After breakfast I headed out to the stables to find Stasi to say goodbye. I knew very well that this Ghost would be at the battle. I needed to get rid of him once and for all. I changed the outcome before due to the knowledge she had given me. I can do so again with this. I would not be dying today. I would be back after the battle. I went over to Hercules to prepare him and found him already prepared for me. Looking around the stall I found a note. It smelled like Stasi's perfume. I opened it quickly.
Dear William,
I'm sorry I am not here to see you off. It is too hard knowing that I will not see you again. I have gone. I know you will not have time to look for me before you go to Cowpens. Please if you must do this, be wise. Take the information you know that leads to your death and do differently. I Should not be changing the events of the past I was taught of, to change the lives of anyone. Things can be so different in my time because of the things I have affected. I love you William. I want you to live. I have found a way home to my time, my love. I've known for quite a while. I could not bear to leave you. I promise you that I have not left as of yet and I will wait to do so until after the battle. The children will be safe.
Anastasia Regina Tavington
As I finished reading Captain Wilkins entered along with the man who had taken my friend's place. Anger ran through me. She must have known about Stephen's death if she knew about mine. She knew so many details of many of those around me and she chose which things to reveal or change. I crumpled up her letter and threw it on the ground. My closest friend had been killed in this damn war and she did nothing to stop it. I mounted my horse and walked out of the stables as the other dragoons mounted their horses as well. Her warning be damned, I will do as I see fit.
Stasi's Pov
I rode for quite a while to the top of the hill Cornwallis would be viewing the battle from with the canons and other high ranking officers and waited. I watched as men arrived on the field of battle on both sides. Until Cornwallis arrived on his horse stopping next to me.
"You shouldn't be here Lady Tavington. You don't want to see this." He said grimley. I shifted my weight on the horse I had taken.
"I gave William a warning. I need to be here to see if he heeds it or not." I was looking straight ahead, refusing to make eye contact with either General. " I left a note for him General's." I paused for a minute. " I found a way back to my time. I've known about it shortly after the ball at Middleton place." I looked up at them. They were both surprised. Shurley they thought I would have gone if I'd known. "I intend to return."
"Lady Tavington '' O'hara spoke up. "You have been here for quite some time. Are you sure there is something to go back to? You have friends here now. A family."
"If William dies I will be left with two children and no husband. No assets. There is nothing for me here." As much as I tried to hold them back tears began to escape my eyes. O'hara leaned over and reached for my hand.
"If he dies I will marry you. You needn't worry I can provide for you. I'm a son of a Baron after all." He smiled arrogantly. General Cornwallis turned his attention back to us at this after speaking with another office.
"Charles…" Cornwallis warned. As I jerked my hand back.
"Yes, You are a son of a Baron." An Illegitimate one need I remind you." His smile vanished and I heard Cornwallis fail at holding back a chuckle. As I turned my head back to look at the battlefield I saw William and his men arrive on the ridge. He pulled out his spyglass and looked over the field. "There is my very alive husband right now."
"Just consider it when the time comes." He turned to look out over the field once more as men started fighting. I moved to the other side of Cornwallis to be away from O'Hara. I looked over at him briefly. He may have a point. What is there left for me in my time? I've been here for over a year. The people I knew in my time probably assumed that Ive been murdered. I could have a nice life here. O'hara was offering just that even if it would only be a marriage of convenience. If something happened, maybe I should stay. I would never be able to tell the truth of what happened to me if I did. I would be thrown into a mental institution. Cornwallis pulled out a spyglass of his own.
"Unless I'm dreaming, I believe I see their militia forming at the center." O'hara took out his spyglas as well and looked where Cornwallis had pointed his. The Patriots continued forward. I turned and watched the dragoons for a moment. My eyes on my husband. I shifted nervously in my saddle. In mere minutes I would know his choice. I looked back toward the field. Men all over the field fought for their lives, their countries and dying. The cannons went off around me. Men on both sides continued to fall. I glanced back at The Dragoons. Colonel Tavington pulled out his sword and I shifted nervously. Cornwallis looked over to me then to where my eyes were fixated just as they began to charge. I looked down at the ground. "Tavington. Damn him! DAMN THAT MAN!" I looked up from the ground to look at O'hara.
