20 minutes later I found myself sitting in the saddle in front of a very angry Colonel riding hard back toward the fort with the rest of the unit either hungover or still half drunk trying to keep up. Tavington only slowed down when a sea of white tents appeared in front of us. I had never been to the camp before. "I thought we were…" I twisted in the saddle to look at him.
"I have some matters to attend to." He cut me off. Expression cold and looking straight ahead until we stopped at one of the larger tents and dismounted. Helping me down, he handed me Hercules's reins. "Wait here." He began to walk off toward where his captains were waiting.
"Wait Here! For how long?" I stared after him. "I can't possibly just stand here with Hercules!" He spun on his heel striding back to stand in front of me, his eyes flashing in anger, looking down at me.
"You can and you will. For as long as this takes." He barked. "Do not question my order again Stasi. You test my patience." He growled and began to turn away.
"Assuming you have any. Which you don't." His hand came flying through the air but before it could land on my face Hercules reared up on his hind legs kicking his front hooves, neighing loudly. The Colonel lowered his arm and narrowed his cool grey eyes at me. "My point exactly, Colonel." I smirked and he turned to walk away.
"I'll deal with you later." He growled loudly over his shoulder as he stormed off toward his captains then to the field where the rest of his men were waiting. At least an hour had passed and he still hadn't returned. Several regulars passed by glancing at me curiously but did not bother me as they whispered to each other. As another hour passed by it began to rain and I peeked inside the large tent next to me, discovering it was Tavington's. I led hercules inside out of the rain and tied him around the wooden pole in the center of the tent. I looked around for something to occupy my time with and my eyes landed on a book on the desk. Sitting down I began to read.
"Find her!" I heard Tavington yelling angrily before bursting through the tent flap almost walking right into his horse. He stared at me flabbergasted. "What the bloody hell is my horse doing inside the tent?" I looked up at him from the book.
"Staying dry." I stated obviously before turning the page in my book and continuing to read.
He arched his brow. "So your first thought was to bring him in here instead of the stables?" He asked in unbelief as he sat down.
"Yes." I put the book down, "What else was I supposed to do with him? You told me to stay here, Colonel. And besides I know that I'm the only one you trust with him." He sighed in acceptance of those two facts. ""Did they learn their lesson or whatever?" He ignored my question then stood up and came over to me.
"You questioned my order earlier." He pinned me against the pole that held the tent up, his face an inch from mine. Our lips almost touched "Never do that again. You will not like the result." He whispered harshly. I glared at him.
"Do not order me. I am not one of your men. And most definitely I do not belong to you." He stepped away from me and I turned to pet Hercules on his nose. He tossed what sounded like papers on the desk.
"Think again." Even with my back turned I could hear he was smirking. My head snapped around to look at him.
"What?!" Then my eyes landed on the papers on the desk. "What the hell is this?" I went over and picked them up unfolding them. I skimmed over first one was making me legally his charge, which I already knew as Cornwallis had done that when I arrived. The next one added me to his unit. I had no idea what part I had to play in that. It was the last one however that made me freeze and stare at it in shock. "How could you do this to me! After everything I told you. When the hell were you going to tell me?" I looked up at him betrayed. "How did Cornwallis ever agree to make me a dragoon let alone your Wife?" I sneered my new title distastefully. "And since two days before the ball!" I shoved the papers into his chest and pushed passed him to storm out of the tent. Tavington reached out grabbing my arm.
"Where do you think you are going?" He pulled me to his chest. Stumbling at the sudden movement my hand subconsciously landed on his chest to steady myself. I looked up at him.
"Let go of me! I'm going back to the fort. I can't believe you would do this to me… I Hate you!" I pushed away from him and rushed out of the tent. He followed a few steps behind me.
"You can't go back to the fort Stasi. You are my wife and you will do as I say." I stopped where I was and whipped around to face him. Glaring at him furiously.
"I can and I will. Also I will get Cornwallis to annul this bullshit of a marriage. Especially because…" I stopped speaking immediately and looked into his face which grew cold. There was a flash as lightning ran across the sky.
"Because of what Anastasia? Because it hasn't been consummated?" A wolfish smile spread across his face, His eyes held slight amusement. "That can be... Remedied." He said as he advanced toward me like stalking prey.
"You wouldn't dare!" I exclaimed with wide eyes. He grabbed my arm and pulled me roughly toward him, placing his arm around my waist. With his other hand he gripped my jaw.
"Try me." He smirked. I tensed and struggled against him to no avail. His arm only tightened around me. With no other option I stopped struggling, tears falling down my cheeks.
"So everything you said last night was a lie" I spat. "I hate you!" I slapped him across the face, his grip loosened, I pushed away from him and began to walk away again. Before I got too far he grabbed my wrist gently.
