What Even Demons Fear

Catherine stood there staring at Colonel Tavington for a long time. Nothing seemed right. Nothing was as it should be.

What was so terribly wrong with today? What was so terribly wrong with this night?

And why, couldn't she comprehend why her new husband was leaving so soon?

She watched as he prepared for his early morning departure. Normally, he would have been as meticulous as he always was, but something was bothering him. She could tell, simply by the way his preparations were so haphazard. By how he kept his silence throughout.

It was all so wrong.

"William?" she finally spoke up.

He turned, looked briefly at her, and returned his attention to his papers.

Surely he wasn't that preoccupied? Was he?

Catherine eyed him when he didn't answer right away.

"William? I know you're busy…"

"Yes, I am." He muttered.

"But not that busy, that you can't even answer me!" she snarled.

"It's not that I'm too busy to answer you, Catherine."

"Oh? Well, forgive me for pointing it out, but you act as if you are. I've been speaking to you for the last quarter of an hour, and you've yet to even acknowledge anything I've said! What's wrong, William? Why are you so dreadfully morose all of a sudden?"

Tavington grinned faintly.

"Cowpens." Was the only response.

Catherine stared blankly at her husband.

"Cowpens? What about it? Isn't that where you and the Dragoons are being sent?"

He nodded.

"Yes, that's where we are going."

"And?"

He sighed stoically.

"And, I just…well, I…"

That was odd, too. He never stuttered when he spoke. Everything that came out of Colonel William Tavington's mouth, was always clear and precise. Clearly, something about Cowpens was bothering him.

"Out with it, Colonel!" she hissed.

Tavington sneered at this.

"Colonel? Really, Catherine! And you're calling me by my rank? Honestly, sometimes you amaze me!"

"Yes, and when do you not amaze me?" she smiled slightly, "Now, out with it. What about Cowpens has you so rattled, that you now stutter?"

"Just a bad feeling about it, my dear."

"Ah, I see. So, you think something is going to happen there?"

"Maybe so. This is war, Catherine, anything can happen."

"Of course. Do you believe he will be there waiting for you?"

"He?"

Catherine frowned. As if William didn't know who she spoke of.

"The Ghost . Benjamin Martin."

"What of him? I can hope he's there…I would dearly love to end his existence."

"Well, you did kill two of his sons, William. He's bound to be there waiting on you, just so he can end your existence."

The moment these words left her lips, she soon regretted them. His reaction to them was very clear about that.

"Do not remind me of this, Lady Cornwallis! " He growled deeply at her, "I have absolutely no need, of your constant reminders that I killed his sons! Both very stupid boys, following in their irritating father's footsteps! He mocked me one too many times, and when we meet again, he shall pay for his treason!"

"To who, William? To you, or to the King?"

"Both." He snarled.

Catherine nodded, but kept her peace.

"Either way," Tavington rattled on, "He will pay. He duped me once, he shant do so again."

"True, and I have no doubt you will see to it, that he does pay. You're not called "The Butcher," for nothing, my dear husband. However, my father…"

"Wants him dead, as well."

"I have no doubt of that, either."

"Colonel Benjamin Martin!" he spit the rank out as if it were a bitter pill, "He does not deserve to be an officer! What a pity they bestowed a glorious title upon such a useless man. "

"Again, very true. Still, why are you so upset, William?"

"A bad feeling about this place. I've dreamt often of it since the Lord General's letter. And, even before we left Kentucky. While we were in Ohio…I feel a pain in my gut, that tells me so. "

Catherine put her hand on his arm to comfort him as best she could. Beneath her hand, she could feel him shudder.

"You will be well protected by the other Dragoons, Captain Borden and Lt. Wilkins. I'm sure nothing will happen to you, other then the usual battle wounds."

She felt him shudder again.

"I think not, my dear. I believe something far more will happen. I can feel it."

"Oh? "

Tavington shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

"That feeling…in my gut, that sticks in my throat afterwards…tells me this," he paused.

"Yes?"

A trembling hand went to his throat. He shuddered again.

"Won't end well."

Catherine shivered.

"For who?"

Again he shuddered.

"Me."