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tamingthemuseTitle: Old Friends
Fandom: Original
Character(s): Generals U.H. & O.W.H
Genre(s): Friendship & Angst
Rating: PG
Word Count: 518
Summary: O.W.H. can't commit himself to tragedy
Warnings: None
Old Friends
U.H. tended to his prized horses as if they were children, brushing them diligently as his dismounted forces milled about the camp hastily. They were so anxious for battle, his boys, but it would soon come again. He knew why they wanted to fight so much, he just wanted to make sure everything was ready.
A crunch in the grass nearby diverted his steady eyes to the form of General O.W.H. on horseback, moving slowly on the outskirts of the camp, as if attempting to go unnoticed. U.H. was quick to approach him and inquire of his presence in the cavalry’s ranks.
“General, you got a reason for trottin’ through here near the end of the day?” U.H. asked, his rough hand stroking the neck of the sorrel colored horse to calm it.
“The enemy’s not far, General.” O.W.H replied stiffly, trying to pull his horse away and continue the march.
U.H. noted the look of sorrow and defeat in his friend’s eyes. A varied sadness clung to his gaze like honey to its comb, and the cavalryman already knew why. “Yes, and that enemy can wait til mornin’ when we get mobilized. Til then, we’re just gonna have to wait out the night.”
His superior officer didn’t look his way this time, eyes straight ahead and intent on his one goal that he was determined to reach with or without U.H.’s help. “General, I don’t care if you’re upset or if you’re happy, but this army needs you to set the example of patience for them. If you go gallopin’ off without us just to get yourself killed, what’s that gonna tell everyone else? That you just wanted to prove your strength on your own? No sir, that’s not the answer.”
“What’s it to you, John?” O.W.H’s tone was harsh and unforgiving, but his comrade didn’t flinch at the sound of his name being spoken so roughly.
“General Fox needs you to be her rock, I tell ya. How do you think she’s made it this far and kept the army’s allegiance?” U.H. urged, trying to coax his friend into changing his suicidal pattern of thinking. “You’re her Old War Horse for just reason, James – don’t go throwin’ away the respect we all have for you just because your plans for battle didn’t win the day.”
O.W.H. shook his head and tugged firmly on the reins to break the contact with U.H. “She wants to send out everyone else to die on that field tomorrow, and when I tried to tell her not to, she overruled me… I cannot send my troops to their death, General. I will find it before they do.”
As O.W.H. began to turn his horse to start back off in the direction he was originally headed, U.H. had one more thing to say, “Is this really because of the army, or is it because of your family that have already died and are waiting for you on the other side?”
The commanding general didn’t reply and rode off into the woods, leaving U.H. with his encampment and a sorrowful heart.
Fandom: Original
Character(s): Generals U.H. & O.W.H
Genre(s): Friendship & Angst
Rating: PG
Word Count: 518
Summary: O.W.H. can't commit himself to tragedy
Warnings: None
U.H. tended to his prized horses as if they were children, brushing them diligently as his dismounted forces milled about the camp hastily. They were so anxious for battle, his boys, but it would soon come again. He knew why they wanted to fight so much, he just wanted to make sure everything was ready.
A crunch in the grass nearby diverted his steady eyes to the form of General O.W.H. on horseback, moving slowly on the outskirts of the camp, as if attempting to go unnoticed. U.H. was quick to approach him and inquire of his presence in the cavalry’s ranks.
“General, you got a reason for trottin’ through here near the end of the day?” U.H. asked, his rough hand stroking the neck of the sorrel colored horse to calm it.
“The enemy’s not far, General.” O.W.H replied stiffly, trying to pull his horse away and continue the march.
U.H. noted the look of sorrow and defeat in his friend’s eyes. A varied sadness clung to his gaze like honey to its comb, and the cavalryman already knew why. “Yes, and that enemy can wait til mornin’ when we get mobilized. Til then, we’re just gonna have to wait out the night.”
His superior officer didn’t look his way this time, eyes straight ahead and intent on his one goal that he was determined to reach with or without U.H.’s help. “General, I don’t care if you’re upset or if you’re happy, but this army needs you to set the example of patience for them. If you go gallopin’ off without us just to get yourself killed, what’s that gonna tell everyone else? That you just wanted to prove your strength on your own? No sir, that’s not the answer.”
“What’s it to you, John?” O.W.H’s tone was harsh and unforgiving, but his comrade didn’t flinch at the sound of his name being spoken so roughly.
“General Fox needs you to be her rock, I tell ya. How do you think she’s made it this far and kept the army’s allegiance?” U.H. urged, trying to coax his friend into changing his suicidal pattern of thinking. “You’re her Old War Horse for just reason, James – don’t go throwin’ away the respect we all have for you just because your plans for battle didn’t win the day.”
O.W.H. shook his head and tugged firmly on the reins to break the contact with U.H. “She wants to send out everyone else to die on that field tomorrow, and when I tried to tell her not to, she overruled me… I cannot send my troops to their death, General. I will find it before they do.”
As O.W.H. began to turn his horse to start back off in the direction he was originally headed, U.H. had one more thing to say, “Is this really because of the army, or is it because of your family that have already died and are waiting for you on the other side?”
The commanding general didn’t reply and rode off into the woods, leaving U.H. with his encampment and a sorrowful heart.
