The Adventures of Pocahontas and John Rolfe: Book II

Chapter 9: Breaking Tradition

In the early evening, Pocahontas rode Opileskiwan up the hill toward her father's house. John Rolfe followed behind her on Snow Angel's back. They had just returned from a pleasant ride through the icy forest, having crossed back over the frozen Pamunkey River. Glancing back, the Englishman noticed that the warriors appeared to be stacking massive bundles of firewood into the center of the gathering circle. Though the weather was still cool, it had finally warmed up enough for outdoor communal activities. When they reached the stable, they dismounted their horses and relieved the animals of their saddles. As Pocahontas was feeding them, John Rolfe got to work on brushing Snow Angel's beautiful white winter coat. As he ran his fingers through the fur over her back, he noticed some raised areas which he could only guess were the scars left by the abominable Thomas West. The English gentleman gritted his teeth in anger.

"What's wrong, John?" Pocahontas inquired, noticing his changed demeanor.

John Rolfe shook his head. "Nothing," he replied, not wanting to make a big deal about a thing he could not change. Then he frowned. "I was just thinking about Baron West," he admitted.

"What about him?" Pocahontas probed, curious as to what was going on in John Rolfe's mind.

He sighed. "I was just thinking… if he ever has the nerve to come back here, I am absolutely going to slaughter him. I don't care what it takes. The man was a monster long before he actually transformed into one, assuming that's what happened. I just so deeply despise him."

Pocahontas blinked at the ferocity of her beau's words. "Well, I definitely don't like him either."

"Come, see what he did to Snow Angel," the diplomat declared, beckoning her over. When she approached, he took one of her hands and directed her fingers to the raised ridges hidden beneath the mare's winter coat. "Thomas West did that with a leather whip. He ought to be flayed."

Pocahontas gasped. "That's horrible! Poor Snow Angel!"

"I know. Thanks to that brute of a baron, it's probably going to be very difficult to train the fear of Jamestown out of Snow Angel. If I was her, I would be right well terrified too!"

"Maybe if we bring Opileskiwan with us, he might make her feel safer while she's there. I did notice that she kind of hides behind him sometimes like she sees him as a protector," Pocahontas recalled. "I mean, he is a big strong stallion who Snow Angel appears to trust completely."

John Rolfe's visage brightened. "That's not a bad idea at all, using one horse to train another. In fact, it's brilliant! I'm surprised that I didn't think of it," he returned as he continued to brush the mare. Snow Angel appeared to be very much enjoying the grooming. She rested her head on the wall of the stable and released a whinnying sigh. Rolfe used his spare hand to scratch her behind the right ear. "What a sweet girl you are, Snow Angel. And so stunningly beautiful," he lauded.

"This is a completely random question, John," Pocahontas remarked, "but I'm wondering, how can you tell when a horse is pregnant? I mean what are the signs in the early stages?"

John Rolfe raised a brow. "There's no way Snow Angel can be pregnant yet, Pocahontas. Mares don't go into heat during the cold season. The reason, I presume, is because a foal's gestation is about one year in length. The winter's cold would be fatal to a newborn foal," he explained.

"Ah," Pocahontas replied, stroking Opileskiwan's neck as he chewed on his hay.

John Rolfe grinned. "If she's going to get pregnant at all, it'll probably be later this spring. Do you really want a foal that badly, Pocahontas?" the gentleman inquired teasingly.

The corners of Pocahontas's lips turned upward. "Well, I don't know what baby horses look like. I really want to see one," she admitted. "I imagine they'd be absolutely adorable."

"Oh, they are," John Rolfe confirmed. "Such fuzzy little things they are, but the mums and dads are very protective. So if you want Snow Angel and Opileskiwan to let you anywhere near their possible future offspring, I'd suggest doing everything you can to curry their favor now."

Instead of replying to his remark, John Rolfe heard Pocahontas release a contented sigh. "I love babies," she mused, leaning in to give Snow Angel a hug around her well-muscled neck.

Instantly, John Rolfe found himself on high alert. He cleared his throat loudly. "Right, yes," he announced, accidentally dropping the brush. "Um, so, sh-shall we go check out the festivities?" he hurriedly inquired, reaching down to retrieve the dropped item from the icy ground.

Pocahontas cocked a brow in puzzlement. "But they're just getting set up. The food is cooking still and the music hasn't even started," she protested, wondering what the hurry was all about.

John Rolfe led Snow Angel into the stable and up to the feeding trough, putting away the horse brush with the rest of the tack. "Perhaps, but look!" he said, pointing. "Those children over there look bored. Maybe they want to play a game. Come on," he insisted, shutting the stable door.

"Children?" Pocahontas uttered, glancing down the hill. There were two very young children that Pocahontas recognized, neither a day over six and a half years. Both of the kids were bundled up in winter gear. They were trying to play in the little snow that was left from the long winter. "Ah, that makes me think. We should introduce my people to ice-skating!" she declared.

