CHAPTER 29: Fragments

Elizabeth and Becka took refuge in Jean's tent when the men marched away to the battle field, leaving the girls to tear their hair out until they returned dead or alive. Becka was hysterical and Elizabeth had taken to helping her friend keep her composure but they could hear the cannons firing and the guns going off, which didn't help much at all. Every boom and crack that sounded in the distance made Becka flinch and Elizabeth had to hold onto her to keep her from running out of the tent.

"Aren't you frightened?" Becka asked as she looked up at Elizabeth, "I'd expect you of all people to be hysterical too."

"Just because the physical landscape is calm doesn't mean the exterior isn't storming," Elizabeth said tiredly, holding back tears, "They've been through many a war and why is this one different?"

"Yes, they've been in tussles and small battles but this is-"

"Don't talk," Elizabeth shushed her, "I don't want to hear it!"

Becka now saw that Elizabeth was about to lose it, leaving them both in an unsettled position.

TTTTTTT

What was only two hours seemed like an eternity to the women but when the racket calmed down and everything fell silent, Elizabeth and Becka emerged from the tent and joined the other women in camp. They were going to have to do the dirty deed of looking for their loved ones and they needed as much help as they could get.

Becka looked back to see Jean arriving with the men and tapped Elizabeth's shoulder. She tried to keep Elizabeth calm but when she saw that Ben's limp body was being carried towards her, she nearly lost all her wits. Her heart raced and her body turned cold as if a rush of ocean water had been poured over her. Jean took Elizabeth's arm as Becka held her up but it was in vain. Elizabeth fell to her knees as they put Ben on the ground in front of her. she put her ear on his chest to try and check if there was still a beat before she proclaimed herself a widow.

"He's still alive," Elizabeth said as she put her ear on his chest, "He is, I hear it."

"Yes but he's almost dead," Jean mumbled sadly, "he's lost too much blood."

Elizabeth smacked Ben across the cheek to keep him awake and immediatly glared up at the men who had carried him, "Get him in the tent now. He needs a doctor."

"But-," one of the young men tried to hesitate but everyone glared at him and Becka shook her head to tell him it wasn't wise to say anything to Elizabeth at the moment.

TTTTTT

Becka gloomily walked with Jean along with the party of searchers who sadly made their way to pick out the remains of their family and loved ones. Jean and Becka made their way there to search for survivors from the militia. Becka held her hand to her nose as she took a long branch and turned bodies over. She did find two survivors from the group and shouted as she waved for some men to help her carry them off to the doctor's tent. Unfortunately, Jean found some dead and tried to keep Becka from seeing who they were. She didn't need more grief and worry than she was already burdened with.

Then, just as Becka walked farther out towards the remains of an old plantation house, she saw her father's tomahawk lying next to the body of a familiar green dragoon who laid face down in the mud. she stood in shock and muttered words of shock, not knowing what to think about the death of the tyrant who nearly destroyed her family. She shuddered as she bent down to pick up the tomahawk but just as she did, the hand of the man grabbed her wrist. She screamed shrilly and Jean ran as fast as he could. Becka calmed down when the man lifted his face. She looked into his eyes and began to cry. It was indeed Tavington and he looked like he was in pain far worse than she could imagine. Blood ran from his neck and he gasped to try and make words but she could barely make out what he was saying. She tried to pull her wrist away but he gripped it tighter and squeezed it, bringing her to her knees as she struggled. She could see the fear in him. The life drained from his cold blue eyes as he tried to fight death, causing Becka to look away from him. He was holding onto her as if she was the only thing left to keep him alive and even she was fighting him in his last minutes. For the first time in his life, he was sorry for the things he had done.

"Forgi- forgi," words began to sound from his throat.

Becka looked down at him again and watched as he went limp and dropped his head into the mud for the last time. His hand let go of her wrist and she stared down at him in shock. Jean hovered over her and she picked the tomahawk up, slowly rising to her feet.

"what was he trying to say?" Becka asked herself but Jean lead her away from the scene.

"It doesn't matter anymore."

TTTTTT

Elizabeth waited outside the tent this time and paced as the doctor examined Ben. When she saw Becka and Jean arriving back, she let a smile go. Becka stopped near her and looked at the flap of the tent.

"He's alive, weak, but alive," Elizabeth said with relief but there was still a dark cloud looming over her. the doctor pulled back the flap and slowly walked out, making his way towards Elizabeth with a look of dread in his eyes.

"He may be dead before sunrise, Mrs. Martin," the doctor said shakily, "Too much damage has been done to him internally. He may be alert now but I must warn you to not be hopeful because of it. Prepare yourself."

Elizabeth almost looked mad at him as she stared off and tried to control herself again. Becka slowly walked towards her and put her arm round her, whispering to hr that everything would be fine. Jean took his hat off and stood nearby. Elizabeth pushed Becka away gently and slowly walked into the tent as if she was carrying a lead anchor behind her.

TTTTTTT

He seemed alert to Elizabeth but she couldn't forget the doctors warning. He smiled at her but he gloomy look on her face said it all. He laughed painfully and she began to cry.

"I hate doctors. Army doctors are quacks."

Elizabeth couldn't help to let out a weak and tearful laugh at his words but she still gave up hope. Usually she was a woman of extreme faith but something happened to her when the doctor gave his horrid prognosis.

A group of men came in to pay their respects, knowing what the doctor had said. They all held their hats in their hands and frowns on their faces. One man was even crying.

"I'm fine!" Ben tried to reassure them and sat up, trying not to mince in pain. Elizabeth gently pushed him back down and shook her head.

Harry Burwell stepped in and rolled his eyes. Ben laughed.

"My men are sure I'm going to die. They're going to dig me an early grave."

Elizabeth was beginning to show some signs of hope. Harry smiled and laughed, "You have to stay around for Elizabeth."

She smiled sadly and felt Occum pat her on the shoulder to give her some comfort.

"And, I'll wager all the money I have that you'll be up on your feet in a week."

"Maybe not a week," Ben assured, "a month maybe."

Burwell and Elizabeth shared a look, knowing what Ben was going to say next.

"I'm resigning, Harry," Ben said tiredly, "I've completed what I came to do."

"I can't let you do it, Ben," he tried to argue with him, "We still need you. The war's not over."

Elizabeth placed her hand on Ben's and looked at him with reassurance. She knew he still wanted to fight but she also knew he needed to rest. She could also see that the fire in his eyes had not been quenched and that he still had a passion to fight. Perhaps Gabriel had rubbed off on him after all and he was beginning to be the man Elizabeth knew he would be when his family and his rights would be attacked: A Patriot...