November 21, 1779
On any other day, Lillian would have been bright and cheerful as ever, but after having a nightmare of being ravaged and deflowered by those three drunk men, she found herself unable to go back to sleep and spent the rest of the night lying awake in bed until daybreak. Sighing, and with a heavy heart, Lillian dragged herself out of bed and put on her dress and exited her room and went downstairs to open the bar, dreading another day of working in the tavern.
Before her abduction, Lillian never used to be afraid of men, as most of them were capable of minding their own business when they came in, but being that the terrible nightmare still haunted her, she now found herself hating the place where she worked and wished she was somewhere that didn't remind her of last night or the night she was raped.
The minute she set foot inside the tavern, the nauseating smell of alcohol hit her nose hard and made Lillian's stomach churn, making her feel sick. She really didn't want to be there, but since it was her job, she felt she had no choice. She owed it to Mr. Mortner to be a good hostess, to serve beverages to the patrons who frequently inhabited the tavern. Luckily for her, the day was about to start off not so bad as she thought it would be.
Lillian did not expect to go back to the Western Woods that day, but fate, it seemed, had destined for her to meet up with the Hessian again. Had it not been for an incident that occurred in the tavern that morning, she might never have had the chance to leave town and encounter him again. A mere coincidence, it was, but nevertheless, Lillian was soon about to encounter another familiar face, one she had long since forgotten.
Neither Mr. Mortner nor Cassandra had shown up yet, so Lillian went over to a table in the far corner of the tavern and sat down. She folded her arms on the table and lied her head on top of them, closing her eyes and hoping to doze off for a few minutes. Just then, someone entered the tavern and, seeing the young woman sleeping at the table, approached slowly, reaching a hand out to touch Lilian's shoulder, shaking her gently.
"Lily?"
Snapping her eyes open, Lillian woke with a gasp, looking up and seeing a pair of brown eyes staring down at her, a mess of ginger curls framing the person's face. She sighed and relaxed, seeing it was only Cassandra.
"Are you all right?" Cassandra asked.
"Yes, I'm all right", Lillian answered.
Cassandra placed a hand carefully underneath Lillian's chin, looking over her best friend's face. She looked tired and had dark circles under her eyes.
"Have you not slept all night?" Cassandra asked, concerned.
Lillian shook her head. "No."
Placing a hand on Lillian's forehead, Cassandra checked her for a fever, feeling she was slightly warm. "Shall I send the doctor for you?"
"That won't be necessary."
"But you look as though you might be ill."
Lillian stood up and insisted, "I'm fine, Cassandra. There's nothing wrong with me."
Cassandra clasped her hands together, still concerned, but nodding her head in understanding. "Very well, then", she said. "At the very least, let me pour you a drink."
"You know I don't drink", Lillian reminded her.
"One drink will not hurt you", Cassandra retorted, turning around and walking away.
Lillian sat back down in the chair and placed an elbow on the table, closing her eyes again as she put a hand to her face, rubbing her forehead with her fingertips.
Cassandra went over to the counter and was about to pour a mug of hard apple cider for her friend, when suddenly, a squeaking noise drew her attention to the floor, causing her to scream in fright, dropping the mug.
Lillian lowered her hand and turned her head, looking to the floor and seeing her little mouse friend was back. He was scurrying across the floor, sniffing the air as he searched around for the tiniest morsel of food.
"A mouse! There's a mouse in the tavern!" Cassandra yelled, grabbing a chair. She was just about to throw it at the mouse to kill it, but then Lillian stood up and ran over to her quickly and grabbed hold of her arms.
"No, Cassandra, don't!" Lillian cried out, taking the chair away from her bewildered coworker. She set it down, then grabbed a rag from the counter and dropped down on her knees, trapping the mouse inside the cloth.
"What are you doing?" Cassandra questioned.
Lillian stood up and looked at her, answering, "I'm going to set him free. I'm going to take him to the forest where he belongs."
