That morning Elizabeth woke to Lily's soft voice telling her to wake up. She got up and rubbed her
eyes. She had a good sleep that night and felt refreshed and ready to start the day. " miss there is
something you should know," Lily's soft voice says. Elizabeth looks at her and sees the concern in
her eyes. " what is it? Is everything alright?" Elizabeth begins to feel alarmed.
" well yes it's just James starts his training today. You won't be able to see him most days until he
gets home which is not until 5:30," Lily's voice is full of kindness and sadness for Elizabeth.
Elizabeth sits on the edge of her bed and puts her head in her hands. Her and James have been
going out for less than a day and she already can't see him for most days. Elizabeth gets up and lily
starts getting her ready. " lily, where is James going to be training?" Elizabeth asks. Lily looks at
her and replies," at the town hall. Why?"
" I need to ask him something and it can't wait," Elizabeth replies causing lily to look at her a little
weirdly but she doesn't say anything.
Once she is ready Elizabeth goes down and has her breakfast. " mum, dad I'm going for a walk,"
Elizabeth tells her parents as she gets up from the table.
" ok darling. Have fun," her mum replies. Elizabeth walks out the door and into the cold morning
air. She begins her walk to the town hall. It takes her about 15 minutes to reach the hall. She finally
reaches it and walks inside. When she gets inside she sees lines and lines of boys of all ages
training. The door bangs shut begins her and they all look up at her. She blushes as she doesn't
like all the attention to be on her. The teacher who Elizabeth recognises and the head of protection,
Marcus Hilt looks and her and says," miss carter what are you doing here?" Living in a small town
means everyone knows everyone. Elizabeth clears her throat awkwardly and says," I'm sorry to
interrupt but I was wondering if I could have a quick word with mr wright." Wright is James's
last name and it is expected that everyone is called by there last name but Elizabeth and James
know each other to well that they didn't bother. " very well but please be quick," Marcus says. At
that Elizabeth sees James move out of his line and towards her. Once he reaches her he says," Liz
is everything alright. You know you're not supposed to be here."
" I know just come with me and listen for a second ok," Elizabeth say impatiently as she leads
James outside. Once outside Elizabeth stands facing James and says ," ever since I found out that
you would be fighting in this war I wanted to be there with you but I didn't know how, now I do.
James I want you to teach me how to fight," Elizabeth says rather quickly due to her nerves. James
looks at her surprised then a little angry. " no way. There is no way I am teaching you how to fight
so you can go into a war and maybe get killed," James says with disgust. Elizabeth looks at him
sadly. " what if the roles were reversed and I was going to war. You would do anything to be there
with me. Wouldn't you? So why is it different. You are the love of my life and if you are going to die
then I am going to die with you," Elizabeth says as tears start to fall down her face. James looks at
her with admiration now. He wipes the tears off Elizabeth's face. " you really want to do this. To
risk your life for me. It will be hard work and will run you down at times?" James asks her.
" yes I am. I don't care how much work it is I will do anything to be there with you," Elizabeth
replies. James smiles. He grabs her waist and pulls her closer to him. " I love you so much," he
whispers and kisses her. Elizabeth moves her mouth against his. The kiss is passionate and full of
love. Elizabeth wraps her arms around his neck and runs her hand through is hair. She feels like
they are the only two in the world but then she remembers that he is meant to be training so she
pulls away. " you should probably get back to training," she says. James smiles.
" I think they can wait a little bit more." He kisses her once more.
Once James went back to training Elizabeth decided to walk the streets for a while. Today was a
sunny day unlike yesterday. The sun shone down on her as she passed the familiar shops and
streets of her town. She couldn't believe that sometime this town would be a battle ground and she
would be fighting alongside James. She knew that training would be hard but she didn't care
because she knew that she could be with James when the battle started. She found herself at her
usual seat at the park. She sat down like she normally does and let her mind wander. Elizabeth
was always told that she was different. She never knew what that meant until now. Most girls who
knew this information would be glad to be able to run from the war instead Elizabeth is forcing her
way into it. She has to tell her parents what she is doing but when and how.
She sat on the chair most of the day until the sun was begging to set. She wandered home as the
sky was starting to get dark. She got home and walk in to the delicious smell of dinner. She walked
into the living room and found her parents there. " mum, dad I need to tell you something and this
time it's a little more serious than me getting a boyfriend," Elizabeth says in a voice that shakes a
little but is firm. " what is it darling?" Her mother asks sounding concerned. " well you know how
the boys all have to train to fight in the war?" Her parents nod. " well I am going to get James to
train me and I will fight in the war," she finishes. Her parents look shocked as well as scared.
" Elizabeth Carter there is no way you will be fighting in a war. I can't lose my only child because
she is going to go fight in a war she isn't supposed to fight in," her dad almost yells. Elizabeth
took a deep breath. She expected them to act like this she just needs to convince them to let her
do it. " you always used to say I would do something different in my life well what if this is it? I
want to do something to help," Elizabeth tells her parents. Her parents look a little scared but she
can tell she has convinced them. Her mum sighs. " I can't believe that I am going to say this bit
fine, you can learn to fight. Just promise me you will be careful," her mother says. Elizabeth nods.
" I promise."
YOU ARE READING
Love, war, betrayal
Ficção HistóricaWhen war comes to London 17 year old Elizabeth Carter must do what no girl should have to do and when the guy she likes is found to have betrayed them, what will her future hold? Based in 1875.