Sharpe's Exploits

[Katamari Roller]

Alfonso didn't like the attention the camp seemed to show on his prisoner. He didn't mind it too much, but he preferred to be careful about revealing the presence of an enemy high-ranking female officer in the middle of a British camp. Not because they were British. In fact, if it were a Spanish camp, perhaps he would be even more worried. Now, the Portuguese... those would have been a real problem, given how they would want to have revenge on their honor. A honor they had sullen themselves, but still...

"I appreciate honesty, señorita de Villiers... but insulting your host is not good manners, which is something that I also appreciate. As for your comparison of the latrines with the Versaillese court... I find it funny. And somewhat strange, seeing how you are French, after all."

Alfonso stepped in behind the planks, following her, and stood ready with his sword low and ready to be swung, and his pistol below and prepared. Justine's whisper, though, made him somewhat nervous. Up until now, he had treated her like a soldier, but the line that differentiated soldier and woman weakened slowly... and he couldn't help blushing. He gulped nervously.

"I won't be watching that closely..." Alfonso stared at her, before looking away, just enough that Justine still remained within his view. Enough that if she moved, he would notice. He cursed inwardly at his shyness towards women. He had never expected that to be played againt him like this.

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Justine de Villiers

"French I may be but never a supporter of the Bourbons."

She smiled seeing how he blushed and moved around, unbuttoning her breeches, keeping her eyes fixed on his face.

"Could you perhaps give me a hand here" She was still smiling, the situation thoroughly bizarre. Here was the man whom she tried to kill earlier and now she needed his help to pull down her breeches. The thought making her laugh out loud. Seeing his sullen reaction she apologised.

"I'm sorry Captain, I did not intend to spite you, nonetheless I need an extra pair of hands here. It seems I'm lacking the dexterity needed."

Justine bit her lip trying to repress her laughter. She wasn't coy about these things, after all she was a soldier and had spent most of her life in the company of such. Though she suspected that the Spanish captain would find it rather unsettling.

"Oh don't be such a prude, remember you threatend to have me gang-raped Captain, I'm sure you can stomach to pull my breeches down. After all it's nothing as horrible as the things you suggested."

She had kept her voice soft as she spoke, hoping to further add to his discomfit.

 

[Katamari Roller]

"I'll be damned if this isn't more funny than all the comedies I have seen performed in our theaters..."

Alfonso scratched the back of his head, and moved in front of Justine. He sheathed his sword, and tried to undo the knot one-handed. But to no avail. Apparently, the French way of tying one's breeches was quite complicated. "Uhhm, I'll need you to sort of... guide me?"

His eyes inmediately moved to her own, as he tried to stiffle a laugh. "I swear I couldn't find a better way of saying that."

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Justine de Villiers

There was no way that Justine could surpress the laughter that bubbled up inside her. The Spanish captain, the aristocratic Alfonso de Avellanos y Marca, a man who had slaughtered her countrymen but a few hours earlier and reduced her detachment to herself was not blushing like a school-boy trying to untie her breeches. Jaded and unfeeling she might be yet the sight was strangely endearing.

"Tell you what Alfonso you untie me and I give you my word that I won't try any tricks. That will save us both some embarresment."

She looked down smiling again, the emotions that had been stirred had given her cheeks a slightly reddish colour, softening her otherwise harsh expression.

"It's not that I have many options for mischief do I? You still have the pistol and your boys outside carry carbines do they not."

 

[Katamari Roller]

Alfonso's blush darkened a bit. Not because he was going to probably see something (he would wait until he saw something first, of course), but because she had called him for his name for the first time. That was nice of her. "Very well, then..."

Tucking his pistol into the side of his own breeches, Alfonso stepped in a bit closer and kept working on the knot. Being so close to her... now that made his blush more apparent. It was too much for him. Being so close to a woman... and an enemy, too. A french soldier. If Lope de Vega, or Francisco de Quevedo had ever known such a thing could happen, they would have had a field day writing about his shyness and embarrassment. Pages and pages...

"There... I think... it's done..." With one last, energetic pull, the knot came off.