"That might have to wait until next year," John Rolfe returned, starting down the icy hill. "I get the feeling that the rest of this ice is going to be thawing very soon. Look at the icicles dripping from the tree branches. It probably would be a good idea to be careful when crossing the river from now on." Pocahontas sighed and followed Rolfe. A moment later, the children looked up from what they were doing and saw the white man approaching. They both squealed and ran to hide. The diplomat stopped walking and frowned. "Ah, no! They're afraid of me," he lamented.

Pocahontas giggled and walked up to him. "The youngest children in the village tend to be the wariest of strangers. Don't worry though. They will get over it as soon as they see that you're not as scary as you look," the Powhatan princess remarked teasingly, giving him a nudge.

The Englishman frowned. "I look scary? I didn't mean to look scary!"

Pocahontas laughed out loud. "Not to me, you don't. I was kidding. Now, hush. I'll go get them." She found one of the children hiding behind a house. Peeking around the house, she waved to the little boy who was no more than four years of age. "Chama wingapo, Uppes," she greeted.

"Pocahontas!" cried the little boy, running over to her and giggling.

She picked Uppes up and propped him on a hip, turning to John Rolfe. "Vuniminu Ulkekahone."

"Ulke?" the boy uttered, shoving his mitten-covered fingers in his mouth.

John Rolfe raised a brow. "I was hoping to show you one of the games I liked when I was his age, but I guess he's a little too shy. It's okay. I should probably head back to Jamestown before it gets dark anyway," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. He started toward the river.

"Wait!" Pocahontas cried, putting Uppes down. "You're not staying for the festivities?"

He peered at her. "Wha…? Do you want me to?" he asked.

Pocahontas nodded fervently. "It'll be fun. Come on!"

Meanwhile, the little boy that Pocahontas had put down stood perfectly still as he stared up at John Rolfe with his drooly mitten in his mouth. The English gentleman glanced back down at the small child. "Do you… Do you think he'd let me spin him around, Pocahontas? He looks like he doesn't know what to make of me," the diplomat noted, not making any sudden movements to avoid frightening the boy. The kid tilted his head sideways as they kept staring at each other.

Pocahontas nudged Uppes forward. "Guepone o Ulkekahone," she said.

The brown-eyed boy stumbled forward slightly and then looked back up at Pocahontas. When she pointed to John Rolfe, Uppes turned to look up at him again. Meanwhile, the young boy's six-year-old sister glanced out from behind a nearby tree with a curious look on her face. Uppes pointed to Rolfe. "Ulke," he repeated. John Rolfe knelt down and offered his hands to the child. Slowly and hesitantly, Uppes walked up to him and observed the bizarre white leather gloves that John Rolfe wore on his hands. They looked nothing like what people had in the village.

"Want to spin?" John Rolfe inquired. "Come on, give me your little hands," he said enticingly. Instead of taking his hands, Uppes reached toward them and pulled one of the white gloves off. The Englishman blinked. First, the boy examined the glove and then he examined the hand itself. Rolfe rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on! Not this again. I know precisely where this is headed."

Pocahontas laughed as John Rolfe gently took his glove back and put it on again. Then he took Uppes's little mittened hands and rose to his feet. He pulled the boy up off the ground, much to the child's surprise, and started to carefully spin him around and around and around. Instantly, the little boy started to squeal and giggle and scream. The Englishman spun him around a few times and then put him back down on his feet. At once, Uppes's big sister came running out from behind the tree. She padded up to him and reached upward, asking to be spun as well. "Oia, Shumalee, denunta effirequen Ulkekahone," Pocahontas remarked cheerfully.

Shumalee was not the only one to notice the fun Uppes had been having. Several children who had been observing from afar came running over, fighting for a turn. "Ah! Wait, I don't have that much energy!" John Rolfe proclaimed as little hands reached up at him from all around.

"Too bad," Pocahontas teased. "You got them excited. Now you deal with the consequences."

"But I was just trying to show you the game I liked to play with my father when I was a boy!" Rolfe cried, making Pocahontas laugh. He made a sound of mock aggravation. "This reminds me of the time I made all the children scream at the same time in Siwili's village by accident."

"That's exactly what I was remembering," Pocahontas remarked as she walked up to Shumalee and spun her around, deciding to help John Rolfe out instead of just making fun of him. The six-year-old squealed and shrieked in delight. When Pocahontas stopped, the little girl wanted to go again immediately. The Powhatan princess shook her head. "How about they all get one spin and then we go help my aunt with cooking the feast? I'm looking forward to this evening."

John Rolfe raised a brow at her as one of the children started to pull on his trousers. He had to clap his hands down fast to prevent them from descending his pelvis. "Alright, alright. Back up, small ones. You all get one spin," the Englishman decreed, taking the next child by the hands.

After each child had been spun, naturally they all wanted more. But Pocahontas and John Rolfe drew the line and trudged off after giving the kids a few pats on the head. They returned to the chief's house and helped Sooleawa cook up some dishes. Because the ingredients were different from what they were used to, they had to get a bit creative. Instead of corn dumplings, they made wheat flour dumplings and buttered them with deer suet from the successful hunt.