"Anastasia, I was entirely sincere last night." His voice like it was the night before. Soft and sincere
"I don't believe you. Colonel."
"Stasi, You can either make the best of this situation or not. I will give you a week to come to terms with this and come to me otherwise I will take what rightfully belongs to me, as your husband." He warned. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a ring, about to slip it on my finger. It was beautiful but I stared at it in disgust. Grabbing my hand he was about to force it onto my finger. I pulled my hand away forcefully and headed back to the fort. "I expect you to be at drills in the morning and on time Anastasia."
As I walked away anger rolled off of me in waves. Many of the men I passed by gave me a wide berth until I walked into Wilkins. 'Mrs, Tavington. The Colonel is looking for you." I narrowed my eyes.
"Do not call me that." I mounted a nearby horse and made my way to the fort. They did not open the gate. Instead a sentry came up to me and stood at the side of the horse.
"Name and intention?" I stared down at him in shock. This soldier has seen me in the fort almost on a daily basis since I was able to be out of the room.
"Are you Serious right now? You know who I am Donavan." He looked away and cleared his throat.
"Name and intention." He looked back with a blank expression. I looked away from him.
"Miss Anastasia Mckenzie. I wish to dry off and change. Perhaps even to have dinner." I look back down at him.
"I'm afraid you will have to go back to camp. The Colonel ordered us not to open the gait unless he is with you or you give us your real name. I wouldn't suggest waiting for sentry change." My eyes flashed in anger and Donavan walked away to go. "Sorry Ma'am You have to go back."
"That Bastard!" I started to turn the horse around when I saw O'hara through the crack in the gate. "Two can play this game Colonel." I smirked to myself. "GENERAL O'HARA!" He came out. "For some insane reason Donavan won't allow me to pass."
"Donavan! Why didn't you let her in can't you see that she is soaked to the bone." he didn't wait for an answer but grabbed the horses reins and led me inside and helped me down. "You should get inside before you get sick." I smiled in thanks and went inside, heading up to my room. But when I got there I found my door open and all my things had been removed. Even the sheets had been stripped.
"Tavington." I growled angrily and stormed down the hall to the next room and opened the door. All my things were there, co-mingled with his. I heard a noise behind me. I turned to see Margaret enter the room and close the door softly. "Can you please assist me in changing and then bring my stuff back to my room." She handed me a towel. and I started to dry my hair.
"I apologize Ma'am I can't. There's a new Dragoon arriving and that is to be his room." She turned from me and put her head down as she walked over to the wardrobe, pulling out some dry clothes. She placed them on the bed before coming behind me to unlace my corset. My corset was finally off and I was in nothing but my stockings, my foot up on the chair about to push down the top of the stockings down from my thigh when the door opened. I quickly covered myself with the towel and Margaret hurried out of the room.
"That was a most delightfully unexpected sight." He smirked as he closed the door looking at me hungrily as he came closer. "You've accepted that you're my wife then I'll take it?" I glared at him and quickly traded the towel for the corset and dress Margaret had laid out. Tying it up myself.
"Its been like 2 and half hours so calm the fuck down." His smile vanished and his face turned to stone.
"Anastasia, you will watch your tongue and tone with me as your husband as well as commanding officer." He sneered. "How the hell did you manage to pass the gate? I gave Donovan strict orders."
"O'hara let me in. Two can play at your game Colonel." I said amusingly.
"Oh it's a game to you Mrs. Tavington." He pulled me close to him and stared down into my eyes, closing the gap between our mouths. My lips parted. He stopped just short of pressing his lips to mine. "Challenge accepted….. Anastasia Katrina Tavington." He whispered seductively, and before I knew it he was gone.
I sat down and opened War Horse, but I could not focus on it. I became lost in thought. What the hell did I just get myself into? Am i stupid or just incredably brave to get into it with Tavington. Should I just give into him before this game goes too far and just try to be happy? I burst out laughing. Hell no I'm not going to back down pulse it might be fun. I was so deep in thought that I didn't notice Margaret come into the room until she lit a candle. I looked around not realizing that it had grown dark. Margaret had a look of confusion on her face.
"Ma'am are you alright?" She looked around the room.
"Yes, Margaret I'm quite alright. I was just lost in thought and remembered something funny the Colonel said." I stood and pushed in the chair. Her look of confusion remained. Presumably due to the fact that the Colonel couldn't possibly be humorous.
"Dinner is ready Ma'am. I was sent to fetch you. The Colonel Apologizes as he is unable to escort you this evening." As she walked with me down the hall a handful of Dragoons arrived at the top of the stairs. Avery and Danvers were the last to arrive at the top of the landing. Stopping in front of me.