 

[Steiner]

Richard Sharpe

"If I get injured? It's not something I really thought about. You can see I've been injured before - although I've never lost anything irreplacable. Plenty of scars and breaks though." he pondered visibly for a few moments.

"These days it wouldn't be so bad. Before Vitoria I'd have been looking at the poor house and an early grave. Now, I could probably be a gentleman farmer with one arm, although I'd have to do something different if I lost a leg."

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Justine de Villiers

"Thank you...Alfonso"

She smiled again as she slid her breeches and panties down, sitting down on the crude bench. She watched him intently, seeing as he had turned his back to allow her some privacy. Coughing as she stood up, pulling her breeches up.

"I could do with some help here."

Justine smiled widely seeing as he turned around the blush still on his face.

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage

"I can't really see you being a farmer Richard." She traced her hand along his torso, her head resting on his shoulder anew. "To be honest I have a hard time picturing you without a uniform and that rifle slung across your shoulder. It's a horrible thing to say I know."

She kissed his nose, the way he had done earlier. Looking intently at him, her dark eyes boring into him. "But the war is never going to end is it?"

 

[Katamari Roller]

Alfonso turned around slowly, and gulped. "S... sure."

He half-closed his eyes, keeping them fixed on her undergarments and legs. That was not much, but compared with the alternative, he quite preferred the underwear. Alfonso found himself feeling quite a few different things at the same time. Embarrassment, even a bit of humiliation as he felt himself playing on Justine's hands, and just a bit of arousal that he chased away furiously, focused as he was on just seeing, but not thinking.

His fingers caught the sides of Justine's panties, and pulled up. Out of a mix of sensible deference, and irrational shyness, he kept his hands as much as she could away from her skin. He didn't look up until he felt the panties wouldn't slide any further. He sighed, as if he had been holding his breath (he hadn't noticed if this was true), and opened his eyes again as normal as he pulled the breeches up and helped Justine tie them.

The silence was awkward... but Alfonso didn't think opening his mouth was the best thing to do now. He didn't want to stick a leg in, as it was said... he didn't even remember if that was how you said it. And that added a bit to the burning feeling in his cheeks, right before he started calming.

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Justine de Villiers

"That wasn't too hard was it...Alfonso? Although I would recommed keeping your eyes open next time. Oh another thing, women are not made of porcelain, if you touch us we don't break."

She smiled as she stepped forward making him almost back out of the make-shift sanitary area. Seeing his hussars standing there, carbines in hand and trying to look fierce as they stared at her.

Justine could not resist the temptation to lean closer to de Avellanos and whisper in his ear

"If you ever get tired of being an officer I'd hire you as my chamber maid anyday...Alfonso."

Smiling again as the hussar pushed her forward.

 

[Steiner]

Richard Sharpe

"I can't really see you being a farmer Richard." She traced her hand along his torso, her head resting on his shoulder anew. "To be honest I have a hard time picturing you without a uniform and that rifle slung across your shoulder. It's a horrible thing to say I know."

She kissed his nose, the way he had done earlier. Looking intently at him, her dark eyes boring into him. "But the war is never going to end is it?"

"I'd like to think not, but to be honest I think it's winding up. If the Northern Allies hold , we'll be in France soon, and I don't think Boney is quite ready for the experience of Nosey released to savage France. Who knows how long the French people will put up with it?"

He stretched out and yawned hugely, sliding his hands down her back to rest on her buttocks again when he was done.

"And that'll be it. Peace in Europe and the Corsican tyrant overthrown. Then they'll kick the soldiers out to shift for themselves. Glad I've been robbing the bastards blind."

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage

"But what if Bonaparte defeats the Northern Allies? He's beaten both Austria, Prussia and Russia before. I don't know too much about Sweden but I understand that they cannot field too may soldiers. I read about Austerlitz Richard, and Bonaparte defeated both the Russians and the Austrians there."

Kate moved closer, a bit ashamed of how nice it felt laying naked next to him, his hands felt warm against her skin and she kissed his chin again. Still the prospect of a prolonged war rattled her.