It was sunset by the time all the food was prepared and the bonfire in the village center had been lit. A loose circle of villagers gathered around the fire. Closest to Powhatan's house was the chief himself and the shaman and elders. Women and children gathered together on one side of the circle and warriors gathered on the other. There was only some flute music playing at first. It was naturally everyone's first prerogative to eat dinner. Pocahontas and Sooleawa sat between the women and the elders, relatively close to the former's father. When Rolfe spotted Pocahontas, he plodded over and lowered himself onto a sitting mat at her side. "Hello again, Pocahontas."

A loud whistling sound abruptly got their attention. When they glanced in the direction of the noise, some warriors appeared to be beckoning the Englishman toward them with full arm motions. John Rolfe raised a brow and glanced back at Pocahontas questioningly. Having noticed the warriors as well, Pocahontas smiled at him. "Go on, John," she said encouragingly, giving him a nudge in their direction. "Go over there and talk to them. They won't bite," she teased.

John Rolfe glanced back over toward the group of warriors. "You sure about that?"

Pocahontas laughed and gave him another nudge. "Of course, I am."

The Englishman groaned in slight displeasure and pushed himself up to his feet, dusted himself off, and started over in the direction of the many male eyes that were upon him. When he arrived, they had cleared a spot for him to sit. But he just stood there at first, rubbing his arm and looking awkward. "Is… um, is there something I can do for you all?" John Rolfe inquired.

Naganwaya gestured to the many plates of food set out for them. "Sit and eat with us. We want to hear your side of the story," the lead warrior told him, beckoning him to take a seat.

"My side of what story?" John Rolfe inquired.

Naganwaya chuckled. "The story of your travels, of course. Come on." When Rolfe continued to hesitate, Naganwaya drew his brows together in irritation. "What? You don't like how our people prepare food?" he asked, looking almost insulted. "It is your own people's food!"

John Rolfe frowned. "What? No, I'm sure it's delicious the way you prepare it. I just… Well, okay, I suppose I can talk to you for a bit if you want. What part of our travels did you want to hear?" he inquired, lowering himself to the sitting mat that had been cleared for him.

"Introductions first," Naganwaya decreed. "My name is Naganwaya." He pointed to a warrior by his side with turkey feathers tied into his scalp-lock. "This is Achachak, a dear friend of mine."

Achachak clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Naganwaya is our greatest warrior," he chimed.

Naganwaya grinned. "That is what Chief Powhatan says," he affirmed. "Anyway," he continued, gesturing to two identical twin brothers. The only way they could be told apart was that one had blue feathers in his hair and the other had red ones. "These great braves are Chaska and Hassun. As you can see, they are identical twins. Make no mistake, they are very different."

John Rolfe laughed, extending a hand toward the brothers. "I have a twin as well. His name is Eustace," he said. The brothers just stared at the hand, not knowing what it was for. Rolfe rolled his eyes lightly in amusement. "It's just a handshake," he explained, waving it off and pulling the hand back. "Never mind. Silly English custom. It's nice to meet you, Chaska and Hassun."

"Chaska doesn't speak English too good," Achachak indicated. "And neither does Hassun."

John Rolfe raised his brows. "Oh? Well, I am trying to learn your language, so I'll be flexible," he replied, turning his attention back to the twins. "Wingapo, Chaska. Wingapo, Hassun."

The brothers smirked at him. Chaska said something in Powhatan that John Rolfe could not catch. At Rolfe's look of confusion, Naganwaya translated, "He says he prefers to skip the introductions and get straight to the story. But, to be fair to the others, this is Hoko, Sugantips, and Samoset. They all really want to hear the story too." He gestured to each warrior in turn.

"Well, okay, what part of the story do you want to hear? I don't think we have enough time this evening for me to regale you all with the full story from beginning to end," John Rolfe decided as Sugantips handed him a plate. "Oh, thank you," he uttered, taking it. He gathered some items from the different dishes onto his plate and started to eat. The food was delicious.

Naganwaya had a very curious look on his face. "You are great warrior and hunter, are you not? Tell us about your battle with the evil ones on the giant canoe first and then we want to hear how you killed the moose and the bear," Naganwaya decreed. Hearing this, John Rolfe almost choked on a dumpling. The English gentleman started coughing harshly, which immediately alarmed the others. Naganwaya pounded his back. "Do not die before you have chance to tell us the story!"

Once the Englishman had cleared his airway, he gasped. "I'm not a warrior or a hunter! Who told you all that?" he blurted, putting down his plate. "I'm a diplomat by trade, a peacekeeper."

Naganwaya and the others appeared confused. Achachak spoke next, "But did you not defeat the evil ones who threatened harm to the chief's daughter? She tells us that you did."

