Passing Days

Alice stayed by Uncas' side until the first light of dawn began to creep into the hut. She looked down at the man sleeping peacefully under her gaze. She touched his forehead lightly with her palm, this head was cool and she thought his fever had broken during the night.

His breaths were no longer shallow but soft, his lips parting every now and then as he sighed within his slumber. Alice pulled her eyes away from them, remembering those lips upon her own and scolded herself for having such a thought.

Chingachgook stirred slightly, rolling onto his side in his sleep. The movement brought Alice back to herself and looking around her as the light filtered in, banishing the cover of night she realized how inappropriate it was for her to be here, sat next to a man while he slept. She rose to her feet and with care to be as quiet as she could; she made her way out of the hut.

Hawkeye watched the young girl leave, his eyes watching the whole scene from when she had entered to when she left. He had been unable to sleep for the worry of his brother's life; his father would surely be displeased with him for being tired and useless later in the day. He pushed himself up with his hands and got to his feet and went to his brother's side. Gently he felt Uncas' forehead and felt the cool skin. He sighed in relief and lovingly touched his brother's cheek; he then went to wake his father, who would weep in gratitude to the Great Spirit for sparing his son's life.

The days passed quickly and life was pleasant and unhindered for Cora and Alice. Cora seemed to adapt quickly to the situation and had already picked up many words of the local language to the delight of some of the younger girls of the village who eagerly tried to teach her more each day. Cora took great joy in the seeming simplicity that the village lived in. She would sit outside the hut being taught to weave baskets or darn clothing. Hawkeye visited them regularly, whenever he could spare himself from Uncas' side. The happiness they found within each other was plain for all to see and marriage had been mentioned a few times between them.

Alice was the opposite of her sister in most things and this situation was no different. She had withdrawn greatly into herself, unsure how to deal with the people and culture around her, afraid of what she did not understand. She avoided venturing out into the village unless she had to and preferred to pass her time inside the comfort of the hut.

Cora grew more worried about her sister with each passing day. Alice had never been bold or extrovert but she had been a talkative girl in the right company, now Alice barely spoke even to her. Cora tried to calm her fears by telling herself that Alice just needed time to adjust, to overcome the trial she had been through, she comforted herself with these thoughts but she was unsure if she truly believed them.

Alice watched her sister work upon the basket, Cora's fingers worked quickly and though she had only started it that morning it was already half finished. Summer was in full bloom in the village, flowers swayed slightly in the breeze and the sun shone down warmly giving the air a sweet smell. Alice let her thoughts wander in the heat of the day. She had continued her nightly visits to see Uncas; he seemed to be gaining his strength each time she visited. He had not awakened while she had been with him since her first visit, but this she did not mind. She preferred him to sleep while she sang and the fact was she did not know how she would explain herself if he did.

She could not understand the reasoning for her visits to him, part of her thought it was in thankfulness and the other part…she did not wish to dwell on. She was comforted by the thought that they would soon move on, back to a town or city and everything would fit back into place again. But so far, Cora had made no mention of moving on and trying to find a British occupied town.

Alice fanned herself with a small basket. Cora looked over at her sister "Come outside Alice, the air is cooler"

Alice glanced up at her sister and shook her head in reply. Cora sighed "You are as stubborn as mother!" she smiled playfully hoping to raise a smile from Alice but Alice just looked back at her makeshift fan.

"Mother" she thought. She had not thought of her mother for such a long time. Cora knew her much more than Alice ever did, she had died when Alice was five years old. She remembered so little of her, she could not even see her face in her mind's eye but she remembered her sweet voice perfectly.

The one memory Alice did have of her was of being four or five years old. She and Cora had owned a beautiful toy, a wooden horse. It was lovingly painted with trees and birds, the colors vibrant and clean. It had wheels and a string attached around its neck so it could be pulled along. One day Alice had wanted to take the horse outside, insisting that it needed its daily fresh air and a drink by the pool but Cora had scolded her and told her that she couldn't because it would rain that day. Alice had ignored her older sister's warnings and taken it out anyway. It had indeed rained and some of the paint on the horses back had become smudged because of it. When Cora had discovered this she had lost her temper and called Alice a "Foolish girl" for ruining their toy and abruptly pushed her younger sister over causing Alice to cry.

Her mother had soon come to see what all the noise was about and after scolding Cora for pushing her over she had swept Alice up into her arms and sang to her until she had quietened. There were many songs her mother sang to her but Moonlit Lullaby had always been Alice's favourite and she remembered her mother singing this song perfectly.

Alice came out of her thoughts and shifted her position on the dusty ground causing the skirt of her dress to slide up her thigh a little, she quickly adjusted it. She watched her sister a little longer before breaking the silence between them.

"Cora" she said in a barely audible whisper. Her sister looked up from her work.

"I need to get some new clothing" Alice ventured.

Cora sighed "This again Alice?"

Alice looked at the ground. "I need them"

Alice saw Cora bristle for a moment then she relaxed resuming her work.

"You ask me this near' everyday, it's one of the only things you do talk to me over, why can't you be grateful for what you have?"

Alice played idly with the basket in her hands in embarrassment at her sister's harsh words.

Cora glanced at her. "Very well, I'll ask Hawkeye if we can afford something for you from a trader, I can fix your stays I think" she paused "If it helps you feel better."

Alice nodded; Cora had hoped for a smile, she couldn't remember the last time she had seen her sister smile.

Alice lay awake on her bed; she had been like this for what felt like hours. Tonight she had decided to not visit Uncas, it was getting too dangerous, she didn't want to be seen by anyone toing and froing from his hut. Finally after the hundredth time of shifting her position she sat up, her hand pushing back her hair from her forehead. She got to her feet slowly, made her way to the doorway and pushed the cloth aside, feeling the fresh air dance upon her skin.

