The Adventures of Pocahontas and John Rolfe: Book II
Chapter 11: The Spring Thaw
MARCH 30, 1614
Pocahontas and John Rolfe trod through the north woods with their horses on leads. "Here we are," the former announced, pointing out the ceramic containers scattered through the trees. "The sap has been running for days. Look! So much has collected in the pots since just yesterday."
John Rolfe patted Snow Angel's nose and padded over to one of the pots. A short spout made from a hollowed sumac stem was stuck in the tree trunk and a clear liquid was dripping down into the ceramic pot below. "Hm. It looks just like water," he noted, picking up the pot. It sloshed around like water as well. "So this is how you make that sweet stuff? It's quite clever."
"Yes. It looks like water, but taste it. It is slightly sweet. All we have to do now is boil it down into syrup and it can store for ages," Pocahontas explained, walking up behind him to peer into the pot. "Now that we have horses, we can carry a lot more back to the village in just one trip. It's going to be so much more efficient this way," the young princess determined.
Both horses were bearing a relatively light load of empty ceramic containers, three on each flank. Pocahontas took the ceramic pot from John and walked over to Opileskiwan's side. She removed a lid from one of the large containers and poured the maple sap inside. "So all we have to do is collect the clay pots and pour the sap into the containers on our horses? That seems pretty easy," John Rolfe remarked, observing the pots scattered through the trees in the maple patch.
Pocahontas nodded. "Next year, I'll show you how to insert the spouts. The warriors already did most of that work some days ago. They have been collecting the sap daily ever since. Due to the cold winter, these maple trees are running like crazy. We will have so much maple syrup this year that we might even have enough left over to trade with other tribes. Usually, we consume all of it ourselves. It's easy to make, but it does take a long time to boil it all down into syrup. Here, help me collect all the pots and pour them into Opileskiwan's containers. I'll work on his right side and you work on his left. We must keep him as balanced as possible," she proposed.
"Got it," John Rolfe replied, trudging off into the woods. He came back bearing two more pots, one under his left arm and one under his right. Then he moved over to the stallion's left side, removed one of the lids, and started pouring the maple sap into the container. It took several pots to fill just one of the horse's containers because they were so large. After emptying the pots, John Rolfe and Pocahontas returned them to their original locations to collect more sap for the next day. They continued to move through the trees until they had collected all the sap from the maple patch. When they were done, John Rolfe smiled at Pocahontas in delight. "Well, that was fun. I look forward to doing it again. And to tasting the sweet fruit of our labors," he said.
They had nearly filled up all of the horses' containers. Once they were done, they put the lids back on and tied them down to prevent any spillage from happening. "Alright, we're ready to head back to the village," Pocahontas announced, taking her horse's lead. "Come, boy."
When they reached Werowocomoco, they took the sap to the medicine man. Kekata was up on a hilltop boiling a large ceramic cauldron of maple sap over a fire. Several children sat around him as Kekata instructed them on how to make the syrup in Powhatan. "Sir," John Rolfe spoke to get the old man's attention, "we've brought you more sap. Where would you like us to put it?"
Kekata smiled. "The level in the cauldron is getting low. Fill it up and leave the rest right outside my hut, please," he indicated, pointing just down the hill to where his yehakin stood.
Pocahontas and John Rolfe helped each other lift one of the heavy clay containers and carefully pour more sap into the boiling cauldron until it was just an inch below the rim. Then they led their horses down to the huts and left all the rest of the containers there for Kekata's later usage. The Powhatan woman turned her attention to John Rolfe. "Alright, John. It's almost midday and I planned an early spring picnic for us and Nakoma. You don't mind if she comes, do you?"
"Course not," John Rolfe replied. "I'm sure she'd like an opportunity to get to know me better."
Pocahontas led John Rolfe to her friend's yehakin. "Nakoma, John and I are ready to go!"
"Coming!" Nakoma called back. She appeared soon enough with a large covered picnic basket in both arms. "Alright, I'm ready to go," Nakoma happily announced. "I have some pork dumplings and venison steaks and even stuffed roasted herring. What do you think, Pocahontas?"
"That sounds delicious," remarked the princess.
