The Mistress of Black Grove Manor (57 page)

“You as well.”

Hamish got up and walked to his tent.  As he walked in the cool air his leg started to bother him. 
Old injuries acting up again
.  He got undressed and carefully setting aside his armour and kilt, got into bed.  It wasn’t long before he was fast asleep as well.  When he woke up, early in the morning, everyone around him was still asleep.  He had always been an early riser.  He took advantage of this opportunity to stroll around the camp looking for loose ends to tie up.  He donned his armour and kilt and put on his sword.  He patrolled up and down the ranks of tents.  To his endless chagrin he came across a passed-out grunt lying face down in the dirt outside of one of the tens.  He was clearly unconscious from a night of too much drinking.  A whisky bottle by his side confirmed Hamish’s suspicions.  He gave the drunk a swift kick in the gut.  “Get up,” he ordered.

The drunken man barely even realized what was happening.  But he groaned and shifted onto his knees, looking up at Hamish stupidly.

“What is your name and rank, son?” asked Hamish in an authoritarian tone.

“Gil, private, sir.”

“Don’t call me sir.  I am a warrant officer, not an officer.”

“Yes, warrant officer.”

“Do you expect to beat the English while drunk off of whisky? Do you think that will keep you alive out there?”

“No, warrant officer.”

“Then get your crap together and march over to your tent and get yourself together.  I don’t want to see you in this state again, do you understand?”

“Yes, warrant officer.” And the young man ran off hastily to his tent and disappeared behind the white opening.

Unbelievable. 
Hamish walked around some more but didn’t find any other passed out grunts or problems that needed immediate solving.  His thoughts turned to Elizabeth.  He wondered if she was awake by now, but somehow he doubted it.  She seemed very tired the night before and he hoped that she got a good night’s rest.

A horn sounded which indicated that all the soldiers were to get ready for the day.  The camp went from being a quiet, peaceful place to all hustle and bustle.  Soldiers ran every which way, almost bumping into Hamish on several occasions.  He made his way to the officers’ tent to see if he could find Elizabeth.  She was just getting out of bed when he found her and walked right up to her and held out his hand.  “Let me help you up.  I want to show you the camp grounds.”

Hamish led Elizabeth out of the tent and brought her to the mess where he pointed out where she could get something to eat whenever she wanted.  Then he took her to the lavatory and showed her where she could clean up and shower at her convenience.  Elizabeth said she would take the opportunity to get cleaned up and get herself ready for the day so they parted and Hamish went himself to get washed up.  He then had a hearty breakfast and set about polishing his armour.  Gil ran past him and not so much as glanced in his direction.  Hamish wondered if he would be one of the lucky ones that lived or one of the unfortunate ones that died.  He hoped Gil would be okay.  Alex and Bert walked up to him and gave him a respectful nod.  “Good day, Hamish,” they echoed together.

“Good day gentlemen.  Today feels like the day we should send to Glasgow for reinforcements.  It is estimated that Prince Albert, who runs the keep about sixty miles to the south-east, has a host of something in the vicinity of three-hundred odd men.  As it stands, we can match him man for man.  But playing the odds and having more men to go by has never hurt an army before.”

“So you think they’ll attack, then, Hamish?”

“Even if they don’t, they are likely our next target.  I am still awaiting orders from higher up but that seems to be the direction we are heading in.  And of course, there is always still the possibility that they will reinforce and come down with more numbers.  The battle is brewing, gentlemen.”

“Well,” said Alex reflectively, “At least we didn’t all get dressed up for nothing.”

“Hamish?” The girl’s voice came from behind.  It was Elizabeth.

“Yes Elizabeth?”

“Are we going to be going to war?”

“Yes, it looks that way, Elizabeth.  But don’t worry, it is not because of you.  Prince Albert’s fortress is a key target that needs to be acquired.  If we go to battle you will be behind our lines with the rest of the commanders, so you will be quite safe from physical harm.”

“I hope you are telling me the truth,” said Elizabeth.

“Let’s go for a ride,” suggested Hamish.  I’m sure it will make us both feel a lot better.

