Empty Promises

Hawkeye returned to their camp site hidden within the woodland. Uncas waited impatiently for his brother and as his eyes made out Hawkeye's outline making its way through the trees he quickly walked to him.

"What did you see?" he asked hurriedly.

Hawkeye wiped water from his brow. "Waterway, easy to get one man in unnoticed" Hawkeye replied.

"Alice?" Uncas said his brow furrowing.

"Yes, I saw her…" he paused "she is well…and with another"

Uncas' face darkened "Another?"

"A man, he wants to take her back to England…I think she is confused brother…I saw tears in her eyes"

"I will go and find her, bring her back" Uncas said as his brother sat upon the ground.

"No, my son" Chingachgook said "Your anger burns bright, wait"

Uncas nodded stiffly.

"Do not let your heart harden against her father" Hawkeye said "her heart is good and true as is her love for Uncas …she is confused by the people around her"

Chingachgook nodded "I do not doubt it, white men seem to have strange ways of thinking" he looked up into the sky "but my heart is not hardened against her, my heart is open to my daughter….I wish her back for my son's sake and for their children to come" he paused "But I sense her wings are telling her to fly away, I do not know if she can resist their pull."

--

Over the next few days Edward and Mary did their best to plot together and fuel Alice's doubts. Edward wanted her for himself, part of him knew what he was doing was wrong and that she would never really love him but he fooled himself that that would not matter if he had her.

He constantly made promises to Alice, promises about finding her father's remains and bringing them back to London for burial, that he would bring her back to America to visit her sister whenever she wished and if she ever felt doubt about her life he would bring her back to the village….he did not intend to keep any of them, he knew….but it quietened Alice and seemed to make it harder for her to protest about the promise she had made him.

Mary had joined him, telling her that her man would have surely come and found her by now, if he were her husband the guards would have let him right through the gates and let him claim her…but he hadn't and surely that meant he did not want her anymore.

Of course Mary knew what she told the young girl was complete lies, as soon any savage they didn't know rolled up to the gates and demanded someone inside they would be shot, but the girl was very young and naive.

They both promised her all would be well back in England, everything would be as she remembered her old life and think of the friends that would have missed her so, how happy they would be and all the hurt she felt would fade with time, all would be well back in England and how proud her father would have been at how brave his daughter was

After hours of this treatment Alice's inner voice became quiet and all that echoed around her mind were the words that had just been spoken.

--

Finally the evening before they would begin their journey for the coast arrived. Alice felt that part of her had died…she had hardly spoken for days, just listened…she wondered if she was losing her mind but she tried to convince herself that all was well.

She lay upon the bed gazing out of the small window at the darkening sky. Mary had gone out drinking with a solider she knew and so Alice was alone for what felt like the first time in weeks. She let her eyes drift shut and softly began to hum to herself, the sound keeping her thoughts at bay.

The noise of the door opening made her stop and look up; she had so hoped she would have at least this evening alone.

But there in the doorway was not Edward or Mary but Uncas, his skin glistening with droplets of water, his hair wet and slicked back.

Alice stifled a whimper by biting her lip. She was dreaming again, she was sure of it… her dreams had been of nothing else for days. She closed her eyes tightly wishing the tormenting image away, but when she opened them he was still there and now he was moving towards her.

Alice's arm shot out her palm towards him. "Stop!" she cried "stop, no more dreams, please" she couldn't stop tears springing to her eyes. She knew now it wasn't a dream, had she gone mad? Was this just part of her strained imagination?

Uncas stopped and looked at her the concern showing in his eyes.

"Alice" his voice was soft and smooth just as she remembered it.

Alice's eyes grew wide "stop" she managed under her breath.

Uncas walked towards her his hand reaching for her. Alice pushed backwards with her feet moving herself further up the bed until the wall stopped her going any further. He reached across and gently placed his palm upon her cheek.

Alice flinched and then her eyes became clear as he again spoke her name.

She moved her mouth wordlessly, unable to find her voice, finally she pushed the word out "Uncas?" she said in a gasp.

Uncas nodded a smile hinting at the corners of his mouth. She lunged towards him wrapping her arms tightly around his form, feeling his skin and breathing in his scent. He embraced her back feeling her small frame shudder in exhaustion, he kissed her hair and fought back the overpowering emotions he felt. Alice sobbed into his shoulder her tears soaking into his already wet shirt.

"Alice" he said her name in a whisper over and over again.

Finally feeling her body relax a little against his he pulled himself away.

"We must go" he said quickly

He got up from the bed and took hold of Alice's wrist. He took one step away and felt Alice stiffen,

He turned and looked at her. Her eyes were red and tears pooled within them. Slowly and with what seemed to be great effort she shook her head sadly.

He looked at her questioningly "Come" he said tugging her wrist lightly.

Alice again shook her head "I can't" she managed, her voice sounded strange and broken.

He stared down at the woman before him; she shivered violently, her lip trembling even though the night air was warm. She looked down and squeezed her eyes shut tightly as if trying to remember something important.

"It's not right" She said through gritted teeth the words bringing a sense of sickness to her, she steadied herself with her palm "Things are how they should be"

Uncas let go of her wrist, his dark eyes flashing as he looked into her face "You are meant to be with me" his voice rose a little in anger.

Alice looked back at him and closed her eyes to blot out his face from her mind "No" she whispered.

Uncas was beside her upon the bed his hands upon her cheeks caressing them gently.

"Do you love me?"

Alice's face crumpled at the remembrance of the day by the stream, he had asked her the same thing. She forced her eyes open and looked up at him her whole being crying out for her to scream "Yes, yes of course!" to say the same words she had spoken that day.