When John Rolfe glanced over and saw the burden that the heavily-pregnant woman bore, he offered his hands for it. "That's a lot of weight for a lady in your condition to carry. May I?"
Nakoma handed it to him. "Thank you so much," she replied, placing a hand on her lower back. "It does get a bit achy at this stage. The midwife thinks I still have another moon to go. Luckily for me, the sickness has gone away entirely. Shall we go to the canoes, Pocahontas?"
The Powhatan princess nodded. Then she leaned over and whispered in Powhatan, "We should probably take the steadiest route for John's sake." Nakoma bobbed her head in agreement.
"What was that?" John Rolfe blurted.
Pocahontas giggled. "Nothing, John. Come on," she directed, leading them down the village path toward the riverbank. "You can sit in the middle, Nakoma. Just hold the picnic basket. You won't have to do any of the paddling," Pocahontas offered, skipping down to the bank.
"The forest looks beautiful when it's transforming from winter to spring, don't you think?" John Rolfe observed. "That waterfall over there is absolutely magnificent," he said as he pointed. The broad cascades near the village had partially thawed, but they were still covered with dripping icicles on the topmost part. The water underneath gushed forth as if out of a geyser.
Pocahontas smiled. "Yes, we have many waterfalls here in Tsenacomoco. The land itself is a treasure beyond anything you could ever dig out of it. I think some of the settlers are starting to see that. The thing is, John, if too many people come here, the land will end up being destroyed in the process. We must monitor our resources carefully to ensure we don't overexploit them."
"Believe me, Pocahontas. I know that. The area where London is used to be a magnificent forest, but it was all razed to make way for more and more people. Honestly, I do not think that is the way God intended for human beings to live. The only things that seem to have kept the European populations in check at all have been the great plagues and wars that have killed so many."
Pocahontas frowned at the bleak revelation, helping Nakoma into the canoe. She took the picnic basket from Rolfe, placing it between the pregnant woman's knees. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"It's something I've been wanting to talk to your father about. We'll have to address the topic to ensure our long-term survival together and the maintenance of peace between both our peoples," John Rolfe explained. "Your father is an intelligent man, as you are an intelligent woman. Maybe both of you can help us solve the problems for which we came here to begin with."
John Rolfe's words made Pocahontas very curious as he climbed into the back of the canoe. She handed him his paddle and raised both brows. "And what is that problem?" she asked.
The Englishman chuckled uneasily. "The main problems for us are Spain and all of Catholicism in general. You know what? This is an unpleasant topic, but we do need to address it. I think we should save this discussion for when we meet with your father at some point. Then I will be able to explain it to both of you at the same time. Do you mind if we put it off until then?"
"Well, now you've piqued my interest," Pocahontas remarked.
Nakoma appeared fascinated as well. "Mine too! I'd love to know more about these problems."
John Rolfe simpered at the both of them as he used his paddle to hold the canoe steady for the young princess to climb inside. A fish jumped over the canoe, startling him and causing him to jump. The canoe rocked from side to side, almost throwing Pocahontas into the cold water. She yelped loudly and held onto the flanks as it rocked from side to side. The gentleman used his oar to steady the canoe again as Pocahontas did the same with hers. "Sorry, Pocahontas!" John Rolfe apologetically blurted. "These are some great waters that you've got around here. We don't have anywhere near as many fish in the Thames River back in London. It caught me off-guard."
Pocahontas used her paddle to push them off the riverbank. They headed down the beautiful Pamunkey River, Rolfe providing the power for the canoe while she provided the steering.
As they headed farther downstream, the waters started to get a bit choppy and faster. Pocahontas glanced over her shoulder to John Rolfe, who appeared to be unsteady and nervous about the speed at which they were going. "Pocahontas, are you sure this is safe? What if we hit a rock?"
"Don't worry, John," Pocahontas reassured him. "I know where the rocks are. I've been on these waters thousands of times since I was a young child. There is nothing to worry about." She knew she would have to steer clear of any waterfalls or overly-rough streams for Rolfe and Nakoma's sake, which was too bad because Pocahontas really enjoyed the rushing waters. The Powhatan princess had always been a thrill-seeker, a fact that made her father very nervous, so she usually kept her little adventures a secret from him. "This way, around that bend up ahead. The waters will become much wider and calmer soon enough," Pocahontas indicated, pointing.
