Eyes Wide Open, Mouth Sewn Shut

"This is what your rebellion costs," Arthur said. "Not just your blood. Theirs." He gestured to the field without looking away. "Every corpse out there followed your voice. And you led them here."

Alfred's breath hitched. "Better... to die free than live on your leash."

Arthur's mouth twisted into a half smile. "Still talking. Always talking."

He reached out, almost tenderly, and brushed a strand of soaked hair from Alfred's forehead. Alfred jerked away as if burned.

"You never learned when to stop," Arthur whispered. "Too many ideas. Too much noise. Too proud to bow, even when it would have saved you pain."

He stood, taking Alfred's musket and reversing it with practiced ease. The brass butt-plate caught the gray light.

"Maybe," he said, "in the dark and the quiet, you'll finally learn to keep your head down. And that mouth shut."

The butt came down hard against Alfred's temple.

Revolutionary War AU where America lost the war