" I believe this is yours." Avery said hatefully dropping my bag onto the floor in front of me.
"The Colonel's." Danvers said more annoyed than anything. He handed me the bag instead of throwing it at me like Avery.
"Danvers? Where is he?" I looked around not seeing him nor the Captain's.
"Taking care of business." He stated flatly. Avery called out to him.
"To defeat the Huns?" I said jokingly. He stared at me blankly then walked away. Margaret and I continued to the dinning hall where she left me.
"Ah, Mrs. Tavington come sit sit! Mary was quite upset with your hasty departure from Middleton place." Cornwallis said energetically. I came in and sat across from Mary. O'hara arrived a moment later a slave following closely behind him carrying a few wrapped boxes. Oh please no i hope those aren't what i think they are.
"I apologize for the Colonel's absence during this happy time. He found a lead on that ghost of his. I suppose you'll have to accept these wedding gifts on the behalf of the both of you," The three of them were all smiles. I couldn't take it any more and looked down at my plate.
"I'm so very sorry but I must decline. Do not get me wrong. They are probably wonderful gifts. I know this is incredibly rude of me but i will not accept gifts for a marriage I did not agree to nor knew of until this afternoon." I looked up as I finished all three of their smiles were gone. Mary was looking at me and her eyes darkened as she turned to look at her father.
"Father? Please tell me that you didn't. Say that it isn't true." He looked at her and shook her head slightly.
"By all means give it to the Colonel to accept." I stood up from my seat. "Please excuse me, I'm not feeling that well." I grabbed a loaf of bread and left the room. I could hear MAry arguing with her father.
"How could you Father?"
"Do not raise your voice at me Mary."
"But father you know the kind of man he is. You give him too much power over her. First as his charge now his wife!"
"That's enough Mary!" I heard Cornwallis slam his fist on the table. Mary ran out of the dining room. Not noticing me as she ran passed. I headed off in the other direction to my now shared sleeping quarters.
The next morning I awoke to an empty room. The only sign that Tavington had been there was that the ring he had shown me was on the table next to the bed. Everything else had been untouched. After a very awkward breakfast that I was not able to escape I spent the morning in the library. Skipping lunch so i did not have to sit through another awkward meal. I went to check on the horses. A couple of which were missing. I heard a commotion outside and walked out of the stables into the bright sunlight. "Donavan? What is happening?" He looked around at me nervously.
"Rider with a white flag Mrs Tavington."
"Oh… OH!" I rushed off into the house and into O'hara. "I need to speak to you and Cornwallis immediately."
"What are you going on about? There is a rider that the Lord General needs to see post haste." He said straightforwardly.
"Yes I know that's what this is about. He has Mars and Jupiter with him." He just stared at me. "You know what, just give me a piece of paper. I promise to explain later. Give this to the General before he sees Martin." He stood there in shock and took the paper. "I'll explain later."
"How... ?" His eyes narrowed. "Tavington said that you were not a spy. You will explain later." He turned to someone passing in the hall. "Captain, Watch her." The captain led me down the hall to an office and locked me inside. O'hara left to meet the unexpected militia Colonel. An hour or so passed by when out of the window the gates opened once more as Tavington and his two captains arrived at Benjamin Martin was leaving. I moved to the window watching the exchange as Tavington took off his helmet and threw it at a regular.
"General … What is this?" He said through gritted teeth as he approached O'hara.
"Prisoner exchange… Your Ghost." O'hara said mockingly
"This is madness." Tavington turned and pulled out his sword.
"Seethe that sword Colonel. He rode in under white flag of former parle. He has shown no aggression here so he can not be touched."
"Has he not." Tavington strode over to Martin whose back was turned as his men were mounting their horses. "Was it you? I rember you on that farm with that stupid little boy. Did he die?" Martin turned to face him. "It's an ugly business doing one's duty. Just occasionally its a real pleasure."
"Before this war is over i'm going to kill you." Martin stated with restrained hatred and pain.
"Why wait." My so-called husband challenged Martin. The gates closed as Martin and his men rode away. Tavington turned once he could no longer see Martin. As he walked by I banged on the window to get his attention.
"Get me out of here!" I yelled so he could hear me from the other side of the glass. Turning to look at me he clenched his jaw as his eyes flashed angrily and he kept walking. Soon enough the office door opened. He was standing there with the Generals on either side of him.