There was still quite a bit of rock-solid ice on the banks, so they stayed closer to the middle of the waterway. Shimmering sheets of ice flowed down the river along with them, melting slowly as they went. John Rolfe tried to use his oar to slow the canoe down, but the waters were so fast that it made little difference. Soon enough, though, they had reached the fork in the river and gone around the bend, heading into much calmer water. Rolfe chuckled. "Well, I have to say the advantage to such waters is not having to paddle quite as much to get where you're going."
Pocahontas smiled and glanced back at him. "Don't worry. It won't take long to get there."
They avoided waterfalls and rough waters by going the long steady route. After a while, John Rolfe squinted his eyes into the distance and noticed that they were approaching a massive tree with great drooping leaves. The disoriented Englishman started to experience a bizarre sense of deja-vu and was forced to do a double-take at first. He put his paddle down across his lap and rubbed his eyes clear. "Wow," John Rolfe murmured aloud, watching as they drew nearer and nearer to the mysterious grove. "This might sound crazy, Pocahontas, but I have the strangest feeling like I've been here before. I know that's impossible, yet it looks weirdly familiar."
Pocahontas grinned lightly. "Oh, maybe you've just seen a tree like it before," she jested.
"Must be," John Rolfe uttered below his breath, staring wide-eyed. He picked up his oar again and helped propel them in the direction of the enormous weeping willow. The waters were so calm in the area that only the canoe and its paddles added any ripples to the surface at all. There were frozen patches of dried up lily pads from the previous year. Something about the tree and its impressive grandiosity reminded Rolfe of a cathedral. As they came closer, it towered over them. Soon enough, they were entering the veil of budding branches. "This is spectacular," John Rolfe remarked. "I mean, really, it's quite astounding. Is this place special to you, Pocahontas?"
Pocahontas glanced back with a little smile on her face and nodded. "Yes, very special. We call it the Enchanted Grove. Lots of animals live here and many are still in hibernation."
"I see," John Rolfe replied as it grew a bit darker from the density of the branches. He ducked out of the way to avoid getting scratched by the low-hanging limbs. The tree hidden inside was a massive gnarled thing with great big overarching roots which extended out over the water. "I'll bet this tree is the most magnificent in the forest when it blooms. What color are the flowers?"
"Lavender," Pocahontas replied, steering the canoe right up onto one of the low shallow roots. She set down her oar and climbed out, turning back to take the picnic basket from Nakoma. The Powhatan princess set the basket aside before helping her friend out of the canoe. She pulled the canoe farther onto shore so it would not drift away and helped Rolfe clumsily crawl out of it.
When the Englishman was finally standing at the base of the willow, he looked up and observed his surroundings with his mouth agape and his eyes dilated. "Wow, this has to be one of the most beautiful trees I've ever seen. When it blooms, I should like to come back and paint it."
"That's a great idea," Pocahontas agreed. By the time she turned back toward the tree, Nakoma had already taken the picnic basket and pushed it up onto the sawed-off stump that Pocahontas normally sat on when spending time in the area. "Careful, Nakoma. Do you need help?"
"I think I got it," Nakoma replied as she gingerly climbed up to the surface of the stump.
By the time both Nakoma and Pocahontas had gotten themselves comfortable, the latter looked around and wondered where John Rolfe had wandered off to. "John, where are you? Come over here," Pocahontas called out, craning her neck in an effort to see where he had gone to.
John Rolfe came back around the other side of the tree, climbing over a root. "I was just looking at everything. This is such a gorgeous place and there are so many animals around here. I'm surprised they didn't run away when we came along," he remarked, glancing up at her. "What are you doing all the way up there?" he asked, noticing the girls had climbed to a lofty position.
Pocahontas beckoned him with a hand. "Come on, this is where we're eating lunch."
The gentleman frowned. "You're going to make me climb all the way up there?"
"Oh, come on," she teased. "It's not that hard. I'll help you. Come to the other side, it's easier."
