The sun was just starting to set as the group approached the British camp. They stayed within the woods that surrounded the camp so that they were out of sight, then dismounted and gathered around Laf.
"Right, we'll split into three teams, myself and Mulligan will be team one, Schuyler and Harrison, you're team two and Darragh and Hays you're team three,"
Eliza glanced over at Harrison to find him frowning at her.
"Team three will distract the guards using this," Laf produced the envelope Washington had given him from his pocket and passed it to Hays, "That is a letter from General Washington saying he is willing to bargain for Hamilton and Laurens. While the guards are distracted, teams one and two will sneak past and search the camp for Hamilton and Laurens. Team one will head north and team two south. We will rendezvous back here. At sun rise we leave, whether everyone is back or not. Are we clear?"
"Yes sir," Everyone chorused and Laf nodded.
"Right, let's go."
Everyone made their way to the edge of the treeline. When they were in view of the camp Eliza and Harrison ducked behind a tall tree, while Laf and Herc ducked behind another. The four of them watched as Hays and Darragh walked over to some British guards. Eliza could see the guards point their guns at them, but she wasn't close enough to hear what was being said. Hays passed one of the guards the letter and Laf waved his hand, indicating that they should make a move. Eliza nodded and ducked out from behind her tree. She dodged nimbly along the perimeter of the camp, keeping within the treeline. She could hear Harrison on her heals and the faint sound of Laf and Herc doing the same thing in the other direction.
"Schuyler, over here,"
Eliza spun around to see Harrison pointing at a tent, that was just peaking out from behind a dense patch of trees. Eliza nodded at him and the two of them crept forward. They hid behind every tree they passed for a second, just in case there were any British soldiers around.
Eliza didn't have to look over at Harrison to know he was glancing at her with scepticism every time they paused, she was surprised he hadn't tried to order her to walk in front of him just so he could keep an eye on her.
Eventually, they reached the tent Harrison had spotted. The two of them came to a stop at the back of the tent and Eliza pressed her ear against the side of it, trying to hear if there was anyone inside.
Harrison stared at her for a moment before turning and peaking around the edge of the tent. He turned back and shook his head at Eliza,
"I can't hear anyone," Eliza whispered as she walked over to join Harrison,
"We should check inside anyway," Harrison said,
Eliza nodded, just because the tent was quite didn't mean Alex and John weren't lying unconscious inside.
They made their way to the tent entrance and Eliza and John both raised their muskets to their shoulders. Eliza pushed the tent flaps aside and the two of them burst inside, only to find themselves inside an empty tent, containing only a few empty barrels.
"Where to now?" Eliza asked, lowing her gun,
"We need to look for somewhere with guards, they aren't going to keep Hamilton and Laurens alone,"
"Right," Eliza agreed, "We should stick to the edge of the camp, we're safer in the tree line,"
"It's also a better place for an ambush," Harrison argued.
"They're not going to ambush us. They don't need to. We're in their camp,"
Harrison scowled but Eliza ignored him. She pushed past him and out of the tent. She glanced around and spotted another tent not far off. She ran over to it and ducked behind it, like she had been doing with the trees. Once she was behind it, Eliza looked back over her shoulder at Harrison, who had made his way out of the first tent and was giving her an unimpressed look. She beckoned him over. Harrison groaned before following after her.
The two of them crept around the outskirts of the camp, keeping on the lookout for a tent that may contain John or Alex.
They had passed dozens of tents when Eliza spotted one with a redcoat standing outside. She grabbed hold of Harrison's arm to get his attention and pointed at the tent. He nodded and the two of them snuck over, with Eliza going left and Harrison going right.
Once they were stood either side of the tent Eliza shouted, "Now!"
The redcoat tuned to see where the noise was coming from but, before he could react to Eliza's shout, Harrison jumped out and hit him on the back of his head with the butt of his musket, and the redcoat crumpled to the ground. Eliza and Harrison each took hold of one of the guard's arms and dragged him inside the tent.
"Eliza‽"
Eliza looked up to see Alex shacked to a pole at the other side of the tent,
"Alex!" She cried. She dropped the redcoat's arm and ran over to Alex. She fell to her knees in front of him, not breaking her momentum, and pulled him into a kiss. She could feel tears start to run down her cheeks as she was overcome with relief.
"Eliza," he said again, "Don't cry,"
Eliza flung her arms around him and pulled him into a hug, but she froze when he let out a hiss of pain. She pulled away from Alex and for the first time took in his injuries. His face was badly beaten and there was a trail of dried blood leading from his nose down his chin, and a large cut on his forehead. He had been stripped down to just his shirt and breaches and his hair was in a state of disarray.
"Oh my god, Alex," Eliza breathed. She leant forwards and started kissing all the bruises she could see,
"Eliza," Alex gasped.
There was the sound of a cough behind them and Eliza reluctantly pulled away from her husband and turned to see Harrison standing behind them, holding up a set of keys,
"I assume these are for that," he said, nodding at the handcuffs around Alex's wrists.
Eliza stood up and stepped out of the way so Harrison could free Alex.
The moment the handcuffs were off him. Alex surged forward and kissed Eliza, however, he couldn't hide his wince as Eliza took hold of his hips.
"Alex!" Eliza cried, "You're injured, let me have a look,"
Eliza went to pull up Alex's shirt, but he caught her wrist, "Not now," he said, "I'm fine, I can – are you wearing my jacket?"
Eliza looked down at where Alex's hand was still on her wrist, "I mean, I don't have my own anymore,"
Alex smiled at her, "You look good in my clothes,"
"Hamilton! Schuyler!" Harrison called, once more drawing them back to the real world,
"Yes," Alex said, taking a step back from Eliza,
"We still need to find Laurens,"
"They took him for interrogation not twenty minutes ago,"
Eliza frowned, "We need to get to him as soon as possible,"
Alex nodded solemnly and the three of them fell silent, trying to come up with an idea,
"Why don't you use me," Alex said after a moment,
"Alex…"
"No, think about it, you take that guy's jacket, disguise yourself as a redcoat and you can just walk me into whatever tent they're holding John in,"
"And how do we find that tent?" Harrison asked,
Alex shrugged, "It can't be that hard, just look for the tent with all the guards,"
"I guess it's quicker than sneaking around doing the same thing,"
"What do you think Eliza?" Alex asked, turning back to her,
Eliza frowned, "I don't like it,"
"You don't have to like it, just go along with it,"
"Thanks,"
"You know what I mean,"
"I do. I also know it's the best plan we've got,"
"So, we're on then?" Harrison said,
Alex nodded, "We are. Harrison, get the man's jacket,"
Harrison walked over to the unconscious guard while Alex picked up the handcuffs he'd been wearing just minutes before and held them out to Eliza.
Eliza stared at them for a second before sighing deeply and taking the shackles, "I'm not locking them," she said. Eliza winced at the marks on Alex's wrists, where the handcuffs had already cut into him.
Alex smiled weakly at her, trying his best to reassure her as she placed the handcuffs around his wrists as gently as possible.
Eliza finished with the handcuffs and turned to see if Harrison had finished retrieving the coat. She found him standing next to the unconscious guard clutching the red jacket, staring at her and Alex with the most perplexing, thoughtful look on his face. If anything, he looked confused by Eliza and Alex.
"Harrison?" Eliza called.
Harrison shook his head, breaking whatever thought he had been in, "Err, yes, right, erm, here Schuyler, you take this, it's more likely to fit you," he said, holding out the jacket.
Eliza took the coat and swapped her navy jacket for it.
Alex held out his hands to Eliza and she took hold of the chain connecting the handcuffs.
Alex grinned, "Let's go."