"Well, um, y-yes, I did do that. But that's the first time I'd ever done something like that and…"

"If that does not make you a warrior, then I do not know what a warrior is. Pocahontas herself informed us that you fought magnificently against your foes. She saw the whole thing, didn't she?" Naganwaya interrupted, knitting his brows. "Are you calling the chief's daughter a liar?"

John Rolfe appeared alarmed. "What? N-no! I'm sure Pocahontas would not lie. It must've just been a misunderstanding. Pocahontas is a very honest woman," he readily admitted.

Hearing that, Naganwaya seemed to relax. "Then tell us your side of the story."

"Okay, fine!" John Rolfe conceded. "It all happened late at night this past autumn when we were still on the ship. I had gone to bed early. I fell asleep, but I started having a strange dream."

"Did the dream warn you of the danger to the chief's daughter?" Achachak asked.

The others hushed him for interrupting. "Quiet, Achachak!" Naganwaya chided.

John Rolfe raised a brow. "Shouldn't someone be translating all this for Chaska and Hassun?"

"I will tell them story afterward," Naganwaya replied.

Rolfe nodded. "Okay. Yes, the dream warned me that Pocahontas was in danger. I woke up quite abruptly and in a panic and ran toward the upper deck. When I got there, Pocahontas's disguise had been torn away by a fishnet hook and several men were closing in on her. I was so angry and terrified, I grabbed a sword and a dagger. After that, it's all the blur, to be honest. I do remember throwing Pocahontas into the water and telling her to swim to shore and then I remember being on the shore in a really dense forest. Oh! I also remember cutting a man's hand off. It was the same pirate who came after us later on. I'm not sure how much Pocahontas told you about that."

"Pocahontas said the man bore a knife possessed of an evil spirit," Hoko revealed.

John Rolfe nodded. "Yes, that's true. He almost killed me with it later on, but we just barely got away with our lives. In my mind, it really all adds up to divine providence. We were lucky."

The warriors seemed a little confused. "Pocahontas said you cleaved a man's head clean off the shoulders," Naganwaya disclosed with a cutthroat gesture. "Is that all true as well? That is one of my favorite battle moves," he declared. "I cut three men's heads with my battle ax once."

John Rolfe's stomach lurched. "Uh, yes, I do vaguely recall that event as well," he reluctantly replied. Ugh, I don't feel so well, he thought in the back of his mind. The food they were eating was starting to look less and less appealing to him. "I-I mean, it all happened so fast."

Naganwaya nodded. "That is how most battles are."

"Perhaps, but it is not something that I'm used to," John Rolfe admitted.

Hassun said something in Powhatan. Naganwaya glanced at him and then back to John Rolfe. "He wants to know how you killed the bear. It's something Hassun has always wanted to do."

John Rolfe raised a brow. "Oh! That's where you've misunderstood, I think. I didn't kill a bear or a moose. It was Pocahontas who did those things. I know she killed the moose with an arrow, but I haven't a clue how she killed the bear. I had meant to ask her. Should we call her over?"

All of the warriors had blank looks on their faces as they stared at him. John Rolfe stared back at them, not knowing what to make of their facial expressions. Suddenly, they all exchanged glances and then burst into raucous laughter. Those who understood English translated his words for those who did not and the latter added to the noise the English-speakers were making. "White man is funny!" cried Chaska in a thick accept, laughing his head off as he rolled onto his back.

Naganwaya clapped Rolfe on the back. "That is the best joke I've ever heard from a pale face."

John Rolfe frowned. "Joke? But I'm not joking!"

"What you say is impossible, so it must be a joke," Achachak replied, chortling.

Naganwaya rolled onto his back too and kept laughing, but John Rolfe drew his brows together. "I'm telling you all, it's not a joke!" the English gentleman insisted, starting to get irritated.

"Yeah, sure. A mere woman took down great beasts all by herself," Hoko chimed, sniggering.

John Rolfe was starting to get sick of hearing the men mock their chief's daughter in such a rude manner. He scowled at them, stood up, and stomped back over to Pocahontas. When he got there, Pocahontas glanced up with a startled look on her face. He peered down at her with a cross look on his, planting his hands firmly on his hips. "Pocahontas, you must tell those clowns the truth."

Sooleawa glanced up at him too, completely perplexed. Pocahontas raised a brow at the irritated English diplomat. "What are you talking about John?" the Powhatan princess inquired, putting her dinner plate down on the sitting mat before her. She dusted herself off as she rose to her feet.

As soon as she stood up, John Rolfe took her gently by the wrist and led her back over to the warriors. "They seem to have misunderstood your storytelling and think that I'm the one who killed the bear and the moose. Now, they think I'm some kind of great hunter, which you and I both know that I am not. I refuse to take credit for someone else's deeds. Tell them the truth."

"But, John," Pocahontas protested, "I did tell the truth from the beginning. I didn't think it was important who did what when I was relating the story to the village. I said we caught a moose and a bear. Our journey was a team effort to survive. I didn't think it was important who caught what. If they think you killed the moose and the bear, then they are making assumptions."