Elizabeth followed Hamish to the stables where he selected his favourite thoroughbred and saddled her up with a saddle large enough to accommodate both of them.  They then rode out towards the line of tents and out of the encampment.  Before long they were headed towards a forest and made their way along the dirt path until they were surrounded by large trees whose leaves were the leaves of autumn – red, brown, green, and yellow.  “I brought some food,” said Hamish.

They dismounted and Hamish unbundled a blanket from the back of the saddle and laid it out for them on the ground.  They each took a seat and then began to eat the cheese and bread that Hamish had brought.  For dessert, they had ripe, delicious peaches that were a rarity for the time of year.

“This is all so delicious,” said Elizabeth.  “Thank you so much for bringing me here.”

“You’re most welcome,” said Hamish.  “There is something that I have been meaning to ask you.  I know we have not known each other for very long, but I am getting to a certain age where I am thinking about my future.  And I need a bride to be in that future.  I don’t know what it is, but there is just something about you that makes me want to get married.  And I want that bride to be you, Elizabeth.”

Elizabeth, who did return those very same feelings, was speechless.  Her girlish dreams were finally coming true.  Here was this fantastic man who was proposing to her in the most romantic way possible.  She hardly had to think at all before uttering a deep and passionate “Yes!”

The two of them embraced and hugged each other tightly.  Their faces came together for a moment and then Hamish made the move.  Be brought himself closer to her and their lips met.  At first it was a light grazing of the lips but then he pushed harder and their lips moved and kissed in a rhythmic, sensual fashion.  Their tongues danced together and pretty soon they were both lost in ecstasy.

The moment seemed to go on forever.  But eventually, it had to come to an end.  They leaned back and fell onto the blanket, holding each other in each others’ arms for what seemed like an eternity.  After they felt like they could go on like that forever they got up and rode back to the camp.

Octavius greeted them with some news.  A message had come in that an additional five hundred highlanders were being sent to their very campsite. 
This should give us enough strength to penetrate Prince Albert’s forces. 
“Thank you for that report,” said Hamish to Octavius.

Hamish led Elizabeth to where the commanders were gathered around and instructed them to take good care of her.  “You will remain behind our lines, Elizabeth,” said Hamish.  “These highlanders will take good care of you and keep you safe.  I must make sure that we are equipped to receive the additional troops.”

Hamish spent the rest of the day making various preparations and checking in on the different platoons t0 make sure they were ready for war.  All seemed to be in order.  So he met with Alex and Samson to exchange information.  They both also thought that the battalion was ready and they eagerly awaited the next day, when the new troops were supposed to be arriving.

That night Elizabeth and Hamish ate together and discussed relatively little.  Hamish did mention, however, that they could begin plans for the wedding after the battle.  This was slated to be his last combat role and after this he would be changing to a more sedentary position.

“Do you really think you can beat Prince Albert?” asked Elizabeth.

“With these extra troops we can.  We are going to route his fortress by flanking him on either side and then sending our main force up the middle.  Hopefully, as well, we have the element of surprise on our side so it’s possible that he won’t even see us coming.”

“I heard that he is pretty ruthless in combat.  If he takes you guys somehow he will probably execute you along with the other commanders.”

“That is always a possibility in war, Elizabeth, I’m not going to lie.  But we must take this chance.  Their stronghold is an important target for us.  And if I can gain it, I will be promoted so that I will never have to see another day in combat again and you and I can focus on our lives.”

Hamish gave Elizabeth another kiss and then they each went to bed.  In the morning they broke their fast on a hearty meal and then spent the day waiting for the additional troops to show up.  At about four o’clock in the afternoon they arrived, all five hundred of them.  By the evening they set out on a march toward Prince Albert’s castle.  It took them all night and part of the following day to arrive at the castle, and when they did, they saw that it was well fortified.  Archers manned the walls and patrols were guarding against attack by foot.  But the highlanders are legendary in battle.  They remained confidant of their victory, mainly because they outnumbered their enemy and they were of a fiercer breed than the English soldiers.