"Then it's back to square one isn't it? Endless war with France."

 

[Steiner]

Richard Sharpe

"Maybe. But then again, we'll still be in France. Can France support the war if it's actually being fought over her cities? I'm not sure - remember the destruction wrought in Portugal?"

Richard smiled with amusement as she kissed his nose.

"I suppose we'll get to see whether Boney is as much a genius as he claims - but I'll tell you something. Our Nosey has never been beaten yet, and I don't think he aims to start now."

Richard sounded inordinately pleased, as if Wellington's skill was somehow reflected down to him.

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage

"And I do remember the guerillas in both Portugal and Spain, Richard. The woman you have taken prisoner. You told me that she would never give up and that she ordered her men to die rather than to surrender. How can you defeat a country of such people?"

Kate sat up in bed, suddenly animated. "What if you have to fight for ever yard as you did in Portugal and Spain? How many men will die or be maimed in hte process? How many women will be raped?"

She felt angry,the war would go on for ever. It's raged for so many years already, from Russia to Spain, and the way Richard just refered to Wellington. To her ears that sounded as fanatical as the woman colonel in the next tent.

"Are you sure Richard? Or are you just saying that so I won't worry?"

 

[Steiner]

Major Richard Sharpe

Richard was tempted to let the question pass with a noncommital answer, but he remembered the privations of the marches across Spain and he thought that the men deserved some defending.

"Do you know why the Guerrila's fought France so fiercely? Because of the looting. Because of the burning. Because of the murder and the rape.

Nosey's different. If we get caught stealing from the French people, we'll be hung. If we rape their women, we'll be hung. Nosey will pay for everything in good British silver and gold and he'll lift the blockades on cities that surrender. They'll have no reason to take to the hills like the Spanish did. We won't try to steal their God. We won't take their possesions or their dignity. We'll put their own French King back on his throne and we won't try to steal their country."

He hugged her tighter.

"How many times have I fought the French? Nosey's part of why we'll win - but that Baker rifle is another part. And the men outside this tent still another. We'll win because we're better than they are. Pure and simple."

 

[Britwitch]

Susannah

Susannah wasn't sure how long they remained like that, Patrick on his knees and she leant towards him, her hand upon his cheek but it took some time before she realised how close they had become and she sat back, reluctantly taking her hand back and resting it upon her lap.
"I...I think by now that you are probably as hungry as I, Patrick..." She frowned ever so slightly as a light throbbing sensation began to irritate her temple, rubbing her forehead gently. "Shall we begin to make ourselves something to eat...?" She smiled, standing and swaying slightly.

"I...I can go and get some water to...to make tea, if you'd like..." Susannah's head suddenly swirled and forced her to sit back down. All at once Patrick's hands were holding hers, his gaze concerned. "It's...I'm more than likely more hungry than I thought...in need of water, that is all..." She tried to wave away his concern but found her hands trembling. All of her was trembling.

Perhaps it was the heat from the fire that was all of a sudden burning her cheeks and making her shiver inside. Or even the closeness of Patrick, once more kneeling before her, was the reason for the flushed quality of her cheeks.
"Patrick...I think perhaps I should retire...it has been a long...a long day..."
She fought to stand once more, the tents and fires beginning to melt into a blurred mass around her.

"F-forgive me..." Susannah took a step away from Patrick and his campfire and no more. With a soft sigh, she crumpled to the floor. Had she been awake she would have felt Patrick's arms scooping her up and moving her into his tent, laying her with all the care he could muster upon his bed. Her skin was burning and pale, her body trembling and lips murmuring quietly.

Fever was rife in the surgeon's tent that night, many of the young man who felt it's burning touch never awoke to see the morning. Most of it's victims men and boys whom Susannah had nursed through their injuries. Her body was young and strong and better equipped to fight the fever that was steadily drawing her into it's grasp than the wounded soldiers but only time would tell if she would be strong enough to defeat it.

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage

Kate frowned but decided that there was no point in persevering. Perhaps Richard was right and the French would just fold for the British.

"Why do you like Wellington so much? He's a cold one as far as I understood, not like General Hill."

