Without You, There is No Point in Surviving

Chapter 11 What Needs To Happen Now

That morning, Sweeney woke up to an upright, healthy looking Nellie.
"Morning," she smiled.
His mouth was agape as he stared at her. "Morning," he muttered, stunned. Without saying a word, he moved closer to her and felt her forehead. "Your temperature is gone."
She just smiled warmly. "Do we have anything to eat? I'm a bit peckish." She smiled again and yelped as he gripped her arms pulling her into an embrace.
"You just beat a bloody infection my pet." He exclaimed.
She laughed, "Of course I did, love. I wouldn't let a silly infection stop me, would I?"
He rummaged through the bag. "What would you like? Its not like we have much of a variety." He looked up at her. "Some soup would be better. But I don't know how—"
"Go make a fire." Nellie interrupted his frantic searching, she took the bag from him, fished out a lace from one of her dresses and tied her hair back. She then searched until she pulled out a pot, two bowls, and spoons. "Do we have enough water?" He nodded.
After a few scrambled minutes, Sweeney managed to get a bowl of soup boiling. Using the pot, they stole from the last cabin they stayed in along with some carrots and potatoes. Nellie brought a couple herbs and spices from fleet street to add in for flavor. After a while, the soup was prepared.
Nellie ate slowly under Sweeney's orders. She could feel her strength returning slowly but surely. Her fever remained gone for the next few hours. A well enough time had past that Sweeney proclaimed it'd be safe enough to travel. Their new horse was so bored and getting agitated. After making sure they had all their things and double checking that Nellie was alright, they mounted the dark steed and rode off.
***
They rode until the sun began to set. They found a secluded patch of grass surrounded by tall trees. Sweeney secured the horse on one of the tree branches and gave it some water and apples. Nellie was feeling a bit dizzy from the ride and laid onto the grass with a loud sigh. They dined on their remaining soup and watched the stars.
"We'll discuss our next plan in the morning." Sweeney said as he rolled over and dosed off. Nellie felt restless so she watched the stars, her hand moved to her wounded side, it still ached terribly off and on. She sighed and managed to drift off to sleep.
In the morning, the horse refused to let any of them ride. Sweeney tugged on the reins as the beast bucked and neighed loudly. "Stop." Nellie hollered, "You're going to get hurt."
"I know what I'm doing." He muttered. Nellie watched him struggling with a horse with her arms crossed.
"I didn't know you had experience with horses?" she asked knowing full well the man has never dealt with any horse before.
"Heel, you bloody brute." Nellie brows arched as she watched him struggle and fail to tame the horse.
"Just leave him be." She said but he didn't seem to hear. He kept shouting curses and the horse aggressively neighing in return. "Stop arguing with a horse love." Nellie said calmly.
Just then the reins slipped from Sweeney's grasp and the horse barreled through the forest away from the two. Sweeney was aghast. "Well, I guess he didn't like us." Nellie said nonchalantly.
"I noticed you not lifting a finger to help." Sweeney growled.
"I'm injured." He ignored her, rolling his eyes. "I almost died the other night. Apparently."
"You sure did." He picked up their bag, "Now we'll have to go on foot." He hoisted the bag over his shoulder. "We have much talk about."
"Yes, what's your plan my dear?" Nellie said walking beside him. They ventured further into the forest. They discussed where they could be located right now. Nellie stared at the napkin map. They discussed the wanted poster and how they most likely need new aliases.
They were still walking around midday, the sun's rays peeping through the canopy of leaves above them. Nellie was examining the wanted poster. "I can't believe they think I'm dead." She complained.
"Why complain? We don't have to worry about changing your image."
She looked up from the poster, "So we're changing your image?" she looked over at him as he placed a hat onto his head and flashed that sarcastic, devil smile. Nellie wasn't convinced. "It'll take more than a hat love." She grasped her side, "Do you want to get caught again?" she winced, slowing down.
Sweeney stopped concerned for her. "Do you need to rest?" She nodded and they sat down by the bark of a tree for a quick break. He handed her some bread and water from the bag. She muttered a thanks and tore into the bread. She stared at the sky while chewing, deep in thought. After a long pause she grabbed the bag, dragging it towards her and dug out his sheers, holding them up to Sweeney with a devilish grin.
