweets for desert."
I looked back at my friends
"As I was saying, I was in the military, but that was a long time ago. And while it does have it's perks," I glanced back at the lass again. "I'm glad I'm not fighting FOR those guys anymore."
"Well," said my good friend David-the one I mentioned-as he came in, "either way, we are just glad to have had you on our side. I don't think we could have done it without you."
"Yeah, we could have done it, chuckled Claudius, "We just wouldn't have been able to do it as Quickly!, HAHAHAHAH!" With that, the entire hall broke into a roar of jolly laughter.
We danced the night away, and soon, the food was brought out, even though it wasn't even dark yet. There was pheasant, roast pork, beef, and ram, as well as several assorted vegetables We drank and feasted till late in the night, then I took the lass, who's name was Vivian, up to an extra room, and we partied the rest of the night. She, by the way, had been the first woman I had been with in nearly two centuries, and man did That feel great! But it's like I was saying, everyone, especially Immortals, needs these little times…from time to time. Even back then, even though we might have to face the realization that our little victory was only a temporary one, perhaps even false, that we may get wiped out in the next few days, it helped our spirits to be able to celebrate even for one day.
So it was here in 1814,
Even with the war going on around me, I just had to have the short time to recuperate, and regather myself. Only now, after a month's time, I knew I had to go back to the war; there were other men out there suffering in the cold and the danger of battle, who didn't get to take a break. Yes, it was time for me to go back today. They told me how much fun it was having me there over the last month, and how they wished I could stay until the spring to help them start rebuilding Newark. Then, after I had finished my drink, and had said goodbye to everyone, I went to make the one last stop I needed to make before leaving. As I walked in, little Katie came running up to see me, jumping into my arms and giving me a hug.
"Are you really leaving, Mr. Stiles?"
"Yeah, kiddo, I gotta be on the road. My country needs me." With that, she kissed me on the cheek, saying, "I love you, Mr. Stiles," then she turned on the waterworks, again.
"Hey now, kiddo, don't start that again. You gotta be brave, now, ok. I need you to take care of Miss Sharon for me, like we talked about before, ok,"
I then handed her to Sharon. She was quite now, but she still had tears in her eyes.
"Thank you so much Mr. Stiles"
"No. thank you, Miss Sharon. And with that, I gave her a small kiss on the cheek and walked out."
I turned around, and gave one final nod of goodbye, towards the little town. Just then, though, Claira came running out to see me, her heavy cloak wrapped around her.
"Claira, what are you doing, it's Freezing out, you'll get sick!" I said, instead of oh, I hate long goodbyes, don't make this any harder.
She gave me a slap on my cheek, though a small one, saying, "Oh, don't you dare even start, Anthony Stiles!" Then she got real serious like.
"It's been nice," she said with a weak smile, "thank you."
She then leaned over and gave me a long, passionate kiss on the lips.
"To remember you by," she winked, "and to keep yourself warm. Be brave soldier, fight well."
With that, she turned away and so did I. I didn't look back, and I assume she didn't either. I knew that I would have to rejoin the rest of the soldiers, preferably BEFORE I died again this time. .