The Way Back Home: A 1917 Fanfic

Chapter 36: Ashes

Amelia was outside in the Blakes' tree orchard, turning around on the wooden swing, needing a minute to herself before she and Will departed back to Madeleine's house for the day. After burning the picture of her mysteriously inert body placed on display, a sickening hole of dread began to form in her gut, the feeling inside her sinking that she had acted on a rash and impulsive decision without thinking it through.

She stared up at all the floating ivory and magenta blossom petals slowly snowing upon the grass, taking deep breaths as she felt torn. The young woman had begun to feel overwhelmed by both Will and Joe expressing their worry for her safety and trying to steer her in the right direction. All she wanted to do was make her own choices as she had back in 2024...

Both men's voices rang in her ears and she just needed a moment to unwind and contemplate her situation.

Had she just made a mistake at the cost of her own life, one that could lead to her downfall, beyond what a man as horrible as Klaus could do to her?

She twirled around on the wooden plank supporting her above the ground, the scenery in her vision spinning and whirling like she was in a cyclone.

All she could think about right now was how her life was in jeopardy amidst the most deadly war in history; there was a cruel joke in there somewhere.

Amelia wrestled with her thoughts as she tried to focus on the floral glory surrounding her, the twittering of birds overhead suddenly being drowned by the roar of an aerial plane rumbling across the early afternoon sky above her. She ceased in her spinning motion abruptly at the plane's thunderous engine up in a remote sphere.

A British plane from what she could remember seeing back in France.

As Amelia watch the plane sore by high in the air a song came to her head that distracted her from her anxious thoughts and she starting singing it to ease her frazzled nerves.

Come, Josephine, in my flying machine!

Going up she goes, up she goes.

All she knew in her heart was that Will and Joe couldn't save her. Only she could save herself.

She looked up at the sound of Myrtle barking, the curious canine bounding up to her, long pink tongue hanging from her mouth as her dark eyes looked up at Amelia. The affectionate female dog whined as though she sensed the blonde woman's mood, laying her chestnut-furred head upon Amelia's knees as her fingers scratched Myrtle's ears.

A set of footsteps descending the back stairs made both woman and dog look up and see who had joined them.

William... her brave, knight... had his eyes locked on her as their gazes connected. The shine of curious concern swam in the blue of his eyes as a small smile formed on his lips.

He remained silent as they refrained from speaking, having their mental conversation, reminding one another how their dynamic was deepening by the minute without them needing to verbally communicate what they were thinking.

Her hand reached for him as she kept her perch on the swing. Will took ahold of her hand in both of his own, so much more massive than hers, and pressed her palm to his cheek, his thumb stroking the inside of her wrist.

"Tell me what you're thinking, Amelia." His voice was so patient and gentle; she had never heard a more soothing cadence from a man. "I know you're overwhelmed with what's happened today Love."

She reached with her thumb to trace along his sensuous lower lip. How tempted she was to wrestle him to the blossom-covered ground and kiss him and pretend all their problems had disappeared. "Yeah, it's a lot for me to take in...what might be in store for me. I don't know how I'll rectify it, but I know that no matter what Klaus might do to me..."