"Place your hands onto the top of your head!" The same deep, gruff voice instructed.

She stared at them coldly before resting her hands calmly onto the back of her head. Her heart beat violently in her chest, feeling as if it could explode at any given moment. She refused to show any weakness to the strangers. The men raised their rifles and aimed the barrels at Eloise's small frame. She chewed vigorously on the inside of her mouth until the bitter metallic taste of blood coated her tongue. The cocking sound of the rifles rang through her ear. Her peering stare never broke as she fearfully awaited the shocking sensation of a bullet.

"Wait a moment, Ingraham" She heard Albert's voice call out from the edge of the trees. The man glanced over his shoulder searching for the objecting voice. "I suggest that you have your men to drop their rifles. I would hate to inform high command about the murder of an innocent woman in the forest."

Her eyes scanned to the tree line where the familiar face of Albert appeared with another German soldier. A wave of mixed emotions came over her at the sight of him in his own uniform coat. He offered her a reassuring nod as he approached the scene. She watched the man's eyes grew wide at the sight of Albert.

"You're..." the leader's face instantly dropped in awe, lowering his rifle. He stared at Albert for several seconds before instructing his men to lower their weapons as well. "Sir, everyone thought you were dead."

He raised a single brow and cocked his head to the side, "I am alive because of that woman." He stated bluntly, motioning toward Eloise. "She is to not be harmed whatsoever. In fact, she should be treated with much dignity for her impressive work."

"We will take her back to the camp with us." Ingraham insisted, looking down at the expressionless Eloise. "The field hospitals are in need of good nurses. If she nursed you in the woods with nothing, what could she do with supplies?" He waved at the nearby soldier, "Help her up, gentlemen."

Two men immediately went to help her rise from the ground. She stared at them blankly, then at Albert and shook her head. Her mind spiraled with wild thoughts, jumbling them until her head ached from thinking. What was she to do now that she was captured?

"My father was a leader over these soldiers at one point." Albert stated calmly as they began their walk with the other soldiers. "I'm thankful that they knew who I was."

Eloise nodded without speaking. She could feel her heart breaking inside, knowing that she was now going into an unknown world that she despised. No words came to her mind, only complete silence.

"Eloise?" Albert's voice became soft and caring, stopping cold in his tracks. She continued walking down the path in silence, acting as if she did not hear his voice. The desire to talk was no longer present. All that she truly wanted to be left alone.

"I know you didn't want to be found." Albert spoke sympathetically, following after her toward the frozen horses. "But maybe it is for the best. You are a young woman hidden from the world. That is no way to live."

Eloise abruptly halted, staring at him distantly. "It may not be the way you would choose to live, but for myself it was just fine. That is the life I had chosen and was I satisfied." She shook her head, looking ahead at the soldiers mounting onto their horses. "I have no desire to go be a nurse for the Germans. I want to go back to my cottage and be left alone."

"What about me, Eloise?"

A confused look came over her. "What about you?"

"Did you not enjoy my company?"

"I nursed you back to health. I helped put the life back into your battered body." She began coldly. "I didn't do it for friendship or love or anything else; I helped you because that was the humane thing for me to do. If I knew all of this was going to happen, I would have left you in the poppy field in your flying coffin."

"That is no way to address someone who saved your life."

Eloise glared at him, looking square into his addictive eyes. "Then I suppose we are even, sir. I saved your life and you saved mine. A life for a life," she paused forcing a smile onto her face. "exactly what you believe in most." She nodded at him before continuing her dedicated walk down the path one last time.

Ingraham barreled past her riding upon his black steed, pulling a saddled brown horse behind him. Eloise looked over her shoulder at the impressive animals. Ingraham dismounted from his animal and greeted Albert. She let out a disgruntled huff under her breath and continued walking.

"Do you believe that you can ride, captain?" Ingraham loudly questioned, reaching the reigns of the animal toward him.

Albert responded with a simple nod. "She will ride with me." He stated with a point toward Eloise, who immediately stalled at the mention of her name.