Kissing his nose again and running her hands down his chest. "Is it because he wins that you admire him so? Or is there something more to it?"

She was curious, Richard Sharpe seemed to hold none except the closest of his soldiers in such regard and Wellington was not one she could picture sitting down with him on equal terms.

 

[Steiner]

Richard Sharpe

"I like him because he doesn't throw us away, for the most part. He gets reckless during sieges, but in general he's careful with the lives of his men. I like him because he sets simple rules and he's tough with whoever breaks them - but sometimes he'll let you off if your regiment fights well."

Sharpe pulled a face as he thought about it.

"He's hard, but he's fair. He doesn't favour anyone and he doesn't play favourites with the men, either. It's hard to explain, but he doesn't dress any of it up. He doesn't make poncy speeches about serving your country and death or glory. He just tells us to be professional, and we are..."

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage

"If I didn't know you better Richard one might suspect that you have a soft spot for Nosey as you call him."

Kate had rolled on to her back again. Wrinklinig her nose as she did. "God I smell horribly. How can you even stand laying next to me now?"

She smiled and turned her face to watch him. "Is it true that he gave you your first promotion though? James hinted as much and he wasn't best pleased. Wellesley wasn't overly popular it seemed back then"

Stretching her legs again. "Where can I find some water?" Then the thought struck her. "Have you any idea where Susannah might be? I saw how the RSM looked at her. I hope that she's not in his bed right now. The poor girl is too trusting and there is no telling what your scoundrels might do to her."

 

[Steiner]

Richard Sharpe

Richard smiled at her. "James was right. I suppose that he's been the architecht of my career, really. I made Lieutenant under Wellesley in India. Until he came over and took over Sir John's army in Portugal, I was a quartermaster, officially. If I'd gone back to my Regiment, who knows if I'd have seen promotion - but Nosey was keen to keep Riflemen in his army, so he arranged something for us. And I've been climbing the ranks since then."

He pulled a face.

"Don't let it seem that he's been sheltering or protecting me, though. I got my promotions because of Badajoz and Talavera. I had to fight for everything - but Nosey let me keep it. That's what I meant about hard and fair."

At her complaint about her smell, he grinned wolfishly.

"You smell of me, I think it's gorgeous. But then I spent my day with people who smelled far worse than you, so maybe I'm biased. As for your little Susannah, well, I've not seen Pat so smitten with a girl in years. I thought he was fair soft for Isabella, but unless I miss my guess, your maid has gotten her hooks into him fair and proper. You can look for her, but if Pat don't want to be found, she and he will probably turn up tomorrow morning. I wouldn't worry about her safety, though. After what she did today, she's safe in the South Essex lines."

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Kate Savage

"I didn't mean to implicate that you got undue leg-ups from Wellington, Richard. It's just interesting to hear you speak of him. I know you care for the men under your command, RSM Harper, Hagman and Harris. But in a way you speak of Wellington in the same way."

She made to sit up, stretching her long legs and trying for a stern look "So I'm supposed to just sit around while my maid is indulging herself." Still Kate was not the average mistress and given her own activities she didn't think it prudent to give Susannah a scolding.

"I'll go and see if Mrs. Jones could help me find some water and while I do you better eat some more. You look famished still."

Kissing his nose again and then standing up, putting the bodice and dress on and pulling her hair back in a tail.

"I'll expect you to remain here though." Smiling mischeviously as she left the tent

 

[Katamari Roller]

Alfonso felt confused. And that was an understatement. This morning, this woman wanted to kill him. And now, as the sun set, she seemed more or less interested in bedding him. Now, he was not an expert on how the female mind worked, but even this sounded too strange for him to think that this could be possible. Was he really attractive enough to change a woman's mind like that? Or... perhaps she was trying to toy with him, seek his weaknesses to use them against him and escape...

Oh God, he hoped it was the former! As the stench of the latrines was left behind, so was the feeling of awkwardness. And he had to admit, Justine was really attractive. Her blonde hair... and now he happened to notice, her bum. All of her body seemed perfectly toned, and nothing like a pair of combat breeches to give out the shape of one's legs.