"Ha!" John Rolfe declared to the men's faces. "You heard it yourselves. I did not catch the moose or the bear. You all made assumptions. I am not much of a hunter at all. I mean, I've caught maybe a turtle here and there, but I've very little experience with hunting overall."

The seated clique of young warriors stared up at the two of them, completely stumped. The Englishman grinned, feeling vindicated. Losing interest in the other men, he turned his attention back to Pocahontas, stretching his back and yawning. "Pocahontas, I think I should head back to Jamestown now. It'll take a while to get there on foot anyway and I'm getting tired."

"I'll let you borrow Opileskiwan," Pocahontas told him. "Come."

As Pocahontas led John Rolfe up the hill to the stable, he said, "Pocahontas, Jamestown is going to be hosting a big party to celebrate our winter survival in four days from now. I'm going to be the organizer again and I want to invite all of your people. Will you extend the invitation to your father for me?" he inquired, yawning again. "I'd tell him myself, but I'm rather exhausted."

"Yes, of course," Pocahontas replied, whistling for Opileskiwan. The stallion rose up from the hay and greeted them over the wall of the stable. "And thank you. I can't wait for the party!"

Pocahontas and John Rolfe helped each other prepare the horse and then John Rolfe was off.

MARCH 25, 1614

The ice in the rivers started to melt and break up on the morning of March 25. To make the Pamunkey River crossable without the sturdy ice, the warriors used stones and pickaxes to break up the ice nearest the shores. Thereafter, a canoe could be used to get from one side to the other. Several canoes that had been in storage for the long winter were brought out and placed on the riverbank for the people to use. Hours later, the spring fish run started. There were so many fish trying to get upriver to spawn, a man could not enter the water without stepping on one. In the evening, some heavy rains started, which only functioned to further melt and break up the ice. Chief Powhatan had to forbid anyone from attempting to cross the ice on foot afterward.

MARCH 26, 1614

The next morning dawned clear and bright. It was surprisingly warm, so much so that the people were able to remove most of their outer clothes as soon as the sun shone over the trees. In the river, Pocahontas and Nakoma were sliding through icy water in a sleek canoe. They used their paddles like battering rams to break up more of the ice. Fish of all sizes were literally jumping into the boat and the two girls giggled in glee as they threw the smaller ones back into the water. Pocahontas heard her father calling. When she glanced to the shore, he was standing there and waving for her to come back to their home. Pocahontas frowned, not wanting to give up the fun she was having. "I had better go see what my father wants," the Powhatan princess said.

"Hurry back if you can!" Nakoma replied as she helped paddle them to shore. Chief Powhatan had already returned to the family longhouse by the time they reached the riverbank.

Pocahontas stepped out of the canoe and waved goodbye to Nakoma. "I will," she returned, shoving the canoe with Nakoma back into the water. "I'll be back as soon as I can." She started up the muddy and slippery riverbank in her winter boots, a subtle smile on her face when she reached the family longhouse. The smile vanished when she observed that no one was there other than herself and her father. She started to worry she might be in some kind of trouble. "Father, is everything alright?" Pocahontas inquired, noting the serious look on her father's face.

Chief Powhatan then flashed the young woman a light smile to put her at ease. "Nothing is wrong, Daughter. But I do have a very important thing to discuss with you. Please, come over here," he replied, beckoning her over to his throne where he stood with his walking stick.

Pocahontas approached, feeling relieved. When she reached him, he smiled wider and brought a hand up to admire the shell pendant on her turquoise necklace, turning it this way and that with his hand. "I did not bring this topic up before because I knew you were grieving over John Smith's death and I did not want to push you. But now that we know he lives, I need to know something. Pocahontas, if John Smith returns and he asks you to marry him, will you? If this is something you need time to think about, let me know now and I'll give you more time."

Pocahontas's jaw dropped, caught completely off-guard by the topic that her father had just mentioned. "I-I… Well," she began, unsure what to say. She lowered her head sadly. "No, Father. I still love John Smith, but I'm not in love with him anymore. If he had written to me while he was away, perhaps my feelings for him would never have faded. But they have. If he wants to marry me now, it's too little, too late. I can't marry someone who disappears for years at a time. I hope you understand that. I'm sorry if this news is disappointing," she said apologetically.

Chief Powhatan brought his hand up from his daughter's pendant and lifted her head. She was surprised to find that he was still smiling. "On the contrary, I am glad to know you know what you want. I'm not disappointed at all. But tell me, Daughter. I know how much you love little children. You've always been so good with them. Because of that, I have always assumed you wanted to be a mother someday. Is that assumption correct? Do you ever want to marry at all?"

Pocahontas smiled. "Yes, Father. I do."

"That's a relief to hear!" Powhatan lauded. "Well, if you're sure that you don't want to marry John Smith, but you do want to marry someone, then it is my duty to inform you that a different man has come forward with a marriage proposal for you," he confidently disclosed.