John Rolfe sighed, but he did as she asked. He circled the thick trunk and began to crawl up onto a root. The diplomat accepted Pocahontas's hand as she helped him onto the high stump. Then he crawled to the far end nearest the calm water and dangled his feet over the side, admiring their surroundings. As he speculated over curious thoughts, Rolfe glanced upwards and noticed a nice thick branch hanging directly overhead. "You ever thought about putting a swing there?"
Pocahontas laughed. "Turn around, John," she told him as Nakoma served the dishes from the picnic basket in the center of the stump. "It's time to eat now. Aren't you hungry?"
"Oh? Yes," John Rolfe replied. He spun around on his backside and crossed his legs just like the girls were doing. It made him a little nervous to be high off the ground, but fortunately it was not too terribly high. He glanced downward to observe that the dishes consisted of roast fish, pork dumplings, venison steaks, and a lovely variety of other tasty-looking culinary items. "Well, this looks rather appetizing," he remarked. When Pocahontas handed him his own plate, he gathered a few things onto it and started to eat. As he ate lunch, he kept observing his surroundings with a look of wonderment on his face. "Have you ever climbed this tree before?" he suddenly asked.
"Of course," Pocahontas returned. "You know me. I'll climb anything that's climb-able."
John Rolfe chuckled. "It must be a spectacular view from the top of the tree, not that I'd ever make it up there. This place reminds me of a cathedral. There's just something about it that feels almost… sacred, I suppose. What do you think, Pocahontas?" the diplomat inquired.
"This is a sacred place," Pocahontas related as Nakoma nodded in agreement. "It is tribal law to never cut into any part of this tree. And no hunting or trapping of animals is allowed within this area. There are many legends surrounding this place that come from ancient times."
John Rolfe's eyes popped open. "Wow, really?"
Pocahontas nodded. Then Nakoma cleared her throat and said, "So, John, tell me more about yourself. Pocahontas has told me about what happened in London and during your journey back to Tsenacomoco, but what of your friends and family back home? Did you grow up in London?"
John Rolfe raised a brow. "Oh? I grew up partly in London and partly in Heacham. My family owns an estate in the latter place. It was a nice area to grow up in, right by the seaside like your lands here. London is a little more inland, but it's connected to the sea by the Thames River. Um, let's see… What else do you want to know? I have five siblings," he explained, showing her five fingers to illustrate the point. "One of them is my identical twin, Eustace. When we were seven, Eustace and I started to attend the Saint Amantius Private Grammar School for Boys located in Canterbury, England. I suppose you could say we partly grew up in Canterbury. Saint Amantius is one of the most prestigious schools in all of England. We were very fortunate to attend."
Nakoma raised a brow in curiosity. "I don't know what a school is. Is that where you learned how to write?" she inquired. "Pocahontas learned from a couple who live in Jamestown. She did not go to school for it. That's the only reason I ask. I'm just curious. What is school for?"
"I learned reading and writing at home from tutors. For me, school was for much more advanced subject matter," John Rolfe related. "Like literature, rhetoric, fencing, and arithmetic."
Nakoma laughed. "I don't know what any of those things are."
"Well, fencing is learning to fight with swords. Pocahontas has done some of that. She can tell you about it," John Rolfe detailed, pausing. He turned to address Pocahontas. "On that note, do you want to continue learning, Pocahontas? On the pirate ship, the main reason I started that was to give you a form of self-defense against the pirates. But I noticed that you seemed to enjoy it."
Pocahontas nodded. "Yes, that sounds fun. Do you know where to find practice swords?"
"I'll check the armory."
Nakoma blinked. "Wait… you taught her fencing so she could defend herself? I always assumed you did it to help maintain the illusion that she was a male while you were on the ship."
John Rolfe raised a brow. "Uh, well, yes. That was an added benefit."
"That's interesting…" Nakoma remarked.
The Englishman gave her a curious look. "How so?"
"The warriors never teach the women to use any weapons. Pocahontas had to beg her father to teach her to use just a bow and he never really understood her desire to learn it," Nakoma said. "Right, Pocahontas? It's almost like they don't want us to be able to defend ourselves."
