What Happens By Candlelight

Chapter Twenty-Five: Conscious

~Christina's Perspective~

My head hurt. A lot.

I'm cold.

I'm hungry.

My head is pounding.

Slowly, I peeled my eyes open enough to see the trees above me. I was on the ground. No, the ground doesn't move.

I'm upright, but my head is leaning back. My neck is stiff.

With a groan, I sat up fully. As I fixed the position of my head, I could see the neck of the horse, as well as the arms and hands that held the reigns.

Turning my head, I saw a stoic Gabriel staring straight ahead. I don't remember much, but I certainly didn't remember him coming with us to the cottage. Did he come to fetch us? Did he get enough time off to join the group? Why were we here?

"You were under the influence of a currently unidentified substance. You fell asleep as I was taking you away from the rest of the party."

"Under the... I don't remember doing anything of the sort. Are you certain?" Gabriel cast me a look with dull eyes, as if he was staring into the soul of death itself.

"Unless you normally climb trees to prove an idiotic point, or fling yourself at any man on a horse, or ask to be taken somewhere more private, then yes, I do believe you were under the influence of something," he paused, scanning our surroundings. I could easily tell he was thinking over his next words carefully. "I find myself doubting whether or not you took that substance willingly. I'll have to conduct an investigation once we return to the camp."

"Camp? What about the cottage?"

"The reason I came in the first place was to get you and the others back to the camp," the horse neighed suddenly, stomping its foot angrily before continuing once more. Its pace was slow as if he was tired and overworked. Then again, riding double on the animal can do that after long periods of time. "There was an attack nearby, and we don't know where the militia went."

They wouldn't hurt me, I wanted to say, they'd never hurt a valuable spy. I'm probably the most reliable honeypot in all of South Carolina.

"There's also a letter for you, from your friend Amanda," the parchment was handed to me, slightly crumpled from being stored in an inside pocket of his coat.

The blood slowly drained from my face with the knowledge that Gabriel had been holding on to this for so long. He could know. He could know everything. He might be leading me towards my death now for all I know.

"You-you didn't read it, did you?" The look of surprise crossed his features as if I had offended him. Was it offensive to ask such things back in England? I wouldn't know.

"Of course I didn't read it - though the temptation remained strong throughout my journey here." I couldn't help but sigh in relief as I gently broke the wax seal. The first couple of paragraphs were normal, expected conversation. Had anyone been reading, they would have stopped out of boredom. It wasn't until the second page that things became far more interesting.

... the Captain was more than pleased at your findings and has sent word up north to General Washington. Apparently, another source in South Carolina has confirmed this information, as well as another in New York. If all goes according to plan, then the war may be over before the year is out.

He is planning to meet you soon. You'll know when and where when the time comes.

The moved back to better and lighter topics, as the two of us often formatted our correspondence this way.

"All is well, I hope," I jumped out of my thoughts, carefully folding the letter and placing it back in the envelope.

"Yes, all is well. It was nothing more than our usual private thoughts and news sharing. Completely ordinary," I cringed at my wording, finding my thoughts to be muddled and all over the place. "I apologize, I must sound awfully suspicious at the moment. I can't seem to make one coherent thought blend with another."

"'Tis a normal occurrence, from what I understand." The plantation came into sight as we broke through the barrier of trees. The walls that once surrounded the entire area had been taken down partially for repairs, but no militias bothered to prepare a raid. This was the general's personal residence after all, which meant most of the Red Coats in South Carolina were stationed here.

"Spring is coming soon," the words left my mouth before I could even think about what I was saying. "You'll be leaving for Virginia before long, won't you?"

I could see his head bob behind me. "Once the snow melts and the weather warms to a tolerable temperature."

"You'll... you'll stay safe, won't you?" I felt my heart shatter at the thought of him dying in battle. Perhaps it was because I was the first to share the news of their move, or because I felt a certain feeling of helplessness when it came to Gabriel. There was nothing I could do for him or with him that was right. I couldn't keep secrets for him. I couldn't even bring myself to have the same strong feelings he had for me. I was nothing more than a fool.

Yet, he gave me his usual smile, as if I said one of the most loving things he's ever heard. "Anything for you, dear."

I felt dread take over me as the blurred out memories from earlier that day came crashing forward.

I never thought I would share one of my deepest and darkest thoughts like that, but I still managed to do so. I never imagined myself to act so freely, to speak my mind so openly. It was all so unnatural.

Clearing my throat, I turned away to face forward, watching the stable boy run forward as we neared the front entrance. The scrawny lad caught the reigns that were tossed at him, leading the horse to a stand-still as Gabriel swung himself off.

With my mind dizzy and swimming with strange new thoughts, I allowed him to guide me off the magnificent creature without complaint. I didn't even comment on his hands - which remained on my waist longer than what was normally considered acceptable.

"Shall I see you this evening?"

"Yes, yes of course," I brushed him off, clutching the letter in my hands a little tighter. With nothing more to say, I walked off. So many thoughts and regrets came to mind as I climbed the stairs and began my journey through the labyrinth of hallways.

It wasn't until I entered my room several minutes later that I understood what I had agreed to.