Pocahontas gasped. She felt her heart speed up. Had John Rolfe done this to surprise her? She could barely contain her excitement, she was so happy. "I'll do it! I'll marry him!" she cried, throwing herself into her father's arms. Pocahontas startled the chief with her fervor, causing him to jolt, but he gradually closed his arms around her. The Powhatan princess could scarcely stop the tears from flowing down her face, but she forced back her elation to finish the conversation. She cleared her throat and wiped the tears away. "W-with your permission, I mean!"

Chief Powhatan was agape for an extended moment. When he finally found his voice again, he said, "Of course, you have my permission. I'd love for you to marry such a great warrior."

Pocahontas bit her lip and rubbed her arm. "Thanks, Father, but I don't think he really considers himself a warrior. I know what he did was amazing, but he prefers to think of himself as a keeper of the peace, you know? Like me. I think this will be a great opportunity for our tribe."

Chief Powhatan raised a brow, totally puzzled. "Doesn't consider himself a warrior? Of course, he does. Naganwaya is our greatest warrior. He happily accepted that honor from me."

Pocahontas stared at her father, failing to process what he had just said at first. "Nagan…" she uttered. "Nagan… Naganwaya. Naganwaya? Naganwaya! Wait, you mean to tell me Naganwaya is the one who asked for my hand in marriage? Oh, spirits!" She placed a hand to her forehead, feeling slightly faint, and backed up against one of the long support beams of their home.

Chief Powhatan raised a brow at his daughter's bizarre behavior. There was an extended moment of silence as the chief tried to process what was happening. When realization finally hit him, he drew his brows together into a serious look and eyed Pocahontas. "Of course, I am talking about the warrior Naganwaya. Who did you think I was talking about?" he firmly demanded.

Pocahontas started to sweat. She was busted now and she knew it. "W-well, I…"

"Daughter!" Chief Powhatan charged. "Have you been keeping secrets from me?" Pocahontas gulped, unable to think of a quick response. "Pocahontas, I am not an idiot. You just happily consented to be a man's wife and then when I tell you who the man is, you act surprised. It is clear as the water of the River of Youth to me that you were thinking someone else had asked!"

A bead of sweat formed on Pocahontas's forehead and she started wringing her hands. Then she sighed and lowered her head again. "Yes, Father, there is someone else," she admitted in a low voice. Then her eyes shot up to meet his. "We were going to tell you very soon, I swear!"

"Who is he?" Powhatan demanded.

Pocahontas simpered at her father and then put up a finger. "Let me get back to you on that. I'll be right back, Father!" she exclaimed, bolting past him and out the door of the longhouse.

Chief Powhatan gasped as she evaded him and abruptly left. "Pocahontas, get back here!"

"I will soon! I'll be right back, I swear!" she called back. The young woman bolted down the riverbank, spotting Nakoma unloading her fish catch onto the shore. Pocahontas overturned the canoe, dumping all the fish onto the ground, and shoved the canoe into the water. "Hurry, Nakoma, get in, get in, get in!" blared the Powhatan princess, pushing her friend into the boat.

"Pocahontas!" Nakoma cried in alarm. "What's the hurry?"

"We have to go to Jamestown right now!" Pocahontas exclaimed, jumping in the canoe behind her friend. She took her oar and started paddling like crazy. "Paddle as fast as you can!"

The settlers at Jamestown noticed the fish run as well. On the same bright morning of March 26, several men were sent out with nets to get fish for the party that afternoon. They came back with an impressive catch just before church started. Church attendance was mandatory in Jamestown, so people did not usually miss lest they end up with a fine from the town hall. On this particular day, the message from Reverend Whitaker was expected to be an important one. It concerned the necessity of thanking God after he had answered everyone's prayers for relief from starvation.

The supplies brought by the Queen Anne, in particular, were unique in that there was living stock aboard. The first bovines had just arrived in Jamestown and a fallow field outside the fortress walls had been fenced in for them. There were three healthy milk cows and one big bull. Thanks to the animals' presence, butter would be available for the first time in the settlement.

The only individuals excused from church that day were the women who were cooking up all the dishes for the feast that afternoon. There were going to be poached herring and other fishes, ham, tarts, mince pies, sausages, pudding, bread and butter, cheeses, beef stew, roast chicken, turkey, duck, venison, and other meats. The cooks prepared lots of food for the arrival of their honored guests, the Powhatans, as well as the hundreds of hungry settlers they expected to show up.

John Rolfe and the other settlers were waiting outside for the church building to be opened to the public when, all of a sudden, Pocahontas and Nakoma showed up pushing their way through the crowd. "John Rolfe! John Rolfe, are you here?!" Pocahontas cried, searching for him.

At the front of the throng, John Rolfe heard Pocahontas's voice and glanced back, trying to spot her amongst the crowd. "Pocahontas, is that you? I'm over here, near the doors!" he called.

