November 19, 1779 - Night
Once the tavern closed for the night, Lillian went upstairs to her room and decided to wait another hour until she was certain everybody in town was asleep. Dark clouds veiled the moon from her sight as she stood near her window, gazing outside towards the forest. Her blue eyes dazzled with the desire of wanting to see the Hessian again, and she longed to escape from the confines of her room and spirit herself away into the Western Woods, but had to wait for the right moment to sneak out unseen to go visit her midnight caller.
Soon as the townsfolk had dimmed the candlelight in their houses, Lillian went over to the bed and looked under her pillow for the dagger and attached it to her side, then grabbed her cape from off the wall and wrapped it around herself and pulled up her hood and made her way out the door, down the exterior staircase and across the covered bridge to sneak off into the Western Woods. She followed the Indian Trail and headed deep into the forest until she came to a clearing and found the cave where the Hessian had taken her to safety on the night of her unfortunate plight. Lillian was certain this was the place where she was supposed to meet the Hessian, but was no sign of the German soldier or his faithful horse anywhere to be seen. Nevertheless, she decided to sit down on a fallen log and wait for him there, still eager to see him again.
Lillian sat there in silence for a few minutes, then heard the snapping of a branch and turned her head with a gasp. She stood up and turned around to look back and see who it was, only to find there was nobody there.
"Who's there?" Lillian called out, but there came no answer. Not even the chirping of insects responded back. It seemed, for the moment, she was all alone.
A chilled wind started to blow, kicking up leaves and sending them off in a swirl along the trail. Lillian wrapped the cape tightly around her body to protect herself against the cold night air and checked to make sure her dagger was still at her side in case she had to pull it out to defend herself. She looked around and glanced up at the dark, gnarled limbs of the trees that seemed ready to reach out and grab her like sharp-clawed hands.
Even on the brightest of days, the Western Woods seemed dark and dense, devoid of life save for the spirits that supposedly haunted it. Men who had ventured into the forest were said to have come across many strange things that one could not possibly explain. Some claimed to have come across a ghoul shrouded in a cloak of blue fire and sporting glowing red eyes, while others claimed they had seen a ghostly woman crying near the river, shrieking loudly into the night as if mourning the death of a loved one. One man even claimed to have seen a burning mule with no head, though his friends just laughed at him and declared him to be a drunken fool.
The sound of approaching hoofbeats caused Lillian to turn around and see a figure come riding upon a black horse. A tall man clad in dark armor and sporting a wild mess of black hair. His blue eyes shined in the night.
The Hessian dismounted from his steed and went over to Lillian, who threw her arms around him and trapped him into a tight hug. He looked taken aback, but wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back in return.
"I was afraid you wouldn't come", said Lillian.
"There's nothing to be afraid of", said the Hessian. "I was the one who wrote for you to meet me here, remember?"
"Yes, but I've been worried about you. I miss you every minute we are apart."
"You have nothing to worry about, Lillian. I'm here now. When I make a promise, I intend to keep it."
When she finally released her hold on him, Lillian looked up at the Hessian and stared deeply into his eyes for a moment, then looked past him and went over to approach his horse. The Hessian turned around and watched as she went over to pet his beloved horse and brush her hand along his dark mane. He smiled softly as Lillian pressed her head against Daredevil's larger one and heard his horse snort affectionately.
"I didn't think that either one of us would ever see each other again", said the Hessian.
Lillian turned around and looked at him, asking, "What made you change your mind?"
"When I received your letter, I was strongly tempted to ignore it and not write back, but your little raven friend convinced me otherwise."
Just then, Lillian heard the sound of wings flapping and turned her head and looked up, seeing a raven had landed on a branch in a tree. The blackbird ruffled her feathers and looked down at her mistress, cawing loudly.
"Simara", Lillian exclaimed.
Stretching her arm out, Lillian beckoned the raven to come down and allowed Simara to perch on her arm. Simara cawed quietly, allowing her mistress to stroke her dark-feathered breast with the back of her finger.
The Hessian walked forward to stand next to Lillian and said, "Unusual choice for a messenger, but I've heard ravens are very intelligent."
"Yes, they are", Lillian agreed. She looked at the Hessian and told him, "Her name is Simara."
"She told you that?"
"No, I named her that myself."
Lillian looked to the Hessian's horse and said to the raven, "Simara, this is Daredevil. He's a friend. Go over and say hello."
Spreading her wings, Simara flew over to Daredevil and perched herself in the saddle. The black horse nickered as he turned his head to look at the raven, who nipped at a strand of his long, dark mane, greeting him.
Lillian looked to the Hessian, who tilted his head in a curious fashion at the sight of a raven consorting with a horse. "You have very strange creatures here in the colonies", he said.
"And what of me?" Lillian asked him. "Do you think me strange?"
"Of course not." The Hessian turned to her and said, "You're different, yes, but strange, you are not."
"Different? In what way?"
"Different in a sense that I cannot possibly explain. When I look at you, I feel as if I've known you all my life, even though we have never met before. I know it doesn't make any sense, but there's something about you that reminds me of somebody I once knew a long time ago. You've been very brave during this whole ordeal with the war, in spite of what you've been through. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you had the heart of a soldier."
Suddenly, Lillian bowed her head and looked away from the Hessian. From what he could tell before she tore her gaze away from him, her face looked sad, and he wondered if he said something he shouldn't have.
"What is it?" The Hessian asked her.
"Nothing, it's just..." Lillian turned her head back to look at him and said, "It's just that you reminded me of something a friend of mine once said."
"A gentleman friend, I assume?"
"No, she's a barmaid, like myself. Her father owns the tavern where I work. She once said to him, 'I may not be a soldier, but I believe I have the heart of one'."