"You what?!"
"It''s better this way, Cassandra. Trust me. I'm going into the Western Woods now, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
Walking past her baffled friend, Lillian left the tavern and headed off to the Western Woods, taking the mouse with her. She wandered deep into the forest, looking back on occasion to make sure she wasn't being followed by anybody. When she came to a clearing, Lillian knelt down and opened the rag, releasing the mouse and gently ushering him to emerge out.
"Go now, little friend", said Lillian. "Run away and be free from this place."
The mouse scurried away and never looked back. He was not thankless for what his female friend did for him, but the frightening experience of almost being killed was too much for his small, fast-beating heart.
"What are you doing?" Asked a familiar voice.
Gasping, Lillian turned her head to look over her left shoulder and saw the Hessian was leaning against a tree with his arms folded across his chest. Daredevil was standing next to him.
Lillian stood up at once and turned around to face him. "I...I was just trying to save a mouse", she answered him.
"A mouse? What good has a mouse ever done for you?"
"Nothing. I just didn't want to see him get killed."
The Hessian lowered his arms down to his sides and started to approach her. "He must be a very special friend for you wanting to save his life so bad", he said, stopping two feet away from where she was standing.
Lillian remained silent, not sure what to say or how to respond. She looked nervous, and the Hessian did not fail to notice this.
"What is it?" The Hessian asked.
"My father says I mustn't speak to you", Lillian blurted out.
"You told me your father was dead."
"He is. What I meant to say was-"
The Hessian held up a gloved hand and said, "You needn't say no more." He lowered his hand and continued, "I know I frightened you last night, and should not have raised my sword to you."
Lillian swallowed hard and told him, "Hessian, about last night, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for any hurt I might have caused you."
"You are forgiven, but it is really I who must apologize for frightening you the way I did. It was wicked of me to lose my temper and threaten you. It's just that there are some things in my past I'd rather be left forgotten."
"I understand. I can't imagine what sort of memories haunt your past, but if it pains you too much for me to ask you about it, I won't provoke you."
"Are you still fearful of me?" The Hessian asked.
Lillian shook her head. "No. Not anymore."
The Hessian stepped forward and cupped his hand to Lillian's cheek. The young maiden found herself getting lost by staring into those magnificent blue eyes of his, hypnotic and mysterious. More than anything, she wanted to inch closer to his face, especially those soft, pale lips of his. Lillian hoped the Hessian would kiss her the same way a knight in shining armor kisses a fair princess, but alas, the would-be fairytale moment was not to be.
The Hessian turned his head upon hearing a cannon firing off in the distance, the voices of generals shouting orders to their men mingled with the sound of gunfire.
"What is it?" Lillian asked him.
"The battle has started", said the Hessian. He looked to Lillian and said, "I shouldn't be here." He walked past her and went over to Daredevil, swinging himself up into the saddle and grabbing hold of the reins.
Lillian went over to him and asked, "Must you go?"
"Yes, I must", the Hessian answered quickly.
"But when will I see you again?"
"I don't know. Right now, I have more important things to attend to. Stand back."
Lillian obeyed, stepping back as the Hessian spurred his horse and gave a triumphant yell before charging forward towards the battlefield. For a minute, she didn't know what to do, but the distant noise beckoned her to run through the forest towards the source of the disturbance. Hiding behind the trees, Lillian witnessed a great battle taking place out on an open field on the other side of the Western Woods. Hundreds of soldiers were fighting, some on foot while others rode on horseback. Some fired muskets, while others took up their swords and clashed them against their enemy's blades, slashing away at their limbs and claiming each other's lives.
In the midst of the battle, Lillian caught sight of the Hessian atop his giant black steed, snarling and baring his sharp teeth as he chopped off people's heads. She felt her blood run cold every time she saw him slice off the head of an American soldier, but despite the horror of what he was doing, Lillian could not bring herself to look away. The Hessian was a ruthless, bloodthirsty killer, and yet, she still admired the German mercenary.