John Rolfe shook his head. "No, no. I'm sure Pocahontas's father would want her to have some self-defense in case the men should fail to stop an attack, just as an added precaution. He loves her very much, I can tell," he indicated. "Who would want their loved ones to be helpless?"
"What you're saying makes perfect sense," Nakoma returned. "But most warriors don't seem to rationalize it the way that you do. That is all I am saying. I am sure my husband loves me very much as well, but he wouldn't even consider letting me touch his bow or quiver."
"Hm," Rolfe mused. "Maybe he's afraid you'll hurt yourself? I don't know, it's hard to say."
"And you're not afraid that Pocahontas will hurt herself while fencing?"
John Rolfe chuckled. "It's pretty hard to hurt oneself with a wooden sword. I mean, I suppose you could wallop yourself on the head with it, but she's not dumb like that. Now, I may have done that once, but I was a small child at the time so I have a decent excuse."
Pocahontas raised a brow. "You walloped yourself with a wooden sword?"
"Not on purpose! I was like four years old. It was literally the first time I'd ever touched one."
She giggled. "Well, what happened?"
The Englishman shrugged. "I ended up with a lump on my head for about a week."
"Ow," Pocahontas remarked. "Did your parents let you hold one again after that?"
"Yes," John Rolfe replied. "My father taught me and my brothers how to hold it properly. He also taught us all the basic positions and moves. Thereafter, I went to school to learn the more advanced techniques. On that note, Pocahontas, you advanced a lot faster than I did."
"That's probably because you were a small child when you started."
He laughed. "True."
Nakoma chimed in. "What are the names of your brothers and sisters, other than Eustace?"
"My eldest brother is Edward and the second eldest is Samuel. They were both already in Saint Amantius before Eustace and I. I also have two elder sisters, Elizabeth and Anna. All my siblings are married now, except Eustace. And, last I checked, I had four nephews and four nieces."
Nakoma raised a brow. "Do you have any younger siblings?"
John Rolfe shook his head. "No, even Eustace came out ahead of me."
"Interesting."
They continued eating and chatting for about an hour before John Rolfe realized the time. "Oh! I'm so sorry, Pocahontas. I am supposed to go have tea with the Midwinters soon. I mustn't be late," he exclaimed, pushing himself up from his seated position. "Excuse me, love."
Pocahontas moved out of his way so he could crawl back down to the base of the tree. "Do you know the way, John? If you go east, you should be able to find the trail between Werowocomoco and Jamestown. Don't get lost!" she warned him. "You sure you don't need the canoe?"
"Yes, yes, I'll be fine," John Rolfe returned. "Thanks for the directions. I must hurry!"
As he disappeared through the willow tree foliage, Pocahontas sighed dreamily and turned to take John Rolfe's spot so she could face Grandmother Willow. "Well, what do you think?"
The old tree's face appeared in the bark looking excited. "Oh, my dear child! That man is not just handsome, he's positively adorable! You really know how to pick 'em, don't you?" she declared without a moment's hesitation. "And I see what you mean about his voice. It's nice and deep and smooth as doeskin," she added with a rapturous sigh, her words making Pocahontas flush.
"You know what I like about him?" Nakoma chimed. "He's just really nice. It was so sweet of him to help me carry the basket. Usually I have to be doubled over in pain before Chogan takes notice," she giggled. "I know how much he loves me, but he just seems less observant at times."
"I wonder if we could get John and Chogan to like each other. What do you think?" Pocahontas suggested. "I need someone to teach him how to hunt. I'm sure my father would teach him, but he is busy a lot, being chief and all. I just need an experienced hunter who isn't going to laugh at him or harangue him if he messes up." She sighed. "If only we still had Siwili. He would have been perfect for the job. I miss him and Awenasa. I wonder what they're doing right now."
Nakoma rubbed her chin. "I'm not sure. I doubt Chogan is the best choice. He's always disliked the white settlers, even in times of peace," she disclosed. "In fact, most of our warriors have always been pretty skeptical towards them. You know, if it weren't for the fact that Naganwaya wanted to marry you, I might have recommended him. I hope they don't clash too hard when the chief finally announces your engagement to the village. I guess I'm just worried because I was thinking of Kocoum. I'd never want something like that to happen again. I felt so guilty."
