Historical Lams Fics

Free Time

The rare days that headquarters was quiet were some of the best days. Work was slow, there wasn't much to write or copy. It left a lot of free time for the aides. Everyone spent their free time differently-- Meade would go to visit the horse stables and look after the horses, Harrison and Tilghman would play chess, McHenry would read in the aides' bedroom, and while Fitzgerald is away at the moment, he'd usually read up there as well.

Hamilton and Laurens had their own ideas, though.

Laurens sits next to the table that Harrison and Tilghman are playing chess at. Tilghman is much better than all of the aides at chess, but somehow it looks like Harrison is winning. Laurens' examination of their game is interrupted, however, when Hamilton knocks on the doorframe of the aides' office. His cheeks and nose are pink-- probably from the cold. He looks at Laurens and gestures his head towards the front door. Tilghman and Harrison are not bothered at all when Laurens stands and walks out of the room. Hell, they probably didn't even notice.

"Meade helped me bring our horses to the front lawn, care to go for a ride?" Hamilton asks, smiling wide. Laurens smiles back and grabs his cloak and hat from where it was hanging. They walk out together, Laurens carefully tying his cloak around his neck,

"Always."

Hamilton and Laurens spent their free time riding around camp, weaving in between rows of huts and tents, riding past the other officers' headquarters, basically all over camp. There was no reason for it; they weren't riding to inspect anything or deliver a message, they just enjoyed the ride and each other's company.

Meade was no longer there when they made it outside, he had probably returned to the stables. The early spring air was cold and the wind was present, but it wasn't unbearable. It was almost pleasant.

"Alright, sir. Up up." Laurens helps Hamilton onto his horse, makes sure that he's all settled, then climbs onto his own horse. They both grab their horses' reins and start trotting away from the house down the snow-covered path.

"It's starting to warm up it seems," says Laurens. Hamilton scoffs.

"Is it? Your red cheeks say otherwise."

"It feels warmer than yesterday at least."

"Sure." Hamilton rolls his eyes and scoffs quietly, but grins.

"Do you not believe my weather observation?" Laurens asks in disbelief. Hamilton shakes his head but Laurens doesn't believe him. When Hamilton looks away, Laurens elbows him in the side, making Hamilton yelp.

"Laurens! God! I apologize!"

"I know, Colonel. I know."

They ride in silence for a while, passing rows of huts and small fires with soldiers huddled around them. It's a sad sight, honestly. A few soldiers stand at attention as they pass, saluting in respect. It makes Hamilton feel oddly powerful.

"We should pay a visit to Lafayette when we reach his headquarters if he's there," Laurens suggests as they ride through another row of huts. These ones are bigger, likely the huts of higher-ranked officers.

Lafayette's headquarters is almost a 40-minute ride from Washington's headquarters. The ride there is filled with pleasant conversation between Hamilton and Laurens. The two men always have something to say, so long rides are never quiet. It's a good thing for them, but other aides have complained often, preferring quiet.

When they reach Lafayette's headquarters, Lafayette is already outside, leaning against the front wall of the house with a pipe in his hand. He looks up and smiles when he hears the horses approaching.

"Ah! Mes amis!" Lafayette exclaims in happiness.

"Bonjour, Lafayette! Nous sommes ici pour une visite." Hamilton hops off of his horse to shake Lafayette's hand. Laurens stays on his horse.

"Qu'est-ce que tu as fait aujourd'hui?" Lafayette asks.

"Rien," Laurens says shortly.

"Rien?! Tu n'as pas fair de travaux?!"

"Il n'y a pas d travail à faire." Hamilton waves his hand to dismiss any further comment from Lafayette.

"Et bien." Lafayette puts the pipe in his mouth and inhales it, then takes it back out to continue the conversation. "Comment va le Général? Et la famille?"

"Il est bien. La famille et aussi bien," Hamilton explains. He takes the pipe out of Lafayette's hand and sticks it in his mouth, inhaling it. Lafayette's eyes widen in shock.

"Hamilton, attendre--"

Before he can warn him, Hamilton starts coughing and almost choking. He leans over to cough into the snow while Lafayette pats his back and Laurens climbs off of his horse to make sure Hamilton is alright.

"Dear God!" Laurens gasps.

Hamilton finishes his coughing fit and stands up straight again. "Hm, well, you can keep your pipe, Lafayette. Colonel Laurens and I best be on our way back to headquarters." Hamilton shoves the pipe into Lafayette's hands and walks to his horse. Laurens follows and walks to his. Before they mount their horses, Lafayette gives them both a kiss on each cheek.

"Uh... bonne journée, messieurs!"

* * *

As soon as they walk through the door, Harrison and Tilghman walk up to them and pull them into the aides' office.

"Come look at our chessboard and tell us if my win was legal," Tilghman grumbles. Hamilton and Laurens look at each other in confusion but follow Harrison and Tilghman to the office. The chess pieces are littered all over the board, making it impossible to see what was going on during the game. Tilghman undos a few moves to replicate what he did.

"You see, i took my knight--" he moves his night closer to Harrison's king-- "and he moved his knight--" he moves Harrison's knight from beside the king to block his own-- "and then I moved my bishop." Tilghman takes the bishop a few spaces away and knocks over Harrison's king.

"Checkmate?" Laurens asks.

"Yes," Tilghman answers. He flicks the king so it knocks over.

"It's legal."

"Exactly!"

"No!" Harrison cuts in. "No, no, he cheated!"

"How could he have cheated?" Hamilton asks.

"He didn't. Harrison just refuses to admit he lost." McHenry walks into the office with a stack of letters in his hands and tosses them on a table. Meade is behind him. "And we have work, sirs. So pick a letter and read."

The men all groan and slump down into their chairs, grabbing quills and opening inkpots. Laurens pats Harrison on the shoulder.

"You'll win a game one day, old man."

Hamilton, sitting in the chair beside Laurens, presses his knee against Laurens' under the table. When Laurens looks over at him, they both smile lovingly.

* * *

(French: "Ah! My friends!" "Hello, Lafayette! We are here for a visit." "What did you do today?" "Nothing." "Nothing?! You didn't do any work?!" "There was no work to do." "Ah well. How is the general? And the family?" "He is good. The family is also good." "Hamilton wait--" "Good day, gentlemen!")