While watching the battle from afar, Lillian sensed a presence approaching behind her, but was almost too afraid to turn around and see who it was. Had the person not spoken, she never would have guessed who it was.
"Miss Waise?"
Turning around, Lillian was shocked to discover it was none other than Richard Vallingby. He was wearing a uniform and carrying a musket. His posture turned statue-like the moment their eyes locked.
"Richard?" Lillian questioned. "What are you doing here? And why are you staring at me like that?"
Richard blinked and said, "Forgive me, Lillian. I did not mean to stare. It's just...I didn't think I'd ever see you again."
"Well, I certainly hoped I would never have to see you again."
Picking up her skirt, Lillian rudely walked past him, then stopped dead in her tracks, thinking about something that had been in the back of her mind for quite some time.
Turning around, Lillian walked back over to Richard and asked him, "Why do you love me?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"The last time we spoke, you told me you loved me. Why did you say that?"
"Because I do."
"But why do you love me, Richard? What could you possible love about me? You don't even know me."
"I understand that, but I believe that if a man truly loves someone, he should come right out and say it. If you do not love me, then just say so."
"Even if I cared for you, it would only be as a friend."
"Very well, but I still admire you, Lillian. You're smart and kind and beautiful, and you're not afraid to stand up to those who threaten the ones you love. Your beauty, to me, is like that of a rose blossoming from the rich, brown soil of the earth, opening your petals to the world and basking in the golden light of an early spring morning."
Lillian was unmoved by his poetic attempted at wooing her and asked, "Mr. Vallingby, do you consider yourself a poet?"
"Actually, I do", Richard answered. "My brother thinks it's a waste of time, but my mother loves what I write."
"Then perhaps you should flatter her with your perfumed words instead of me. Good day."
Lillian turned around and was about to head back to the Hollow, until Richard grasped her arm tightly and turned her around to face him again. He looked angry.
"What have I done to deserve mistreatment from you?" Richard demanded. "I've done nothing to harm you, and yet, you continue to treat me as if I'm the enemy."
"Mr. Vallingby, I think nothing ill of you. It's just that ever since that night you and I met, I've had a rather hard time trusting any man. Believe me, there are reasons for my mistrust of you that I'd rather not bring up."
"I don't understand", said Richard, looking confused.
"One day, you might", said Lillian. "For now, I think it best that you return to the battlefield. Your brother is in charge of you, I understand, and it would be most unwise if he were to find out you had deserted the war."
"I don't care."
"If you do not care, then you are a coward for deserting the army and failing to protect your country."
"I'm not afraid to fight, Lillian, but I am afraid of dying out there." Richard looked to his left, hearing a cannon firing off. He looked to Lillian again and asked her, "Why do you care so much about this war?"
"I don't", said Lillian. "I don't think anyone should be fighting, British or American, but the people of this country have a right to defend themselves against those who wish to control them. Don't you agree?"
"I suppose so", said Richard. "I shall go now, but I shall think of you always."
"Just remember to keep your head down, Mr. Vallingby", Lillian remarked. "I wouldn't want you to lose your head to the Hessian Horseman."
"I won't. When I find him, I shall put a bullet through his heart."
Upon hearing that, Lillian turned away and started heading back to town. Richard watched her walk away, then went the other way to return to the battlefield. Lillian stopped next to a tree and placed her hand upon it, looking over her left shoulder and giving a silent death glare to the ignorant young man who dared to threaten her beloved Hessian. It was obvious to her that Richard didn't have a clue as to what he was saying, for she had seen the ferocity of the German soldier in person. With one swipe of his blade, the Hessian would claim that boy's head faster than he could blink.
Lillian turned her head away and continued to head back to town, not caring if she ever saw Richard Vallingby ever again. He could lose his head or a leg, and she wouldn't even shed a tear.