Pocahontas reached him just as the doors to the church swung open and the church bells started to ring. "John!" Pocahontas cried, grabbing his arm when she got to him. "You need to come to my village right now, it's an emergency! Please, please, please!" the young woman exclaimed.

He frowned as Nakoma caught up to Pocahontas. "Why, what's wrong? Is someone hurt?"

Pocahontas bit her lower lip and glanced back. The crowd was standing still staring at the three of them instead of entering the church building as was expected. "Um, well…" she uttered. She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "A warrior has asked for my hand in marriage!"

The diplomat gasped audibly as he drew back. "What?!" he bellowed. The crowd was shocked.

"I didn't say yes!" Pocahontas exclaimed defensively.

John Rolfe puffed out his chest, turned on a heel, and marched through the crowd to the fortress gate. "Lord Rolfe, where are you going?" cried the constable. "We have to go to church!"

John Rolfe hiked up his sleeves. "Unfortunately, constable, I've got a more pressing matter. I'm afraid I'll have to accept the fine. Don't wait up for me," he said without a moment's hesitation.

The British gentleman strutted his way through the open gates with Pocahontas and Nakoma trailing after him. "You're going to Werowocomoco without a horse?" Pocahontas inquired.

"I wouldn't want to make a horse go into the cold water just to get there. I'll walk. Why don't you go ahead of me and make sure your father is prepared for my arrival," Rolfe told her.

Pocahontas nodded. "Okay, I will!"

Pocahontas and Nakoma returned to Werowocomoco by canoe. As predicted, John Rolfe had not yet made it there. "Are you excited, Pocahontas? He seemed so flustered. Hopefully, he'll be able to keep his cool when he actually meets with your father," Nakoma remarked, slightly worried.

"Oh, I'm sure he will. He's quite talented at making good impressions," Pocahontas replied as they pulled up to the shore. "I'm going to go prepare my father for his arrival."

Nakoma smiled as she hopped out of the canoe. "If I can help in any way, let me know!"

"Yes! When he gets here, give him a ride across the river!" Pocahontas requested.

"Sure thing!" Nakoma said. "I—"

"Pocahontas!" cried a familiar male voice, interrupting the conversation. Naganwaya came running over with an equally flustered look on his face. "Who is he? Please, Pocahontas, let me prove myself to you! I'll fight him. You'll see, I am the stronger man! I can protect you better than anyone else! I don't care who he is, Pocahontas! I swear I'll beat him at any contest you can dream up. Archery, hand-to-hand, combat sticks, you name it!" the man pleaded.

"Naganwaya, I…" Pocahontas began, completely caught off-guard.

As the two were in a heated talk, Nakoma glanced across the river and saw John Rolfe emerge from the woods on the other side. Her eyes widened. Nakoma knew one thing for sure. Men could be possessive. In fact, they could be very possessive. The last time she had heard of men fighting over a woman, one had ended up dead. The last thing she wanted to see was a repeat of the past, regardless of who the casualty might or might not be. She grabbed Naganwaya and turned him away from the river. "Ah, ahem. Pocahontas, Naganwaya, I think you two should go discuss this matter in private. At least hear what he has to say, hm?" Nakoma proposed, meeting eyes with Pocahontas. She tilted her head at an angle where Naganwaya could not see her eyes and flashed her friend a glance across the river, smiling casually. "He is a great warrior, after all."

Pocahontas took the hint. She did not even have to glance across the river to intuit what Nakoma was implying. The childhood friends simply knew each other too well. "Oh, oh, oh, yes! Yes, of course! Sorry, Naganwaya. I would love to hear what you have to say. Come, let's go discuss this matter in a private place, shall we? I say all interested parties deserve to have their voices heard."

A ray of hope shined in Naganwaya's eyes. "Really? You'll hear me out?"

Pocahontas nodded. "Of course, I can be reasonable," she replied, tugging him along. She peered back toward Nakoma. "We'll be in the communal longhouse," she told her friend, who nodded her understanding. The young princess beckoned the warrior away from the riverbank and up the hill. She walked them both to the far side of the village, away from her father's house, and led him inside the empty communal longhouse. "Alright," she said, turning to him. "So, um, I'm not sure how to proceed here. I-I guess you should just tell me why you want to marry me?"

Naganwaya raised a brow and laughed. "What do you mean?"

Pocahontas returned a blank look. "Uh. I mean, what do you like about me that makes you want me to be your wife? I guess I'm just surprised. I didn't know you felt this way," she admitted.

Naganwaya frowned. "Does it really surprise you?"

Pocahontas nodded. "Yes. To be honest, I thought you were just being friendly before. I figured you liked to talk to me because you were sociable and you liked getting to know people. Since I got home, I've noticed that you have really come out of your shell," she observed.

Naganwaya blinked. "No, it wasn't just because I'm sociable. I know I can be friendly, but I do not think that I'm all that much friendlier than most of the other people in our village. I talked to you because I love you. I'm really surprised you didn't pick up on that," he said, pausing. "So?"

Pocahontas stiffened when he said the L-word. "S-so what?"

