literature

Take Me Away - American Revolution (UKxfem!US) II

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Emily threw her fist in the air as she jumped up with joy, giving a large yelp of excitement. She had done it; they had won. Thanks to her help, the British had managed to drive those damned French out of North America for good. Surely, Arthur would be proud of her. After all, he couldn't have done it without her. He had other business to attend to back in Europe; he didn't have time to deal with colonial skirmishes. But thanks to Emily, his very own America, he had won. The British Empire had a whole new stretch of land for themselves now that Francis was out of the picture.

The British colony smiled brightly as she spun around to face Arthur, who was sitting on a fairly small, wooden chair, his golden hair unkempt, and his green eyes surrounded by dark circles of exhaustion. However, there was a faint smile playing on his lips as he gazed at Emily. She had grown. The last time he had visited her, she had been a tiny little thing. He never knew that she would grow to be so strong…so capable. Saying that he was shocked at the fact that she had managed to demolish the French and use his own army to drive them out of North America was an understatement. He had completely underestimated her.

"Isn't it wonderful, Mr. Kirkland? We won! We got those damned frogs out of here! Now it's all ours. It all belongs to the British Empire. Think about all of the resources that you now have!" Emily burst out, her big cerulean colored eyes glittering as she clapped her hands together in excitement. She couldn't get over the sense of pride that was welling up within her bosom; the complete satisfaction, the invigorating nationalism… she was a loyal British subject. She would fight for the British; she would serve her mother country; she would do everything for the well-being of the empire.

She felt so proud that she, Emily Felicity Kirkland, had fought alongside a vast number of British subjects. That she and her fellow colonists joined the effort. Yes, it may have been a bit difficult for her socially, as she was a young woman… but she wasn't just any young woman. No. She was America. The British colony itself. The hindrance of gender did not apply to personification.

"Indeed, it is my dear. Well done; I am very proud of you," Arthur said, exhaling heavily. He was tired. Extremely tired. And overwhelmed. He could not get over how strong this girl now was. He didn't know whether to feel pride or a sense of precaution. He didn't want any of his colonies to grow too strong. That would pose extreme problems…countless problems that he, himself, would not be able to handle. How could she have become so self-reliant after years of neglect? Of near-abandonment? The only interaction he's had with his colony as of late involved shipping of raw materials for the market. He was primarily interested in the South American colonies. They were the ones with the sugar, after all.

Arthur was flabbergasted. One day, he was reading her bedtime stories, holding her as she wept due to the thunder and lightning, scolding her for foul manners, and running around with her through the green meadows during the midsummer days…and then he leaves some years, and then returns to see that she has fully-functioning self-governments, vigorous workers and a prospering economy. It was almost as if the girl had been tenderly touched by the hand of God.

Emily spun around again, a small giggle escaping her lips, her long, curly blonde hair whipping through the air, her dress swirling around her bodice. She felt like a young child again; she remembered those days of old, when she would twirl around in the old meadows not far from here. The girl could envision it in her head… the warm sun, the feel of the grass against her bare feet, the smell of honeysuckle, the light breeze, and then there was Arthur Kirkland… always there… watching the little girl with a smile on his face. Sometimes he'd even take her small hands in his own and spin with her.

Pausing her repetitive twirling, Emily immediately scampered up to Arthur, pausing about a foot in front of him, her eyes wide and shining, and her hands folded in front of her, making sure to hold her bodice in a respectful way. After all, Mr. Kirkland deserved her utmost respect, and she would give him nothing less. Even the slightest slouch in her posture could be deemed as indecency. "I am very happy, right now, Mr. Kirkland. There is no one else in this entire world that I'd rather give my services to."

Bowing her head lightly, her lips still set in a giddy smile, she spoke again, her voice drenched in reverence. "I give you my thanks. I may not know the Father's plans, but it would be ridiculous to not acknowledge the fact that we are truly blessed."

Arthur remained silent for a moment, letting his eyes soak in every single detail of the girl…of this "America." A sense of spontaneous nostalgia filled him. She really was a good little girl. Very kind, very lively, beautiful, happy, obedient… And now, here she was. A reflection of the little girl that he had treasured. But that was it. Just a reflection.

There was no doubting the fact that she had changed. Yes, her spirit and persona were still the same. But again, no colony of his should be able to single-handedly defeat a fully combined army of French and Indian troops. Maybe Arthur was just over-thinking things; he should be grateful, should he not? He could rely on someone to be his back-up… while he took care of matters back home, his darling Emily could defend his name here.

But Arthur couldn't help it. That unease was steadily rising with each second.

She was just…just too strong.

In all honesty, the Briton knew that he was being ridiculous. Little Emily would never use her strength against him. Everything she ever said and did was in the name of the British Empire. He wasn't blind; he could sense her loyalty.

