Post by angelenia100 on Jan 27, 2011 15:50:14 GMT -5
George's POV
I was with the last of my company after the war had ended. We stopped to camp at one of the trench sights near the grave of young Willy McBride. Damian a lad of only eighteen had taken his death really hard. After a time as the night became cool while we sat around the camp fire. Then i heard an Irish Whistle's trill in the thin night air. I could tell is was coming from Willy's grave. I shook Damian awake then he heard the music. The others soon woke up hearing the sound of the whistle sounding high and clear. Damian grabbed his rifle and followed me to the grave. Is was now 1917. Once we got to the grave we say a young girl not but sixteen years of age knelt down by the grave playing a silver pipe shaped whistle playing the tune that would one day be known as the Green Fields Of France. I cleared my throat to get her attention. She stopped playing and looked up at me her fearful blue eye that had once been bright and deep that were now dull and shallowed met my gaze on her. I handed Damian my rifle as I walked up to the small girl who knelt before me shaking in fear. As I cam closer she looked down not wanting to see what she was afraid I would do next. But I did just what she thought I wouldn't do. I knelt down next to her and gave her a huge hug. Now by her side I could see how much she looked like Willy.
"Fear not lass, we only wanted to know what the music was that we heard. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Cassiopeia McBride."
"Well miss McBride rest assured that your brother was a fine soldier and a fine man. He spoke very highly of you and wanted only to keep you safe till the war was over. But you are not from here. What are you doing here?"
"I got the letter from his general telling me where he had fallen and came. Right before I came I lost our farm so now I live in the woods just over yonder with no home to go too anymore. I came and play this tune that Will and I made up every night. I linger over his grave till the first lights of dawn come through then I head back to my new home. Which is only a hollow in the clearing of the woods. Willy is the only father I ever new, mother died when I was just a wee three year old lass, then father was gone when I turned ten. So Willy took over from there not letting me go to an orphan home. Now here I am homeless and no family to be heard of."
"Come stay with us. We will get you back to your home land and get you a good home."
"And leave my brothers grave? Never to see it again?"
"We will bring you back at least three times a year. I would not make the sister of one of my fallen men stay away forever."
"You were his general?"
"Yes Lass I was. He was a fine man."
"Tell me, how did he die?"
"He was leading the charge over the side of the trench when he was shot full in the chest. He handed me his will willing that Damian here take care of you once the war was over and being sure that you have all that you need. He left all his belongings to you. Even his gun is yours. We have his gun with us now fixing to find you and give it to you."
Then Damian spoke.
"Please lass keep playing your song, its beautiful. The first song I have heard since I came to this God forsaken war to fight. the only music I have heard is the music we play fer burials."
"If you wish, I would be happy to play it again for you."
She began playing it again, it was sad, yet soothing at the same time. Once she was done she pulled out her brothers will and handed it to me for me to read. It was then that I saw all six of us that were left on my company were willed to keep an eye on her and take care of her.
I was with the last of my company after the war had ended. We stopped to camp at one of the trench sights near the grave of young Willy McBride. Damian a lad of only eighteen had taken his death really hard. After a time as the night became cool while we sat around the camp fire. Then i heard an Irish Whistle's trill in the thin night air. I could tell is was coming from Willy's grave. I shook Damian awake then he heard the music. The others soon woke up hearing the sound of the whistle sounding high and clear. Damian grabbed his rifle and followed me to the grave. Is was now 1917. Once we got to the grave we say a young girl not but sixteen years of age knelt down by the grave playing a silver pipe shaped whistle playing the tune that would one day be known as the Green Fields Of France. I cleared my throat to get her attention. She stopped playing and looked up at me her fearful blue eye that had once been bright and deep that were now dull and shallowed met my gaze on her. I handed Damian my rifle as I walked up to the small girl who knelt before me shaking in fear. As I cam closer she looked down not wanting to see what she was afraid I would do next. But I did just what she thought I wouldn't do. I knelt down next to her and gave her a huge hug. Now by her side I could see how much she looked like Willy.
"Fear not lass, we only wanted to know what the music was that we heard. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Cassiopeia McBride."
"Well miss McBride rest assured that your brother was a fine soldier and a fine man. He spoke very highly of you and wanted only to keep you safe till the war was over. But you are not from here. What are you doing here?"
"I got the letter from his general telling me where he had fallen and came. Right before I came I lost our farm so now I live in the woods just over yonder with no home to go too anymore. I came and play this tune that Will and I made up every night. I linger over his grave till the first lights of dawn come through then I head back to my new home. Which is only a hollow in the clearing of the woods. Willy is the only father I ever new, mother died when I was just a wee three year old lass, then father was gone when I turned ten. So Willy took over from there not letting me go to an orphan home. Now here I am homeless and no family to be heard of."
"Come stay with us. We will get you back to your home land and get you a good home."
"And leave my brothers grave? Never to see it again?"
"We will bring you back at least three times a year. I would not make the sister of one of my fallen men stay away forever."
"You were his general?"
"Yes Lass I was. He was a fine man."
"Tell me, how did he die?"
"He was leading the charge over the side of the trench when he was shot full in the chest. He handed me his will willing that Damian here take care of you once the war was over and being sure that you have all that you need. He left all his belongings to you. Even his gun is yours. We have his gun with us now fixing to find you and give it to you."
Then Damian spoke.
"Please lass keep playing your song, its beautiful. The first song I have heard since I came to this God forsaken war to fight. the only music I have heard is the music we play fer burials."
"If you wish, I would be happy to play it again for you."
She began playing it again, it was sad, yet soothing at the same time. Once she was done she pulled out her brothers will and handed it to me for me to read. It was then that I saw all six of us that were left on my company were willed to keep an eye on her and take care of her.