He munched on his own slice of bread; brows knit in confusion. After a couple seconds he realized what she was thinking and stood up backing away from her. "No." he shook his head.
Nellie remained smiling like a witch on Halloween, "That streak will have to go."
"You're not touching my bloody hair."
"I must," she replied with a mouth full of bread. She stood up holding the wanted poster to his face. "Black hair with a white streak." She read, "It will have to go."
Sweeney made a grab for the scissors but Nellie was quicker and held them behind her back. "Give me my bloody scissors. You don't know how to use them." She moved away from him as he desperately tried to snatch them back. They kept up this game of cat and mouse, moving around as if they were dancing. Nellie moved behind the tree. After failing to catch her again, Sweeney remained still and waited for her to come to him. He sulked against the tree with his arms crossed. He felt lips brushed his cheek but he wasn't quick enough. "Nellie." He complained as she jumped onto his back, the sheers still in her hand.
"I know what I'm doing." She said and grabbed a hand full of his hair. He panicked and flung her off of him, nearly forgetting about her injury. They both landed on the ground. Sweeney hovering over top of her, pinning her to the ground.
"I won." He said. "Now give me the sheers before you cut yourself."
"Do you think I don't know how to use a blade?" she snipped a piece of his white hair.
She bit her lip smiling, awaiting the volcanic eruption. "You Witch!" he yelled tackling her as she laughed.
"Now, you have to let me cut it." she said once they were done rolling around in the leaves. He grumbled but sat up and let her give him a haircut. He continued to sit there and seethe as she snipped away.
"Not too short."
"Mhm."
"Just get the white."
"I have to make it even."
He seethed even more seeing his hair drop down in front of him. "You can always part it differently."
"Relax love. It's just hair, it'll grow back in a jiff."
"What if it doesn't, I'm old."
"You're thirty-six."
"That's old." He demanded.
"I'm not going to let you go bald on me my dear." She whispered into his ear.
He snickered, "Are you certain, since you're so keen on having a husband back."
She smirked and handed the scissors back to him. "All done."
His hands flew up to his head. "How short did you go?" he sulked as she smiled.
"It looks fine, love. Very handsome."
He tousled his hair around a bit, getting more acquainted with the new length. He turned towards Nellie, who finished placing his scissors back where they belong. "No white is showing? I wish I had a mirror."
"There's a bit of white but I spread it out so it looks like its coming from your roots." She froze when she looked up to see him. To be honest, she didn't know what she was doing and the hair looked very choppy. Whatever magic he pulled running his hands through it made her weak in the knees.
"Nellie?" she stood there ogling him. She cleared her throat and returned to her senses, taking a deep breath. "Sorry love." She blushed, he looked like Benjamin again. "You're going to need a shave soon." She told him, smiling.
He scratched his neck. "I'll let it grow out for now."
***
"I think there's a town up ahead." Nellie spoke after about three hours of silent walking.
"Which one?"
"I don't know. It's just a guess, really." Nellie said staring at the napkin map.
"Have you come up with a name yet?"
"I'm supposed to come up with our new names?" she asked in a shrill voice.
"I can't think of anything." Sweeney grumbled ahead of her.
Nellie folded the map up and placing it in her bosom. She yawned; her gaze fixated on a large tree on a hill up ahead. "Let's take a rest up there." She pointed.
"Why?"
"It looks like a lovely spot," he snickered. "Under a nice oak tree." Her smile faded. "Oak tree."
"I think you've snapped, my dear."
"Oakley." Nellie said to herself, "How could I have forgotten?" Sweeney stopped to turn around and face her, eyes showing concern. Nellie looked up and smiled. "Oakley." He was still confused. Nellie pointed to the two of them. "Mr. and Mrs. Oakley, at your service." She said with a courtesy.
"You've been in the sun too long." Sweeney continued on ahead.
"It was my grandmother's maiden name." she said behind him. "You don't like it?"
"It's fine. I don't really care." He stopped walking to face her again. She couldn't get over that haircut, it made him look so different. Which of course, is what they wanted. "By the time we reach that tree, we'll share our new aliases. You have until then to think of a story."