So, why did he find himself eyeing the girl in a way that a man eyes an enemy?

"There is no need to thank me, my darling. You have performed your part brilliantly." His voice was soft as he forced himself to stand up, wincing slightly at his aching muscles. He let his green eyes wash over her once again.

Yes, he still quite a bit taller than her, but she definitely had grown. The last time Arthur had seen her, she was still a bumbling, giggling child…a small being that he could just scoop up into his arms without a second thought. Now, she was a woman, her head just touching the base of his chin. Her large blue eyes had lost that youthful innocence, only to be replaced by a lively flame. Her skin was a milky color, and the Briton couldn't help but note that she still had the splash of freckles across her nose.

To be quite frank, Arthur found her to be extremely beautiful.

A bit too beautiful. It was almost unnerving for the man to see his "little sister" grow up, almost matching himself in physical age.

Taking another step forward, he placed both of his hands on her shoulders gently, looking straight into her eyes, an unreadable expression on his face, and the green of his pupils shining at her through the unkempt locks of hair that fell into his eyes.

"You don't understand how truly proud I am of you, Emily. You have exceeded all of my expectations," he said.

In a way, his voice could be considered tenderly genuine. And he was being genuine. He was speaking the absolute truth. Arthur Kirkland was proud of Emily. She had exceeded all of his expectations to the point of awe.

Maybe a bit too much.

That was the problem. Maybe she had impressed him too much… to the point of paranoia.

A small blush coated the girl's cheeks as she smiled at him meekly. "That means a lot to me, Mr. Kirkland. But of course, you do understand that I have every reason to thank you, right?"

In a slightly daring move, Emily moved both of arms so that she could rest both of her palms on top of his hands, keeping them on her shoulders. However, she remained undeterred, her eyes still fixated on the Briton's face.

Arthur stiffened slightly at the action, but other than the slight frostiness in his eyes, he seemed generally unaffected by the unexpected show of intimate affection. "If you insist upon thanking me repeatedly, then I will not stop you…if that makes you happy," he responded, his lips curling up into a gentle smile.

"I am glad to hear that." Chuckling lightly, Emily dropped her hands, folding them together at her torso once more. Though she looked generally unaffected, her face felt unnaturally warm. The girl knew that the Briton wasn't accustomed to physical contact as a form of affection. He had always been like that. The only exception to that rule had always been Emily. But now that she was an adult, things were different. She could tell by the look in his eye. It almost saddened her in a way.

Releasing his gentle grip on her shoulders, Arthur sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It is very late, and we've both had a very long day. I believe that it is time for you to go to sleep, my dear. I expect you to wake at an early hour, as I will need your assistance. I will be leaving at around dusk for London tomorrow."

Without a second thought, Emily nodded fervently. "Of course, Mr. Kirkland. I will be going to my bedroom right this moment. If you don't mind me asking… where will you be staying tonight?"

"I will be at the local inn; I will come to wake you up tomorrow morning," he answered.

"Why don't you sleep here, tonight? It will not cause me any trouble," she pressed, tilting her head to the side in an innocent manner.

Arthur looked away, an uneasy feeling building up in his gut. Yes, the girl was grown up, but she still had a lot to learn. "I'm afraid that it would be very indecent for me to do so. I am a man, and you are now a woman. I do not wish to dishonor you."

It took a moment for his words to register in Emily's brain, but when they did, another blush coated her cheeks. "Of course, Mr. Kirkland. I apologize for my blatant offer. It did not register in my mind…"

"You need not worry. I understand that your intentions were based solely on my well-being. I thank you for that. Now, I believe that I must be off…" Arthur avoided the girl's eyes as he started to make his way to the door.

In all honesty, he felt like he was immersed in a maelstrom of confusion. He did not know how to feel about his ever-growing colony. Yes, there was pride…pride at the fact that she had fought in his name, but there was also fear. That ever-growing fear and paranoia eating away at his chest… she was far too powerful. And strong.

But then there was the unnerving fact that Emily Felicity Kirkland was now a woman. He could not treat her like a child anymore. Dear Lord, he didn't think that he could stare at such a beautiful woman in the face and coddle her like he used to… not even to save his life.

With these thoughts hammering away in his brain, his hand grasped the handle of the door.

However, his actions were interrupted by a light, "Excuse me?"

Turning around, he found himself looking at the girl again, who had a nervous expression plastered on her face.

"I do apologize once again, Mr. Kirkland, but I…erm…I…" Emily felt humiliated. And nervous. But she couldn't help it. In all honesty, she knew that she couldn't get herself to fall asleep, even if she tried. She war far too overwhelmed, overjoyed, shocked. The recent victory had caused a surge of never-ending adrenaline to sweep through her veins.