Naganwaya frowned. "So what do you say to what I said on the riverbank? Will you let me prove myself to you in battle against this man? A woman like you belongs with a man who can protect her against all enemies. You deserve the strongest and mightiest warrior that the Powhatan nation has to offer and all the prestige that would flow from such a marriage!" he proclaimed.

Pocahontas frowned too, feeling terrible on the inside. She was going to have to break his heart. There was no doubt about it now. Fortunately, there was no rule saying that she could not let him down as gently as possible. She sighed deeply, absolutely dreading telling him what she had to tell him. "Naganwaya, I know perfectly well what you're capable of. You don't have to prove anything to me," the Powhatan princess returned. "Everyone knows you're an amazing warrior."

Naganwaya's visage lightened. "So you'll consider my proposal?"

Pocahontas shook her head. "No, I can't. And it's not because there's anything wrong with you. In some other time and place, I might very well have accepted. But the thing is, I'm already in love with someone else. Someone who I know very well and who also knows me very well. You and I hardly know each other. We never talked much before I returned from the land across the sea where the settlers came from. I know it's because you were more reserved then—but still."

Naganwaya knitted his brows. "Who is this man? I wanted to take the time to get to know you at the start of the winter, but you decided to spend it in Jamestown. What else could I have done? I could not force you to come back to Werowocomoco," the young warrior insisted.

"This isn't about what you did or didn't do. You haven't done anything wrong, Naganwaya."

"Who is he?" Naganwaya fervently repeated.

Pocahontas pursed her lips, hesitating. Not knowing what Naganwaya was going to do with the information, she was not sure that she wanted to reveal it just yet. "You'll find out soon enough."

John Rolfe met Nakoma on the far side of the river, tipping his hat to her affably. "Hello again, madam. I say… I was in such a rush earlier that I do believe I failed to ask you your name," he remarked, bowing to her. "I hope you'll forgive my lack of manners. I'm John Rolfe."

"I'm Nakoma," replied the pregnant woman, moving up to the front of the canoe. She motioned for John Rolfe to get in the back. "Come, I'll take you across the river," she offered.

The Englishman smiled. "That's very kind of you," he said, getting in. He took the paddle that Nakoma handed to him. "Nakoma, eh? Pocahontas has told me all about you. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. So I take it that you also know who I am," he returned, pushing them off the riverbank. "Is Pocahontas with her father right now? I just want to know what to expect."

"No, she isn't. But the chief is alone in his longhouse and I'm pretty sure he's waiting for the arrival of the mystery man vying for my best friend's hand," Nakoma replied, eyeing him over her shoulder. "In case you are wondering, Pocahontas just recently told me all about it."

John Rolfe hesitated. "Is, um, is this whole thing alright with you, then? I mean, I know this is the first time I've spoken to you, so I understand if you feel skeptical about our union."

Nakoma chortled as she paddled along. They had almost reached the edge of the village. "Yes, it's fine with me. I've known Pocahontas long enough to know that she knows what she wants." As they reached the bank, they used their oars to push the canoe as far up on the land as possible. As she climbed out of the canoe, she looked back and frowned. "But there is one little thing I am concerned about—if you don't mind me saying," she added as she helped him out of the canoe.

"Yes, of course. What is it?"

Nakoma bit her lip. "Are… are you two going to live in Jamestown? I'm afraid I might not see Pocahontas that much after you move in together. I was really hoping she would live close by."

John Rolfe chuckled as he climbed out of the canoe with Nakoma's assistance. "Honestly, we haven't discussed that yet. So you shouldn't worry over the matter. Pocahontas is probably going to be the one to decide our situation," he bashfully admitted, bringing a hand to the back of his neck. "I did follow her back here, after all. I'll follow her wherever she wants to go. I do realize that is kind of unusual, but Pocahontas and I aren't exactly a traditional couple anyway."

Nakoma smiled. "Yes, I can see that," she returned, taking him by the wrist. She started to lead him toward the chief's family longhouse. "Now, listen. I'll go in first and announce your arrival. Then I'll gesture for you to enter. Does that sound like a good plan to you?" she asked.

The Englishman nodded, taking a deep breath. He had to prepare himself for a possible negative reaction. The mystery warrior's proposal had thrown an unexpected wrench into his original plan to pull the chief aside and ask him for Pocahontas's hand at the party later that evening. He had wanted to surprise Pocahontas, which he hoped would make her happy. Now, the poor woman was probably very worried about what would happen, but John Rolfe was determined to make everything alright for her. He would present his proposal with confidence, answer any questions that were asked, and tell Chief Powhatan that he could take all the time he wanted to consider. As far as Rolfe was concerned, there was no need for anyone to rush such an important decision.

Soon enough, they had reached the entrance to Chief Powhatan's neck of the family longhouse. Just as they had discussed, Nakoma went inside first. He heard her speaking to the chief in their native tongue. Shortly after, the reed mat door was rolled up for him to enter, which he did.