"I will give you my decision in the morning, General." I backed the horse up and began to ride away. I froze and felt my sight being drawn back to the field. I spotted Tavington he was fixated on Martin as he fought his way through the field to him. Martin doing the same. I stopped the horse. He didn't take my warning at all. I watched as he charged at Martin from his horse. Martin charged at the horse with the American flag piercing hercules in his heart. Throwing william to the ground. In mere seconds he was to his feet again in hand to hand combat with Martin.
Martin eventually fell on one knee and I knew that this was it. They both fought as hard as they could to beat the other in their hatred for each other. In one calculated movement Martin spun around on his knee and stabbed William in the stomach. As he was bent over Martin stood and shoved the weapon into his neck. William fell to the ground. I looked away. And forced my horse into a gallop and headed back to the fort. I turned my head to look back at the field one last time where the man I love lay dead. Tears began to stream down my face. Why had he not headed my warnings? Duty above family I suppose. But even then he didn't wait for the order. I was now a widow of the infamous South Carolina Butcher. I would be looked down upon by the British and by the americans. I made it to the fort and into the house before collapsing in the foyer. Letting out a scream of utter pain and grief, Tears streaming down my face.
"Stasi?" I heard the clicking of Mary's shoes against the floor as she rushed over to me and sat down next to me. "What has happened?" She wrapped her arms around me and I fell into her lap. We sat there with her holding on to me as she began to stroke my hair. "We should move somewhere more private." I couldn't move. Even though I knew what happened was very likely to happen. I hadn't prepared myself for the emotions I would feel.
"William…." A new round of tears burst forth. I tried to take deep breaths but they were very shaky. "I was at the battle." She sat there just listening. "I… had to see what happened." I sat up and looked at her. "He's dead, Mary. William is dead." I stood and ran up the stairs to the room I had shared with him. I heard her follow. "Martin Killed him." I saw Susan come out of her room. Her eyes were wide and tears were starting to form in her eyes.
"Papa, killed him?." I nodded and wiped my ran to me and wrapped her arms around my legs. I picked her up and brought her with me to my room. Mary, still following me. She closed the door behind us. After a while Mary left, taking Susan with her to get some lunch. I refused to go and laid down on the bed and cried myself to sleep.
Hours later I was awoken by a knock on the door. "It's Wilkins." I ignored him and he knocked again.
"Go away Wilkins. I just want to be left alone." He stayed standing outside the door. A moment later I heard the key in the lock and the door opening. He entered and closed the door behind him. "What are you doing? I told you to go away. Besides, it's highly inappropriate that we are here alone." I stayed on the bed keeping my back to him.
"I'm here on orders from Colonel Tavington." He walked over to the desk and sat down. Sitting up, I turned to him. "He isn't dead. He mentioned that you know the way back home."
"JAMES WILKINS HOW DARE YOU! I SAW HIM GET KILLED. I WAS THERE WATCHING." I threw the nearest thing at his head which he dodged. "GET OUT." He remained where he was.
"You described seeing a flash of purple light when you had your journey here. Yes?"
"Why does that matter? I know my way home if I choose to go." I crossed my arms holding on to one of William's shirts in my lap that I had been holding as I slept.
"I was near him when he fell. Minutes after there was a flash of purple light that seemed to come from inside him. He is alive."
"His wounds were deadly. No matter the time he is transported to. We can't even be positive that he was sent to my time. There's nothing there for me." Wilkins leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "O'hara proposed. If I stayed I would be provided for as well as the children. I have that to consider."
"You would consider marrying O'hara? And if there's a slight chance that he is in your time and is alive?" I looked down at William's shirt.
"There is so much to think about. Too many what if's. And it wouldn't be a true marriage just for convenience. If I stay it wouldn't be a bad option."
"Even though William would not want that. There are many more here who you make sure you are taken care of without marriage. Including me" I looked up at him.
"Truely?" He nodded. "Thank You Wilkins. Can you set up a meeting with Cornwallis, O'hara, Mary and yourself for the morning? I will think of things tonight and come to a decision in the morning." He nodded and stood. Wilkins left and about an hour later a servant had brought me a letter and helped me ready for dinner. I didn't want to really go but this very well may be one of the last times i would see the people i've come to know while i've been here. I decided to retire shortly after the meal was over instead of joining everyone in the sitting room. I looked around the room I had shared with William. Wilkins was right. William would not want me to marry O'hara of all people. I shook my head and fell asleep once more. Dreaming of ice blue eyes.