Nellie nodded but her attention was suddenly elsewhere.
"Now what?" Sweeney said. She ran off to the right. "Nellie!" Sweeney called after her. She heard water, she knew it.
It was a pond, nestled amongst the trees. Nellie sighed in relief. "Oh, thank the lord, I knew it."
Sweeney grimaced. "Its just a bloody pond. I'd prefer we'd keep going towards a city."
"Where am I going to bathe in a city."
Sweeney pondered on what she was going on about until... Wait. "Eleanor!" Without any warning, she had stripped off her dress throwing it on the ground at his feet. "Have some decency woman." He exclaimed turning around, face as red as a tomato.
"Oh please, you've seen my body how many times now?"
He spun back around, "That was different." He immediately regretted facing her and averted his eyes once more, still blushing furiously.
"I'll leave my underclothes on then, since you're so shy." He heard her stepping into the water. "And I doubt you'll want to join me."
He faced her again, picking up her dress. "You're going to get another bloody infection."
She peered at him, the water up to her eyes. Taunting. Or more. Was she trying to seduce him? Sweeney sat down in the grass, clearly not going to accompany her. "Oh, come on love. It's so hot out." she swam around in a circle, teasing him. "It feels nice." She tempted.
"Bloody temptress." He grumbled under his breath and removed his shirt. She was taken aback, not expecting him to actually join her. He waded into the water in his drawers.
She floated on her back around him. "Isn't this nice, my dear?"
He grunted as a response. And watched her float in a circle around him. He could admit, the water did feel nice. And she looked really lovely like this. He looked away, blushing a bit. "You're getting your bandages wet." He grumbled.
"They can be replaced."
"I'll have to clean the wound thoroughly." He complained. She splashed water in his face laughing. In response he chased her around the pond. She continued laughing and after a while, a light smile formed his lips as well. All of a sudden, she shrieked and leapt into his arms. "What?"
"I stepped on something," She laughed.
"It was a probably a stone."
"No. It moved." She exclaimed.
He spun her around in the water making her squeal with glee. "I need to have a look at that wound." He said.
She had her arms wrapped around his neck. "If you insist," She smiled. He looked at her in awe, her long auburn curls were spilling over her shoulders down to her waist modestly. For the first time in however many years he's known her, he realized how beautiful she is.
***
"What's your name?"
"Margery Oakley."
"Where are you from?"
"Ipswich?" Nellie asked.
"Sure." Sweeney said, "Why did you leave?"
"My poor husband died in a fire. I needed to get out the town, too many painful memories, I couldn't stand it." Nellie said. They were seated under the oak tree quizzing each other about their new aliases. "Good?"
"It'll do." Sweeney said.
"Your turn." Nellie said. "Name?"
"Sebastian Oakley. From—"
"Wait! We're using the same last names?"
"Why not? We're married."
"Where's my ring?" Nellie asks, smiling.
"It's just for pretend, my pet." He opened his mouth to continue but she interrupted him again causing him to scowl.
"Let's tell people we're engaged."
"Why?"
"I want a wedding."
Silence. "No." Nellie pursed her lips and Sweeney continued. He left Oxford hoping to travel the country. "Good?"
"I suppose it could be worst."
"Great."
"How'd we meet?" Nellie asked.
"That's not important." Sweeney said packing up their things. "There's a town below, I see the lights and a road."
"And what if someone asks?"
He sighed. "We bumped into each other in a market and fell madly in love, now let's go."
They were walking along the main road at twilight. "I'm only saying love, we may need to put a little more history into this. Why Sebastian?"
"Why Margery?"
She nodded and kept moving, "That's fair."
The sound of hooves on dirt and thumping wheels echoed behind them. They looked back as a carriage, with the driver who had lost control, was barreling towards them. They made to jump out of the way. Time froze as the carriage swerved by a few feet directly towards Nellie. There was no time to react. It was just like when they jumped off the train, the man with the gun pointed at her. She couldn't move. She watched in horror as the bloody bastard saved her life again by colliding into her and pushing her hard onto the ground. Time sped up again. The horses finally stopped and the driver jumped off the carriage spluttering apology after apology. That's when Nellie noticed an unconscious Sweeney at the foot of the carriage. She screamed.