"It wasn't your fault, Nakoma. I could've done a better job of explaining why I was doing what I was doing. I was reserved about that and I shouldn't have been. I should have been open and honest. If I had been, I'm sure Kocoum would still be alive right now," Pocahontas replied sadly.
"What's done is done," Grandmother Willow decreed. "It is in the past now and Kocoum's spirit is as rest. Forgiveness has been exchanged and peace established. What more could we ask for?"
The two girls nodded in agreement. "Well, anyway," Pocahontas continued, "do you really think my father is going to say yes? I've been so worried these past days. If he finds a reason to refuse us, I would be so devastated. I wouldn't know what to do. I can't live without John!"
Nakoma chuckled. "Oh, I'm sure he'll say yes. I personally think your father is just testing you to see how resolved you really are to marry him," she returned, starting to put the dishes away. "He probably just wants to make sure that you are completely certain of your decision."
"I think he'll say yes too," Grandmother Willow chimed. "Now, get on and tell us the rest of the story, my dear. I can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip with that lovely young man."
Nakoma smiled. "Yes, I can't wait to hear the rest either."
"Alright, alright," Pocahontas conceded. "I believe when I last left off the story, I was on the part about Nicole. Well, she was a very devious girl who did not take rejection very well…"
…
Later that evening, when church was almost over, John Rolfe was starting to get hungry for dinner. It was still an hour before suppertime, so he said his final prayers and planned to go distract himself at the inn by finishing the letter he had to write to his kindred. The letters to the king and queen and John Smith were already completed and packed up in the mail crate of the Winifred. As he was heading toward the inn, two more couples stopped him on his way there and invited him to dinner on other nights. Word had gotten around that some folks were inviting him to their homes and now others wanted to do the same once the idea had occurred to them. It had come to be a prestigious position in Jamestown to be considered a personal friend of John Rolfe.
Naturally, the diplomat accepted both invitations and added them to his monthly calendar as soon as he got back to the inn. He busied himself with completing the letter he had started months ago which was addressed to his parents, finishing it just in time for dinner with the Spurlings. He left the letter with the first mate of the Winifred on his way to the Spurling residence. When he arrived at the house with the black-framed door, still dressed in his church clothes, Rolfe stopped and knocked. It was quite literally less than a second before the door swung open for him.
Esther Spurling stood in the doorway with excitement written all over her face. Though Rolfe was almost startled at first, the delicious scent of food soon distracted him. His stomach growled. "Lord Rolfe! Thank you so much for coming. I do hope you're hungry. We've prepared quite the little feast this evening," she announced enthusiastically, ushering him inside.
She took his cloak and hung it up on the wall hooks. The first thing John Rolfe saw when he entered the humble home was a delicious repaste set out on the modest wooden family table. "Oh, wow! This is quite impressive, I must say," he remarked as Kellam pulled a chair out for him at the head of the table. "For me? Isn't that your spot, Mr. Spurling?" he asked.
"Normally, yes. But you are our guest of honor. It's a family tradition to put favored guests at the head of the table," Kellam replied as he helped John Rolfe take his place and get comfortable.
The English gentleman smiled. "Thank you so much." Yvette Spurling was already seated to his left, her face turning a light pink when she looked at him. When he squinted his eyes, it appeared that she was wearing a layer of white powder that made her face look absolutely flawless. Even her lips had been rouged ever so subtly. "Good evening, Ms. Spurling. How have you been?"
Despite the makeup, her face turned even pinker when he addressed her. "Oh, g-good evening," she spoke, her voice cracking at first. She hurriedly cleared it. "Pardon me. Good evening, Lord Rolfe. Did you enjoy the church service this evening?" she inquired in a mouse-like voice.
"Yvette, do speak up. You can be hard to hear sometimes, love," her mother reminded her.
Yvette cleared her throat again. "Yes, Mum. Sorry," she spoke again, a bit louder. "I was j-just wondering how you enjoyed the church service this evening, Lord Rolfe. I thought that Pastor Whitaker made an excellent point about the reasoning behind God's destruction of Babylon."