"Why would a barmaid want to be a soldier? That makes no sense."
"No, but my friend is headstrong and loves patriotism. She would give anything to join the Continental Army and fight beside them."
"Your friend sounds very foolish", said the Hessian, furrowing his brows together. "I pray you do not feel the same way."
"No, of course not", said Lillian. "I know where my place is, but she prefers to think nonsensically."
"Thinking like that will only get your friend into trouble. If she holds any value over her life, she would cast those dangerous thoughts aside. A woman is a delicate heart that should not have to suffer the horrors of war."
Lillian lowered her eyes and nodded, silently agreeing with him, but when she brought her eyes back up to look at him again, she found herself asking, "Why did you come to America, Hessian?"
The Hessian did not answer her, for he turned away and walked over to a nearby tree. Lillian was afraid she had offended him by asking that, but the Hessian showed no signs of being offended.
"That is something I'd rather not discuss", said the Hessian, bowing his head and keeping his back to Lillian. He didn't wish for her to see the sadness reflected in his eyes. "If I told you why, you would not understand."
"But why do you kill Americans?" Lillian asked him. "I understand the British kill us because we refuse to subject ourselves to their king, but why do you hold a grudge against my people? We've done nothing to you."
"I hold a grudge against no one. I only do what I was ordered to do. I was hired to kill, and killing is what I do best. I devoted my service to the British Army because they allow me to strike fear into the hearts of men."
"That's terrible."
"That is your opinion on the matter."
"You enjoy killing simply for the pleasure of killing?"
"It's a fair trade."
Lillian pulled her hood down in frustration and shouted, "But it's still wrong!"
Snarling, the Hessian grasped the handle of his sword and pulled out his weapon from its sheath, spinning around quickly and pointing the tip of his sword directly underneath Lillian's chin.
For one split second, Lillian was afraid her head would be severed from her shoulders, but the Hessian did not penetrate her skin, nor claim her head. Her eyes widened in terror, fearing his sword would pierce her neck.
"What does a peasant girl know about what is right or wrong?!" The Hessian asked, angrily. "Women like you do not understand the rules of war, nor do I ever expect you to learn about it! You think killing is wrong, but you have no idea what death is like for those of us who bear witness to it. Whatever man would deem you suitable is but a fool and a slave to your ideals of righteousness. You're a worthless nobody and that's all you'll ever be."
Lillian stared at him in shock, looking hurt by his words and feeling as though her heart had stopped beating. Her sad blue eyes started to fill up with water.
Noticing tears forming in her eyes, the Hessian's face softened at once, as he quickly realized the harsh impact of his words and lowered his weapon. "Forgive me", he said. "It was not my intention to harm or insult you."
"You could have killed me just now", Lillian breathed out. "What stilled your hand from doing so?"
The Hessian straightened himself and said, "I have slain many men over the years, but in all my years as a soldier, I have never once harmed a single woman or child. It's an appalling crime to do so."
"What if a woman were to commit a crime against you?" Lillian wondered. "Would you kill her then?"
"I might, but I would torture her before I consider killing her. Believe me, Lillian, you do not want to scorn a German. You have no idea what we're capable of."
"So, you do have principles."
"I have my limits. Soldiers I can kill, but innocent civilians I cannot."
Lillian stepped forward and argued, "Most of the soldiers you and the British are killing are my friends, boys I grew up with. Who's to say they aren't innocent civilians like the rest of the ones you've spared in the past? What have they ever done to deserve such a merciless beheading, Hessian? Tell me!"
The Hessian raised his sword to Lillian, who stepped back slowly, trying to keep some distance between herself and the Hessian, who stepped forward and kept his sword pointed at her, cornering her against a tree.
"Do you fear the thought of losing your head, young lady?" The Hessian asked her, calmly. "One quick swipe of a blade to the throat and it's all over. There's no pain in it, really. Perhaps you would like a demonstration?"
Lillian gasped in fright and put a hand to her neck, fearing the Hessian would run his sword through her.
"Don't be frightened, Lillian", said the Hessian. "I'm not going to hurt you. I just want you to know how it feels to look upon the face of death. I have slaughtered hundreds of men during these last few years, but I will not make you an example of them. I do not want you for an enemy, and I don't think you would appreciate me being yours. From now on, you will keep your tongue behind your teeth and ask not why I do what I am destined to do. This is something that must be done."
His chilling words sent shivers throughout Lillian's body, the tip of his sword feeling cold against her pale skin. The rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins, chilling her blood and causing her body to tremble.
The Hessian removed his sword from her neck and stuck it back into its sheath, turning around and walking over to Daredevil. Simara cawed and spread her wings and flew over to Lillian, landing on her shoulder.
The Hessian mounted Daredevil and said, "We will continue this conversation another time when I am less angered by your ignorance. I suggest you return home. Hyah!"
Spurring his horse, the Hessian reared up his giant black steed, who neighed loudly, and rode fast and furious through the forest, disappearing into the mist.
Lillian remained standing where she was, feeling lost and confused about what just happened. One minute, the Hessian was calm and casual, but when she asked him certain questions, his entire demeanor changed, like some evil spirit possessed him to take reserved anger and aggression out on her for reasons unknown. With a comforting nip from Simara tugging on a strand of her hair, Lillian decided to return back to the Hollow.
Later that night, Lillian lied in bed with her hand lying palm up on her pillow, thinking about her encounter with the Hessian. He claimed to have killed many men during his time in the war, but never any women or children, and even though he pulled his sword out on her, the Hessian said he had no intentions of harming her. Despite this, Lillian knew she would now have to choose her words carefully next time she was around him. Either way, she still thought of the Hessian with great admiration and wondered what painful memory his heart was hiding. Her visions told her nothing, for she had none that night.