Innocence Lost

Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to the Patriot and I gain no profit by this story A/N A/N: As this is an AU story, some of the events in this story happen in a different chronological order from the movie.

Chapter One

On the ride back home to Pembroke with her parents, Anne Howard Martin smiled to herself as she remembered her wedding night with Gabriel. Becoming his in every way had been all she'd hoped it would be. Though they'd only parted that morning, Anne missed him already.

"I wish we had more time together," Anne said, clinging to Gabriel while her parents waited in the wagon. "I don't ever want to let you out of my sight again."

Gabriel Martin hugged Anne closer, giving her a tender kiss. "Me, too," he agreed. "But I've still got a war to fight and the men are depending on me."

"I know, I understand."

"And Tavington is still out there. I won't rest until he's stopped."

Anne shivered at the mention of Tavington's name. "Be careful, Gabriel," she warned. "He's a very dangerous man." Kissing him again, she added, "Come home to me soon."

"You can count on that."



"Thinking about Gabriel?" Mrs Howard asked as the wagon neared Pembroke.

"Oh, yes, Mother," Anne said with a shy smile. "Always."

Both women fell silent as they saw a troop of Green Dragoons as they entered the village. Anne looked at her father with fearful apprehension.

"I wonder what they want?" Anne said, twisting her handkerchief in her lap.

\ "I have dea,dea," her father replied. "But you can be certain that it will be trouble for us."

"Turn around," Mrs Howard urged her husband. "Let's go hide in the woods until they're gone."

"Too late," Mr Howard said. "They've already seen us." He pointed, indicating Captain Wilkins, who was riding toward them.

"All town residents are to go to the church for a meeting," Wilkins said when he'd reached the wagon. "Colonel Tavington's orders."

Howard did not reply, but followed Wilkins as he escorted the wagon into the town.

When Anne's father stopped the wagon in front of the church, they saw soldiers herding their neighbors inside. As she stepped from the wagon and followed her parents into the building, she noticed a single mounted dragoon watching from a short distance away. Anne shuddered as she recognized Colonel William Tavington, her stomach queasy with fear at the sight of him.

No sooner had Anne and her parents entered the church than they were surprised by Tavington riding his horse into the sanctuary. He suddenly stopped, his horse blocking the door.

Having gained everyone's attention with this intimidating maneuver, he removed his helmet, then said, "This town has given aid to Benjamin Martin and his rebels. I wish to know his whereabouts." After a pause, he continued, "So. Anyone who comes forwmay may be forgiven their treason."

N None of the villagers spoke.

"Very well," Tavington said, his lip curled in scorn. "You had your chance." He turned, preparing to leave.

Again, there was an uncomfortable silence. Suddenly, one man in the back pushed his way forward through the crowd. "Wait! This man gives Martin and his men supplies, " he said, pointing to Howard. "He brings them from Black Swamp.."

Howard blanched, then hissed, "Quiet!"

"He's in the marsh, by the old Spanish mission," the informant continued.

"You damn fool," Howard said.

"This man here?" Tavington said, looking at Howard.

"Yes, sir."

"Black swamp, you say? By the old Spanish mission?"

"Yes," he confirmed. "Not only that, this man's daughter just married Martin's son." Indicating a young woman just behind Anne, he concluded, "I overheard her telling that woman over there."

"That's very interesting," Tavington said, a malevolent grin spreading across his face. "Thank you very much."

Regarding Anne with a predatory expression, he suddenly lunged forward, reaching down to pull her up onto the horse with him. With Anne seated astride in front of him on the saddle, he moved to leave the church.

"Shut the doors," he called out in a low voice to a soldier waiting outside.

"But what about me?" the informant asked. "You said we'd be forgiven. I haven't told you all I know yet."

"This young woman will tell me," he said, pausing at the door. "It may take a bit of.....persuasion....but she will tell me what I want to know." Smirking at the informant, Tavington said in parting, "So far as forgiveness goes, that's between you and God." As he rode out, the soldier quickly closed the church doors behind him.

Captain Wilkins rode up to Tavington in therchyrchyard and said, "Ready to fire the town on your orders, sir."

"The town?" he said with a snort, looking at Anne intently. "Burn the church."

"There is no honor in this!" Wilkins said, disgust clearly showing on his face.

Before Tavington could respond, Anne cried out, "No! You can't do this!" She struggled in vain to break free of Tavington, who had been holding her around the w.
.

Instantly, Tavington slapped her hard across the face. "Be quiet!" he hissed. "That is, unless you want to join them in the church."

Anne did not reply, but began whimpering softly.

Tavington turned back to Wilkins. "Didn't you say that all those who stand against England deserve to die a traitor's death?" Looking at the other man with thinly veiled contempt, he said, “Burn the church, Captain.”

Wilkins paused for a long moment, at war with his conscience. Finally, he threw the first torch, with it landing squarely on the roof, which immediately caught fire. Several other soldiers followed suit and the church was soon fully engulfed in flames.

At the sight of this, Anne began wailing loudly. This time, Tavington punched her in the face, his fist closed. "I told you to keep quiet!"

Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a handkerchief and roughly stuffed it into Anne's mouth to gag her. Calling to Captain Bordon, who was to his left, he said, "Bind her hands."

Anne looked at Bordon with pleading eyes as he moved his horse closer to comply with Tavington's orders. Pulling a short length of rope from his pack, he bound her wrists as gently as he could. Before turning away, he gave her a pitying look. He'd wanted to say something to comfort her, but did not dare in front of Tavington.

"Have the men round up all worthwhile horses they find," Tavington said to Bordon. "Also, have them check the houses for whatever money and small valuables they can carry. Tell them to be quick about it; we will move out in fifteen minutes."

"Yes, sir."

After leaving Pembroke, they rode in the opposite direction from where Anne had come in with her family, headed toward the dragoon camp. Anne was quiet now, in shock about what had happened to her parents and neighbors, and fearful about what was to become of her.

She slowly became aware of Tavington's breath on the back of her neck. He reached around and removed the handkerchief from her mouth, but left her hands bound.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked. "What do you want with me? I don't know anything important."

"Surely you are not that stupid, Mrs Martin," Tavington replied, saying her name slowly with emphasis. "I have no doubt you know quite a bit of information that would be useful to me."

"I don't any anything." she insisted.

"Eventually, you will tell me everything I want to know," he said. "I always get what I want."

"Not this time."

"Hmmm, I think it's time you were taught a lesson in cooperation," Tavington said, a low undercurrent of menace in his voice. "I don't think you quite understand whom you're dealing with."

Anne understood only too well what he meant to do. She suddenly felt the evidence of his intentions pressing against her backside. She leaned forward as far as she could, shrinking away from him.
At that moment, Tavington spotted a clearing aheith ith a creek running behind it. He turned to Bordon. "We will stop here for one hour. Have the men water the horses."

Bordon nodded as he moved to carry out Tavington's orders.