All is Fair in Love and War

Chapter 20

They continued to ride right on past the place that Seline would need to turn onto to go home. The commander riding with a small grin on his face as he rode. Her eyes had followed the tiny path in the woods as they walked on by it. They rode right on past it and on until evening. Seline was a long way from home by the time they stopped. She was tired, hungry, sore and scared. Will had not looked up once the entire ride. The Commander never said another word, and neither had Will. It was the longest day ever for Seline. She kept hoping that the Commander would tire and move on, or decide to go and check on his troops further up the line, but he stayed at her side the entire march. The commander finally left when he announce that they were going to make camp. He trotted away only to turn and come back to tell Seline and Will that he expected them to both report to him when they had set up their tents. With that he trotted off toward the front of the column.

Seline made her way over to a more secluded spot near the trees. She dismounted and turned to Will, who had followed her on autopilot. Since she was not an actual soldier they had not issued her a tent or a bed roll or a mess kit. She only had the clothes on her back that Will had taken from the young soldier and her dress that was in the saddle bag. She would not have her own tent to set up, but she could put up Will's. They would have to share, and that would be a problem since every other man had their own tent. She would find a reason for them to stay together. Turning to Will to see what his thoughts were on this, she realized that he was still on his horse where it had stopped.

Will did not move. He was still in a state of shock. She pulled on his leg and then his arm causimg him to slide side ways off the horse when she pulled on him. She barely caught him and had a hard time holding up his weight. She half dragged him to the tree and sat him down. She ran back to his horse and tied it up and then pulled the canteen from his saddle and brought it over. At first she tried to give him a drink, when that did not work she poured some into her hand and splashed it in his face. The water seemed to revive him and snap him back to his senses. He reached out and hugged her. Two of the soldiers walking by gave them funny looks. Seline quickly said in as loud a deep voice as she could. “It’s alright brother don’t you worry. Ma will be just fine.” The two soldiers tipped their hats to her and walked on talking quietly.

Seline stood up and walked to Will’s horse and tied him up next to her horse and then took the tent off the saddle. She laid it out to set up. Not having done this before she was not sure what she was doing. She did help take it down so she thought that she could figure it out. As she pulled out the poles Having regained his commposure, Will came over to help her. They worked together and he showed her how to put the tent up. Once it was erected, they took Will’s bed roll and put it inside the tent along with their saddle bags.

They were told to report to the commander when they were done, but Seline wanted to talk to Will first. She pulled him inside the tent with her and closed the flap. She whispered very softly. “Are you okay? You had me worried.” Seline raised her hand to Will’s face. He reached his hand up to hold hers there “I am so sorry. This is my fault and now your trapped here.” Will let go of her hand and reached out and held her by her waist. He looked into her face with concern and guilt. “Will, this is not your fault, and from now on we work things out together. That is what husband and wife means, and I am your wife.” Seline reached out and put her hand on his knee. He smiled at her at the word 'wife'. They were both kneeling since they could not stand up in the tent. “We need to go see the commander. I need you to do most of the talking so I don’t have to. We are brothers, ok? That is the story that we will give, that way no one will question us sharing a tent or staying together. We will try and stay quiet and keep out of everyone’s line of sight. We will need to find a loop hole to get me out of here without it affecting you. Maybe I get very sick. I can fake having a fever and make myself throw up.” Seline said, trying to think quickly. She knew that they would need to have their stories straight for the commander, but they would also need to have a very good reason for her to be able to get out now that the commander had the two of them on his radar. Will looked doubtful at this. Seline nodded her head "It will work." Seeing his doubt, she let her hand drop. "Alright. We will just start with the fact that we are brothers, and start from there. We can figure out the rest once we see the lay of the land here. Agreed?" Will looked at her still with concern. "Ok Brother." He said and cracked a beautiful half smile. Seline smiled back and said "Let’s go see what the commander has to say and then we can come up with something.”