He shook her gently by the shoulders bringing her back from her thoughts.

"Do you love me?" he repeated his hands again upon her cheeks.

Alice's closed her eyes again trying to dispel the fresh tears that formed there.

"It's not enough, if I do or not" she finally whispered pushing his hands from her cheeks "love isn't enough"

Uncas grabbed her wrist once more and roughly pulled her to her feet.

"You are my wife" his brow furrowed.

Alice pulled her wrist from him, she felt as if her body was dying all around her the emotional pain searing deep into her soul as fierce as any sword.

"It's forgotten" she whispered her voice breaking "everything will be" she looked up at him and Uncas could see the young woman was broken, defeated there was no more he could do. He knew she loved him more than anything, she loved him more than her own life, but this world would not allow them to be together not until Alice was strong enough to break away from the poisonous people around her, to blot out all their words… but he loved her no less…

He grabbed hold of her once again, pulling her into his arms, memorising how she felt in them.

"I will wait for you… if it must be so... I will wait"

Alice let out a whimper and pushed him away.

"Go" she managed "they'll kill you if they find you"

Uncas hesitated "We are on the outcrop of rock Alice, come to me" he studied her "I understand more than you know as if our minds shared the same path, I will always wait for you"

Alice choked back a sob "Just go" she breathed turning from him.

Uncas rested a hand upon her shoulder and before she could turn around to say anything more to him he had quietly left the room.

Alice fell onto the floor her legs seeming to have lost the ability to hold her weight any longer, she cried into her hands whispering the same words over and over again "I love you, I'm sorry" her heart felt as if it were breaking.

---

Alice fought with her emotions for the rest of the night. Time not giving her the hours she needed to think.

Her eyes were constantly drawn to the window, she could see dark clouds outlined by the moon sailing by and she knew Uncas looked upon the same night sky waiting for her. Her whole being ached with the need to be with him, wrapped in his arms and feeling the warmth and comfort he always provided.

Finally just before dawn she fell into a disturbed sleep where she was lost, deep in a dark forest and she knew no one would find her…

Mary woke her a few hours past dawn.

"You were dreaming my dear, time to get up" she looked at Alice "and you may want to bathe"

Alice wiped the sweat from her brow; her clothing clung to her drenched body. She rose and bathed as best she could and dressed.

She wept quietly to herself as she packed what little belongings she had away for the journey. She swept all thoughts aside and just repeated that she was doing the right thing.

"Are you ready my love" Edward asked as he arrived.

Alice nodded and he came to her wrapping his hands around her waist.

"Don't" she said brushing him away.

He laughed nervously "You have nerves for the journey, it will pass" he smiled.

But Alice knew it would not pass, she would not admit it but she knew she would never love this man.

"Come then, let us say goodbye to this place" he offered her his arm and she took it.

"I packed us some food" he said as they walked into the open air "we should be at the port by sunset and the ship sails in the morning"

Two horses stood saddled and waiting for them. A small band of soldiers were also mounted, ready to escort them to their destination. Edward helped Alice onto her horse and then got onto his own.

The gates were opened and they began to exit the fort. Mary waved at them eagerly and Alice gave her a curt nod.

Her eyes instantly found the outcrop of rock…he was so close to her…was he watching right now? She pulled her horse to a halt. Her thoughts for a moment willed her to kick her horse into a gallop and ride in that direction.

"What is it Alice" Edward's voice broke into her thoughts shattering the tiny resolve she had mustered.

She turned to him wanting to divert his attention from the way she had been looking.

"Did you send my letter?" she asked

"Yes, of course…as you asked"

Alice nodded, Cora would know what her fate was and hopefully her sister would understand.

"We must be on our way" Edward said looking impatiently to the escort.

She glanced one last time at the outcrop and then jigged her horse onwards after Edward.

They rode for many hours the late summer heat beating down upon them and making Alice feel a little sick.

She looked behind her often foolishly hoping Uncas would slip into view….the feeling she was on the wrong path had begun to creep into her mind, she knew it was too late now she had resigned herself to this, she was not strong enough to leave...

Her heart almost began to wish for an ambush…French, savage…she would welcome the death they brought…but she knew Uncas would be displeased with her cowardly thoughts and pushed them from her mind and still the sick feeling crept up on her.

The sun began to set bringing the cool evening air with it. A small village came into sight and it beckoned to them all with the promise of food and a warm bed.

After eating very little, the food seeming to fuel the sickness she felt, she retired to her room. She tried to promise herself that things would become easier once she was back in England; it was this land…the promises were empty and she knew this to be so but they offered her some comfort.

The next morning Edward awakened her with a light tapping upon her door. Alice rose and quickly dressed. She ate a small breakfast with him and then they left the inn ready for their journey. The ship loomed before them, huge and wooden; creaking slightly as the waves gently rocked its great hull.

The walkway was ready to take them aboard…Alice hesitated.

All her dreams died if she boarded this ship and she knew this very well. Her thoughts seemed to shine clearly…if she boarded her life was over. She looked back over her shoulder and then Edward's hand was in her own and he led her onto the ship and Alice let him as if she had been stunned.

It was over…

Sorry to everyone that wanted a happier chapter but I've had the ending planned out for some time and…well you'll have to wait and see.

I know a lot of people will dislike Alice for seeming to be so weak but the times she lived in were very different to ours. Mixed race unions were very rare because they were looked on badly and some even resulted in death dealt out by mobs!

Also things were much more strict in codes of conduct and the way people should act…so please try not to think too badly of her.

Last chapter should be up fairly soon…thanks again for all the reviews I really do enjoy hearing what people thing so do keep them coming!