Those thoughts, Alfonso knew were not healthy in this situation. But, he could dream. Because there was no way in hell he was going to let Justine escape because of a stupid mistake of his.

The hussars, Justine and him entered in the tent, and Alfonso decided that if he was not going to tie her to the chair, then at least he was going to make sure she couldn't move while sleeping. This night, she would spend it tied on a hay stack, or whatever means Alfonso could procure for a comfortable substitution of a bed. With a hand gesture, Alfonso dismissed the hussars, and told them to go have a rest.

"Although your invitation is more than appreciated, señorita Justine, I'm afraid the situation is not... the right one for that."

 

[Steiner]

Major Richard Sharpe

Sharpe stretched out on the bed and put his hands behind his head. She was right, he decided, in that the tent did smell decidedly 'doggy' from all the activity this afternoon.

Standing he decided to relieve himself, before grabbing that bite to eat. Luckily he only felt the need to pee, and he decided that the back of the tent was sufficient for that. Pulling a shirt on, he slipped into his breeches again, pulled on some boots and made his way out the front of the tent.

He was just in time to witness Alfonso re-entering the tent next door with Justine in tow. What did this mean? Where had he taken her? He was tempted to go in and follow her, when the sentry handed him a sabertache with the message that it was from the Dago Captain, and that it contained some intelligence that he might like to read.

Sharpe took the bag, slipped it over his shoulder and slipped behind the tent to urinate, wondering what letters the woman had been carrying and to whom. He decided to leave the prisoner to the good Captain and return to his tent for food and some light reading. Who knows? Maybe it would shed some light on this whole business.

Making his way back to the tent, Richard tossed the bag from hand to hand, easing back onto his stool and absent mindedly chewing a chunk of the ham as he opened the bag.

 

[Lady_Mornington]

Justine de Villiers

"Well it was worth a try was it not Alfonso? Out of curiosity how old are you?"
She sat down again stretching her legs out in front of her and using the relative freedom of her hands to push away a few strands of unruly hair that escaped the ponytail she kept her mane in.

"As for the documents, I'm sure you're as fluent in French as you are in English, thus there is no need for translation, and you will find the authenticity to be beyond doubt." Justine smiled again and as she licked her lips. The blood had crusted now but she still couldn't help poke at it.

"So all in all I'm authorized to speak to Milord Wellington as an evoyé of his Imperial Majesty."

Smiling and looking at him again. "Not bad for a little girl from Normandie, eh? Becoming the the emissary of an emperor." Shooting him a radiant smile "Besides it looks like we both could do with a wash. Would it be possible to have some water brought in? I promise not to look as you go about it although I fear that you must do your duty and keeping a keen eye on me doing so."

 

[Katamari Roller]

"I am twenty-one years old. And perhaps it was worth a try to you. I wasn't trying to do anything..."

Noticing the blood crusted on her lips, Alfonso considered cleaning it away. But it was better to let the injure scar and then let the crust drop by itself. There was no sense in trying to make her more presentable now. However, when she licked those lips... well, Alfonso stared transfixed at that.

"I can read French well, and speak in a more or less acceptable manner... but I judged that Sharpe was in a better position to interpret the papers. As for your merits, I have no doubt in them... but I am pretty sure that an emissary is supposed to transport messages to their destination. Not kill those in the way."

Alfonso sat on the chair in front of Justine after taking the bottle of brandy. Justine had really drained. He almost harbored a fear that her apparently friendly manners now were a product of being drunk... and her next words seemed to suggest so. He took a swig, enough to taste the brandy and let it warm his throat a bit.

"Trust me if I say I don't see a problem in letting you have a bath... but I think that something like that should be passed by Sharpe, in case he thinks I am spoiling you too much. After all, death is still close by if you attempt to escape or lie to us. Then again, I don't think you would try to escape naked and wet, would you?"

Alfonso threw a half-sardonic, half-accomplice smile her way. "But if you are hungry or thirsty, I am sure he won't mind if I bring you something to sate those needs."