As soon as the eight-hundred highlanders approached the castle an alarm was sounded and all of the civilians who were outside going about their business were called in and the portcullis was closed shut.  The soldiers who were patrolling the outside were summoned into battle formation and took a defensive position against the highland raiders.  Hamish and the other commanders took their position on the front line, and charged forth.  The enemy English soldiers charged as well, and for a few moments nothing could be heard but the battle cries on each side.  Suddenly each side came to a clash and then there was blood and mayhem everywhere.  Hamish erupted into a godlike war hero and carved his way through the English soldiers.  He sliced here, and thrusted there, and all around him bodies dropped.  Blood sprayed onto him as well, covering him in a layer of red gore.  He looked to his right and saw Octavius doing well as well, and the two of them charged deeper into the mayhem together.  An English knight on horseback charged at the two of them.  They darted to either side and used their blades to injure the horse, and the knight fell to the ground.  Octavius jumped on the fallen knight and made short work of him, slicing his skull in two with a might downwards stroke.  Before long the highlanders had cut their way through the main outside force.  When real danger had abated, Hamish stood and looked around him.  He estimated that roughly about two hundred of his fellow highlanders had fallen, but that they had killed twice that many of the enemy.  The outside battle was just about wrapping up.  Next they would have to contend with the archers from the castle.  And getting together the proper instrument for breaking through the gate would be a lot of work too.  “Retreat!” called on Hamish, and the cry was echoed by other soldiers so that they could all hear the order.  The remaining six hundred of them retreated back until they were a safe distance from the castle and just on the outskirts of the forest.  Gil came up to Hamish, all bloodied but apparently unharmed.  “I made it, warrant officer,” he said.

“You did, son.  And I am proud of you.” Hamish smiled at the lad.  “Where is Elizabeth?”

“She’s a safe distance away – in the forest,” said a tall soldier with a large sword strapped to his back.

Just then a messenger arrived with a parchment bearing the sealed crest of Prince Albert.  Hamish read it allowed: “Dear Scotsmen, I shall not call for reinforcements or take any further steps towards your demise if you bring me the girl.  I demand to see Elizabeth up close and to have her as my personal guest.  You may bring one soldier with her as an escort, and that is all.  I await your arrival.  Sincerely, Albert.”

“There is no way we are doing that,” said Hamish.  “We are just going to have to find some other way to take the castle.  I was thinking we could construct a battering ram from the lumber in this forest and break down the door.”

“That is certainly one possibility,” said Octavius.  “But their archers are many.  We risk losing a great number of soldiers when we man the battering ram.  And they likely have hot oil and flamed arrows as well, creating even more difficulty.”

“We will have to do our best.  I am not going to send Elizabeth into danger.  Now let’s begin preparations.  We are still six hundred strong.  We should be able to have a sizable battering ram by nightfall.”

The men scrambled to and fro, cutting down trees and bundling them together.  They created sturdy wooden frame to support the ram, along with large wooden wheels and handles so that brave soldiers could grip the sides of the ram and shove it forward.  By the time the moon was up the ram was ready to be launched.  So the first group of brave souls manned the ram and started the attack on the gate.  It took three attempts before the ram had to be re-manned.  Arrows reigned down from above, and, just as Hamish had predicted, so did hot oil and flaming arrows.  Then another group of soldiers had to be sent in as replacements.  Then another.  Finally, on the fifth group of soldiers the gate gave way and there was a large enough opening to get inside.  A tremendous roar erupted from the highlanders and they stormed the gate, entering at an alarming rate.  Soon the entire highland force was inside the castle walls and running up the steps to the gates.  First the highlanders took out the archers, then the armed guards.  Finally, they made their way to the center of the keep, where Prince Albert was headquartered.  Hamish was one of the first to enter the center of the keep.  His sword drawn, he crept up the steps and walked up to the throne.  Prince Albert was sitting there.  But he didn’t look scared, or terrified.  He looked confidant.  “You will not be winning this war.  My death, should you wish it, will mean nothing.  You pathetic Scots will fall in the end, you’ll see.  Even now, there are a thousand of my countrymen marching here to do battle with you.  You will not prevail,” said Prince Albert.