We Just Won A Victory, Then This Hanging Happened (Benlivia)

We Just Won A Victory, Then This Hanging Happened (Benlivia)

‘Twas was a heavy rainy day later that evening when Colonel Bradford and Sargent Hickey were sent to the gallows to be hanged. They had won the Battle of Monmouth hours earlier against the British.

 “Now we know that you’ve received upwards of 100 pounds from Mr. Mathews, the so-called mayor of New York.” they were inside a wood house in camp with Ben interrogating the two assassins, Caleb off to the side; ready to jump in at any given moment, Olivia keeping one eye on her two childhood friends and the other eye at the traitors, and General Washington’s hiding in the shadows; watching it all go down.

“And Governor Tryon. Your pulse beats high in the Torie’s game, gentlemen.” Caleb chimes in. “Now, tell me, who else in this camp is under British pay?” the Major asked, getting the task back at hand.

 Bradford indirectly answers the question, “So there are others.” Ben concludes. 

 The drums keep bringing Ben back from the flashbacks from the moments before. 

 Caleb is the executioner, he wears a full black uniform, complete with a black mask that covers his face. He quickly adjusts the rope and moves on to Bradford, who was talking to Worthington.

 “The offer is that you hang for counterfeiting, not for treason,” Ben says to Bradford. Hickey intervenes saying that he wants to be hanged for the latter, “To mutiny against you traitors in an act of honor,” was his explanation. The head of intelligence slaps him and explains that his family would be safe if he would be hanged as a forger, if it was for the attempt on Washington’s life, then he can’t-” We aren’t going to hang. You’re going to trade us-” 

 Olivia speaks of the first time, interrupting him, “And why is that?” she scoffed at Bradford, “If you think that we are bluffing, then you are wrong.” The man looked at the Madame General in the eye, “-For Culper,” finishing his sentence.

 The last name alias of Abraham Woodhull hung in the air. Dread filled Ben’s stomach. “Where did you hear that name?” Caleb asked. When Bradford didn’t answer, he settled for violence, harshly pulling the former Colonel by the braid, “Where did you hear that name?!” Olivia didn’t intervene, despite the fact that it was technically her job to keep the two in line.

 Washington stepped out of the shadows, suggesting that Hickey must have overheard it when he was standing guard outside his tent. “The first man to tell me the real name of our Agent Culper will be traded to safety on Saturday. The other man will hang tomorrow,” was the million-dollar question.

 But neither man answered, “They don’t know.” Washington concluded. “A hanging then, I’ll inform everyone,” Olivia told the room, “Since the two of you didn’t answer, tomorrow turned into today.” She pointed at the traitors.

 “The accused...Colonel William Bradford and Sergeant Thomas Hickey having being found guilty on the charge of attempting to pass counterfeit bills-

 “-My aim was to kill Washington, Putman, and other-” Hickey didn’t get to finish his sentence because he was pushed off by Caleb, along with Bradford. His head was quickly decapitated. Bradford’s head was, thankfully not severed, but he struggled against the rope around his neck. 

 Gasps rang everywhere, but a heart-wrenching scream caused Ben to look at his left. Olivia Hamilton. He quickly hugged her and held the Madam General tightly. The Head of Intelligence heard Worthington yell at Caleb and could hear them fighting, but he paid no mind. He then looked at Washington, who signaled an officer to shoot Bradford, ending his life.

 The Major could feel the younger Hamilton and the Marquis’ gaze at him like they wanted to burn a hole in his skull with their eyes. The former wanted to protect his twin sister at all costs, even though it’s supposed to be the other way around. Olivia had expressed this one too many times, about Alexander fighting with the new recruits when they looked at her the wrong way. Ben knew that Lafayette harbored a romantic love for Olivia, he too had one, but it was not one-sided. He knew that the two had to make their relationship a secret because the young aristocrat had a wife in France, it would cause a huge scandal that could cause the American-French alliance to dissipate. Because of this, Ben was determined to make his love for Olivia, a platonic one.

 The Major put the elder Hamilton down on his cot and quickly stripped her down to her smallclothes. He looked at the knife wound Olivia had gotten when someone tried to assassinate their Commander in Chief during the discussion of the Battle of Monmouth. Olivia had quickly pulled Washington out of the assassin’s way and took the knife meant for him. General Arnold knocked him out and Henry Key was hanged the next day.

 “You are not sleeping on the floor, Benji.” Olivia said, loud and clear, “That is a direct order from your General.” With burning cheeks, Ben laid down next to the woman he had first loved.