Without quite realizing what she was doing she began to walk the familiar path to Uncas' hut. Once outside she cautiously looked inside to make sure all were asleep. She could see no movement and without hesitation she stepped inside. She knelt down by his side and looked down upon his sleeping form.

She studied him for a moment. His bare chest was half covered by a blanket; the blue lines of his tattoos visible. The wound on his shoulder was wrapped in white cotton bandages that gave a stark contrast to his tanned skin. His face was relaxed in sleep and his black lashes fluttered a little as he dreamed. He moved his head, so he was now facing her. A few strands of his long black hair fell over his lips, Alice watched as his breath stirred it slightly. She moved forward and gently began to move the hair back to its rightful place. Suddenly his hand was upon her wrist. She looked back at his face; his eyes were open, watching her…she pulled her hand back in fright at being discovered. Uncas watched her questioningly and pulled himself up into a sitting position. Alice stumbled to her feet and backed away a little. She had not expected this and it had caught her completely off guard.

Uncas smiled at her a little, the questioning look still in his eyes, he made a move to speak and then one of the others began to stir.

"Uncas" Hawkeye's voice.

Alice's eyes darted to the voice's direction, panic rose in her eyes for a moment and then she fled from the hut and back across the village, back to her own bed and safety. Once there she hid herself under the blankets, her heart hammering. Part of her felt foolish, she knew that this place she was in was completely different to her life in England, the customs were not the same and she suspected that it was not seen as such a scandal here, but she couldn't seem to shake the things she knew or thought she knew and therefore obeyed them still. She listened to her breathing until it became steady again and she vowed to herself that she would not visit him again.

Alice awoke upon the dusty, rocky ground. She got to her feet, dusting the dirt from her hands as she did. She was atop the cliffs once again. The wind howled fiercely around her and all was as she remembered it from her last dream, but the cliff was empty from all but a stone surrounded fireplace jutting out of the wall and a fire crackled in its place.

Feeling the chill of the air around her she tried to walk towards it but found her feet would not do her bidding. Slowly a dark mist began to descend near the fire, forming into the outline of a man becoming clearer each second until her father stood resting his arm upon the top of the fire surround. He looked exactly as Alice remembered, his red uniform perfectly pressed, his hair flecked with grey was freshly powdered and his face wore a stern kind of kindness that suited it so well.

"Papa!" she called a grin spreading across her features.

Her father turned and looked at her, he did not smile, he just stared at her with haunted eyes.

"Papa?" Alice questioned.

Her father slowly reached out his hand towards her, his mouth forming words she could not hear.

"What am I to do Papa?" Alice cried, her tears now flowing freely. Her father continued to talk soundlessly. "Tell me Papa?" Alice pleaded.

Her father abruptly stopped his face twisting into a shocked and confused expression, his hand reached to his side, slowly he pulled his hand away and looked at it, then a strange calm descended over his features and he raised his hand palm out for his daughter to see. His finger's dripped blood; Alice shook her head in horror.

"Papa" she breathed.

Blood began to run freely down his side colouring his red coat in a dark stain. Alice saw that his coat was ripped, the material hanging in ragged clumps, through it she could see the gaping wound beneath. Her eyes caught something glinting and she turned her gaze to it, a tomahawk lay on the ground, its blade stained red with her father's blood.

"No" Alice whispered. She stared back at her father a moment; his eyes had begun to brim with tears. He opened his mouth and a thin trickle of blood ran out from its corner, Alice made out the word he silently spoke…."Why"

Over three weeks had now passed since they first came to the village. Uncas sat up in his bed carefully carving a piece of wood. He could hear the sweet sound of birds singing coming from outside and wished to be free from his sick bed. His wounds were healing well and they caused him less pain each day. He thought it would take him a good few months to be fully healed and able to hunt but this thought did not trouble him too much.

His father had seemingly endless lectures for him, his fight with Magua had disturbed his father greatly and he talked over and over about choosing battles more carefully and ranted questions to him, why hadn't he waited? Did he know the full extent of what would have happened if his father had not followed him right away!

Uncas knew the answers to the question but he did not voice them. He hadn't waited because he was unsure of Magua's mind, he may have killed Alice on top of the cliff letting her body fall down to the forest floor many feet below or taken her down a path he could not track, he could not let that happen and that was the reason he did not wait…and the strange frightened girl stirred in him feelings he had not encountered before, he had mused at the waterfall that it was love between them, he had known it to be so at the cliffs, he would have died for her on that fateful day and he would not have regretted it.

If his wounds and father would have allowed him he would have been at Alice's side from the moment he came to himself, but he knew his father would disapprove of his choice, she was not an Indian woman after all, and he had thought it best to wait until he was well to deal with that situation. Sometimes his mind was clouded by the thought that Alice did not feel the same way. He had laid that worry to rest when she had come to see him night after night. He had kept his eyes closed not wanting her to be frightened away and enjoying the nearness of her, the small touches she gave him, moving his blanket or hair. She'd sing to him, her voice soft and uncertain but beautiful because it was hers.

Then the last night she had come to him, she'd awakened him with a touch upon his cheek, moving his hair. He had decided that the time had come for them to finally meet each other again. But she had reacted as if a frightened rabbit, taking flight at his brother's voice and she had not been to visit him since. He knew it was the frightened child inside her that kept her away from him but he knew in his heart that he could change that, that he could make her happy.

Another chapter done.

Chapter 5 will be up soon all being well, I seem to be thinking but nothing else but this story at the moment so hopefully that means there won't be too long a pause in my writing.

Really hope everyone's still enjoying it and more Alice & Uncas to come!