"A moment with my wife please Generals." They both nodded and walked away as Tavington entered the room and closed the door behind him. Striding over in large steps he grabbed my throat backing me up against the desk. "What the bloody hell did you do?" He growled as I slid on to the desk biting my lower lip. I knew the effect this would have on him and I would play this game strategically. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pulled him closer. I looked up at him with hooded eyes. His hand on my throat loosened as he leaned down his mouth an inch from mine his eyes darkened with desire. A few seconds passed where we could only hear the sound of the others breathing. Pushing him away I let out a laugh.
"Thats as close as you'll ever get." His hand returned to my neck.
"You try me Stasi. What did you do?" His hand tightened angrily.
"If you must know. I tried to warn the General's about Martin and what exactly is waiting for them up on the ridge. Their suspicions came as quite the shock." He straightened and released his grip on me.
"We have a mess to clean up because of you." He growled and started walking toward the door.
Excuse me! I tried to prevent this mess from happening! I almost had that man caught for..." Yelling angrily at him. He came to stand in front of me almost snarling. I crossed my arms glaring at him
"I don't need your help in this war Stasi." He said barely above a whisper in a dangerous growl.
"I'll remember that next time you…" Cornwallis opened the door.
"BOTH OF YOU MY OFFICE NOW!" Cornwallis yelled. I've never seen him this angry and honestly it was unnerving. Following him into the office two doors down the door shut close behind us. I looked at Cornwallis then spotted the note on his desk then looked at William and back to the General.
"William!" I spun toward him on my heel. "You have got to be kidding is a joke right." They weren't laughing and they stood there completely serious. I snapped my head toward Tavington. "You didn't tell him! Don't you think he should know something as important as this." I shouted. "Or did you even consider that I should know that besides you only Wilkins and Borden knew." I walked across the room and stood as far away from the Colonel as I could, leaning up against a wall, arms crossed glaring at him. Cornwallis moved behind his desk and sat down.
"You assured me that she was not a spy Colonel….. This morning she shows up here with information. Very detailed information even down to the names of my dogs that i have never mentioned to her. I would like to know just how she came across this information. And now both your Captains are in on this. How do we know that she isn't going to the enemy and feeding them information Colonel… Do you have any idea the consequences of this if it gets back to the King." I pushed myself off the wall and came to stand in front of the General's desk.
"General if I may speak." He turned to look at me and nodded. " I am not a spy. The Colonel was right when he assured you of my station and I remain as such. What I am about to tell you can never leave this room General. It could be very dangerous for me if it did. If you would like General O'hara to be privy to this information by all means but, but no one else not even Mary can know." There was a long pause as he looked between us suspiciously as he sat there in thought.
William came up to me. "Stasi, are you sure about this?" He whispered in my ear.
"Yes, I have no other option." I took a step away from him, still very upset.
"Very well." Cornwallis said as he picked up a bell and rang it to send for O'hara. A few minutes passed and O'hara came into the room looking smugly at us as he stood next to the end of Cornwallis's desk. "Continue Mrs. Tavington."
" It won't leave this room?" They both shook their heads no. I became extremely nervous and Tavington could sense it. He came up next to me and took my hand squeezing it. I looked up to him and he gave me a slight smile. In a you got this kinda way. I looked back at the men standing in front of me and took in a deep breath. "I'm from the future." They stared blankly at us.
"She's mad. absolutely mental!" O'hara laughed. I looked between the two of them and then looked down at the floor, putting my hand in my pocket. I pulled out my Ipod and put it down on the desk. O'hara stopped laughing. Cornwallis picked it up curiously. As he looked at it his thumb hit the play symbol on the screen and it began to play Love the way you lie. Startled, he dropped it to his desk and looked up at me incredulously .
"Guards!." Cornwallis called out and the door opened. "Arrest her! She's a witch." He said as he glared at Tavington who grabbed me and pushed me behind him protectively. William stared at the two guards with his icy grey eyes challenging them to take another step. They froze half way into the office.
"Maybe I should have let the ship explode with all your shit in in General. As well as the ammunition." I said angrily through a clenched jaw.
"For goodness sakes Stasi for one in your life be quiet." Tavington hissed.
"So you admit that you have foreknowledge of certain events that you shouldn't. Either you're a spy or a witch. And Tavington a traitor. Throw them both in the dungeon." Cornwallis said he turned to William. "I had thought you of all people would not be so easily tricked Colonel." More guards arrived in the office and grabbed me, pulling me away from Tavington.
"NO you don't understand I'm not either of those things!
"Stasi!" He tried to pull me back to him and I stared into his eyes as I was dragged away. I began to cry as I noticed the look of pure agony and fear wash over William's face at the thought of what was to come.
"WILLIAM! I Screamed as I was dragged out into the hallway and down some stone steps that spiraled down and down. Until I was thrown into a cell. I hit the floor, pain radiated up my arm as the door was slammed shut behind me.