He pulled up onto the saddle, perching himself high onto the sturdy steed. Eloise could hear the hooves of the animal approaching her from behind. Before she knew it, the men were beside her. She stood beside the horse, studying the men as they sat poised in their saddles. She rested her hand onto the warm neck of the beast, letting it momentarily ease her worried mind. Her fingers trailed along the smoothness of its dark-brown hide. The spiraling world of her imagination pondered on where the strong animal could carry her off to—where she could escape from the reality that faced her.

"You should get on." He softly called out, jolting her back to a sense of reality with his voice.

She glanced up at him mounted onto the saddle. Nervously, she swallowed the lump that had formed in the back of her throat. He outstretched his hand to her, helping her to pull up onto the back of the robust creature. His strong form turned to look back at her, offering her a kind smile. She crossed her arms across her chest in hopes to hide her nerves that were on full display.

"You will have to hold onto me when we start moving." He stated, taking the soft leather reigns into his hand. "Or else you will fall off."

In the sunlight, his blue eyes glinted in a way Eloise had never noticed. She felt her cheeks growing flushed from his gaze. She heard the commander's call to begin their journey once again. He glanced at her again, waiting patiently for her movement close toward him.

In a slow movement, she wrapped her arms around his slender waist. Her fingers intertwined as she clutched against his body. The warmth of his body radiated onto her chest, leaving her with a strange feeling welling in the pit of her stomach. Albert patted the muscular neck of the horse before clicking it to move forward. Eloise could feel the jostling movements under her legs that were clasped around its midsection. The edge of the saddle pressed uncomfortably in her lower abdomen, making the ride even more discomforting.

Eloise kept her eyes on the sun, watching it as it slowly shifted along the painted blue sky. Her hands rested steadily against Albert's chest, feeling each strong beat of his heart. She carefully studied the unfamiliar woods, which expanded further than she had ever trekked. The foreign land offered her no peace as they moved tactfully around the trees.

"You're very quiet, Eloise." Albert said, turning his head to the side. "Are you faring well?"

Eloise looked at the profile of his face and nodded. "Yes, Captain."

"You may lean against me if you are tired." He suggested as he faced the path once again. "I wouldn't mind."

Eloise reluctantly leaned her head against Albert's back, feeling his breaths under her cheek. Her tired eyes longed to close and forget where she was at, only to know in her mind she couldn't. The jostling motion eased the jitteriness in her stomach. Her peaceful thoughts were cut short when the horse abruptly stopped at the edge of the forest. She swiftly glanced up, catching a glimpse of a camp in the distance. White tents were lined in rows. In front of the tents were horses in a line. A lump began to form in the back of her throat when she saw the campsite, knowing this was the end of the line.

"We are almost to the camp." Albert announced, clicking for the horse to move once again.

Eloise pressed her head against Albert's shoulder, watching as the new world neared her with each passing second. She could feel her heartbeat begin increasing once again. The sense of dread she felt was indescribable.

When the horse stopped again they were in the camp. The tents in front of them held groups of men who were pointing at Eloise. She quickly glanced away, hoping that the peering eyes of strangers would disappear quickly. The cavalry soldiers beside them began dismounting from their horses, removing the riding equipment from their backs.

Albert gracefully slid from the saddle. He glanced up at Eloise and offered her his hand. She reluctantly accepted and dismounted. The stiffness that settled in her legs slowly disappeared as she stepped around in place. Her eyes roamed along the edge of the simple campsite. She watched as Albert straightened his disheveled uniform. He ran his hand along the neck of his horse, whispering words to the animal. The sight brought a slight smile to Eloise. The returned cavalrymen began dispersing, disappearing into the large white tents.

"I will take you both to the general." Ingraham's voice announced from behind. "He will decide where you will go."