Oh, Dear Lord, why couldn't she keep her mouth shut?

Surely this was acceptable, right?

All she wanted was a lullaby. Like old times.

It didn't matter that she was a grown woman, asking a grown man to put her to sleep.

However, the more Emily thought about it, the more she regretted opening her mouth. She knew that if Mr. Kirkland stayed here for much longer, people would start to notice, and the nasty rumors would start to spread. Emily did not want to be looked upon with distaste in the eyes of the church.

No. To be condemned by her peers, to be condemned by God…

But she wasn't doing anything wrong, right?

"You see, I can't sleep…a-and, I was just wondering if…if…"

Arthur knew what she was asking for. His immediate response was to refuse, to tell her that it was far too late for such frivolities, and that she was far too old to desire such a thing. However, upon looking at the girl again, he faltered.

He saw it… the shadow of the little, innocent girl he considered to be his darling "little sister," the small child he could consider his own.

No, there was no way that he could refuse Emily… not with his heart melting. His resolve was snapping in half… his frosty green eyes thawing into a molten liquid as a tender smile spread across his face. With a small sigh he turned back around and walked forward. "Only for a little while," he whispered.

A dazzling grin broke out onto the girl's face as she nodded once again, muttering her thanks before turning around and making her way to her small room, which consisted of a low ceiling, white walls, a singular window looking over the vast stretch of trees, and a singular bed.

Emily quickly stripped away her outer garments, leaving her in only her white gown. Quickly folding her clothes, she set them aside by her bed and quickly climbed under the covers. After saying a quick prayer, she pulled the sheets up to her chin, resting her head against the pillow.

"You can come in, now," she called out.

After a few seconds, Arthur opened her door and stepped in. He smiled at the sight of the girl, his memories whirring out of control. Oh, how he wished that she could be small again.

Walking to the side of her bed, he bent down on one knee. With slight hesitance, he reached out a hand to gently stroke the girl's hair, breathing out slowly through his lips. Emily let her eyes flutter shut in contentment, the comfort of familiarity building up within her, causing her tense shoulders to relax.

"Alright, my dear. Which song would you like me to sing?"

He fell into a slow rhythm of moving his fingers through her long hair, mentally noting just how soft it was.

"Erm… I don't really have a preference," she responded.

With a small chuckle, Arthur spoke again, "Do not worry; I have the perfect song for you. I think that you will remember it."

Taking a large breath, he began to sing, his voice soft and graceful, echoing gently through the room. The lullaby he sang was one that his older brother used to sing to him when he was younger… an old Scottish lullaby. Though he and Scotland would probably never again be on good terms, there was always this special lullaby that latched itself onto his heart.

"Oh, hush thee, my baby,
Thy sire was a knight,
Thy mother a lady,
Both lovely and bright;
The woods and the glens,
From the towers which we see,
They all are belonging,
Dear baby, to thee.
Oh, hush thee, my baby,
Thy sire was a knight,
Oh, hush thee, my baby,
So bonnie, so bright.
Oh, fear not the bugle,
Tho' loudly it blows,
It calls but the warders
That guard thy repose;
Their bows would be bended,
Their blades would be red,
Ere the step of a foeman
Draws near to thy bed.
Oh, hush thee, my baby,
Thy sire was a knight."

A smile formed on his lips as he continued to stroke the girl's hair, the air in the room gentle and light…soothing. Just like old times. However, when he had finished the tune, he carefully ceased the movement, withdrawing his hand, noting that she had fallen asleep.

Her steady breathing filled the room, shattering the constant rhythm of the atmosphere. Arthur stared at the sleeping girl, his eyes growing slightly cold, a painfully uneasy sensation welling up in his chest once again.

Arthur got to his feet, standing up straight, his muscles awkwardly stiff, a constant ringing in his ears. Clenching his fists, he took a step backwards, suddenly finding it extremely hard to even look at Emily. So much has changed. He could feel it. He could feel that strength, that potential to become greater than him.

And it scared him.

Arthur Kirkland would not let it happen. No… he couldn't do it.

"Goodnight, Emily," he whispered.

"And, I'm truly sorry, my angel."
Here's part two, my friends! Enjoy!

"Take me away from time and season; far far away, we'll sing with reason. Prepare a throne of stars above me, as the world once known will leave me." I was Emily Felicity Kirkland, loyal British subject and colony. I am now Amelia Felicity Jones, independent and free, forever the United States of America. This is my story. -American Revolutionary War, EnglandXfem!America

The song lyrics and title belong to Globus.
© 2012 - 2024 MeridianNightfall
Comments4
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Dhaklimaka's avatar
This is great! I have never read a genderbent fic like this that was not only this well written but this believable in how people in history are acting. I love this!