Eloise turned to see the dapper man standing beside them. He curled the ends of his brown mustache against his thin cheeks. In his hands he held a black helmet adorned with golden features. In a haste he placed it onto his head, covering the thick dark hair. He motioned for them to follow as he began walking down the extent of the tents, his fingers messing with the spike on his helmet. The gawking men all stared from their tents, studying Eloise as she passed beside them. Their walk was cut short as Ingraham motioned for them to halt. In front of them was a large square tent.

"I'm not going to leave you alone." Albert reassured her, squeezing his grasp on her shoulders. She stared at him blankly with doubt in her eyes. "I managed to get you here, the least I can do is help you to get out of here."

Eloise silently nodded, turning her attention to the nearby tent. The dreadful anticipation for who would appear made her heart pound violently in her chest. Soon Ingraham reappeared and waited beside the flap of the tent. Eloise watched carefully as a tall, well-dressed gentleman appeared from the white shelter. He straightened the bottom of his decorated uniform before classily approaching them.

"This is Captain Albert von Brandt," Ingraham simply stated, directing his attention to them. "And this lady is..." he paused, opening his mouth without speaking.

"Eloise." Albert reiterated with a nod, glancing at the uneasy Eloise beside him.

"This is Eloise." Ingraham corrected, "She is the one who saved the Captain's life when his plane crashed."

The gray-haired general stood before them, unimpressed. "They thought you were dead, Captain." He stepped forward, resting a firm hand on Albert's shoulder. "But I'm glad to see you aren't. I will bet that you won't fly out alone anymore." he said with a smile, slapping him on the back. He then turned his attention onto Eloise. "And you are the woman we must accredit in keeping our most prized ace alive?"

A meek smile formed ono the corner of her lips as she nodded silently. The gruffness of the uniformed man's voice scared her as he hovered over her. The man twirled the end of his gray mustache and began to laugh, an uncommon occurrence among the stern officers.

"You're a pretty little lady," he glanced back at Albert. "You got lucky, Captain."

Eloise fixated her eyes onto her feet, staring at the worn-out leather boots she wore. She hoped that the blushing in her cheeks would soon disperse before she was addressed again.

"She's very nervous though." He studied her carefully, looking at her from head to toe.

The dullness of her worn clothes brought immediate concern to the general as he stepped closer to her. Eloise began to hid herself behind folded arms. The closeness of the well-statured gentleman before her left her feeling intimidated.

He pointed to her decrepit shoes, "You've been living in those woods, haven't you?"

The question rang through her ears, flashing the only answer she knew—yes. Her life was dedicated to the cottage in the woods, the place where she did not exist.

She meekly nodded, glancing over at Albert who remained at her side. "Yes, sir. I have lived there for many years."

"Alone?"

"I have been alone since the war broke out." She answered simply.

"What about your family?"

She sighed, gritting her teeth. "They are all dead, sir."

"Then you have no reason to return to your home." The general bluntly began. "The German army is in search of good nurses to aid in helping the many casualties brought on by this war." He straightened his posture. "I believe that you are exactly what they need." He nodded agreeably, staring at her once again. "I will write to the field hospital and let them know of your arrival. I will have them send for you and give you the training you need. I feel though that you already know everything, since you nursed Albert so finely."

"I don't wish to become a nurse, sir." Eloise nervously responded.

The general leaned forward, whipping the long tail of his coat backward with a sweeping motion. "I didn't give you a choice." His whispered words struck fear into her heart. "You are lucky that you weren't shot in the forest by my men." He straightened himself upright once again. "The woods are no place for a lady to live alone. You will leave here as soon as someone arrives to collect you." He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a pouch of money, placing several gold pieces in her hand. "This should get you a new dress and boots."

Eloise looked down at the money in her hand then up at the general, who offered her a smile.

"It is the least I can do for a frightened little lady." He answered before leaving her. He stopped in front of Albert and looked proudly at him. "Captain!" He called out, motioning Albert to follow. "I want to hear all about your story."

She watched them both carefully as they disappeared into a white makeshift tent, leaving her alone outside. Her eyes roamed around the campsite of the strangers. The cold eyes of the confused men peered at her. She longed to disappear more than anything, but she knew that it was an impossible wish.