"Oh! That sermon was a delight to the ears," John Rolfe replied. "Our pastor surely has a way with words. He's so practiced at rhetoric and has such deep insight, it really helps all the little scattered puzzle pieces in the Bible fall into place. I fail to understand how some people can get bored at church unless they simply don't understand. But Pastor Whitaker so good at translating to the language of the common people that one would have to be pretty dull to not comprehend."
"Agreed!" Yvette returned, a little more enthusiastically than she intended to. Then she blushed again. "Oh, how I wish I could read a Bible myself. I would read the whole thing front to back every year of my life!" she lamented, her face falling a bit. "It would be a dream come true."
"You can't read?" John Rolfe inquired.
Yvette flushed after realizing the information that she had revealed, but she shook her head in earnest. "Forgive me, my lord, I am ashamed of my ignorance," she admitted sadly.
The diplomat frowned. "Why, there's no need to be ashamed. Surely it's no fault of your own. If you haven't had the opportunity to learn, then what else were you to do? It's really not fair that common folk are forced to labor day in and day out with nary long enough a break to even learn their letters. But that is something I intend to change around here. Would you like to have the opportunity to learn how to read and write, Ms. Spurling? This spring and summer, I am going to have a school constructed for the illiterate children of Jamestown. It is my intention to rearrange everything so children can make time in their schedules for some formal learning."
Mr. Spurling had taken his seat at the other end of the table as his wife served the food. They both froze and exchanged glances before Mrs. Spurling peered back at John Rolfe. "You're really going to do that?" Esther asked. "Oh, that's wonderful! Yvette, you'll be able to read the Bible all by yourself! Oh…" she said, turning back to Rolfe. "But how will we find time for it? The new governor is charging for the food again. We admit that he is much more reasonable than Thomas West was, but with that plus taxes, we're all going to need to work to make ends meet."
"That won't be the case for long, Mrs. Spurling. This spring we're going to plant all the fertile fields around the settlement with corn, squash, beans, and all kinds of other edibles. The fallow fields will be used to breed livestock. I've worked this out with our interim governor myself. You will not be required to pay for the fruit of your own labors. The only reason Governor Wingfield must charge right now is because the Virginia Company needs to recoup some of the money it has spent to keep the colony alive. Once our first harvest comes in July, that is when the school will open. You might actually find you have some leisure time at that point. Just wait and see."
Esther Spurling placed a hand to her chest in disbelief. "Sakes alive, that is wonderful news. We will finally be allowed to grow our own food? Then we'll be independent and safe from a future winter starvation at last. Oh, I wonder what it feels like to have leisure time…"
"I'm sure you'll soon find out," John Rolfe replied, taking a bite out of a fluffy bread roll. He chewed and swallowed. "But we've got a lot of work ahead of us to get to that place. The colony has a long to-do list for this spring and summer. Many new homes will have to be built. We need to dig new wells. I heard that people got sick from the river water being too salty last autumn, so that one is pretty urgent. We also need to build the new schoolhouse, prepare the fields, and plant all of the crops in accordance with Chief Powhatan's instructions. Less urgently, it would be wise to build a mill at some point. The people of the settlement will have a lot more leisure time when they don't have to grind all their grain by hand anymore. Oh! And since the storehouse ended up destroyed, we'll need to rebuild it and make it much bigger to account for the new settlers."
"You have big plans for Jamestown, I see," Kellam Spurling remarked. "I like young men who are full of ambition. It is very becoming, Lord Rolfe. So the Powhatans have agreed to teach us their farming techniques? You really are a diplomat of extraordinary skill, my boy."
John Rolfe appeared delighted. "Oh, yes! I'm glad you brought that subject up. With our new peace treaty, the Powhatans have agreed to a knowledge exchange program. They're going to teach us what they know in exchange for us teaching them what we know. Some things they have told me that they'd like to learn from us are the arts of blacksmithing and gunsmithing. And that's where you and Mr. Wheeler come in. Obviously, they'll need to be taught the basics first."
Kellam Spurling looked hesitant. "Teach them to make guns? Are you sure that's a good idea? What if they turn on us?" he inquired, appearing a bit nervous at the suggestion.
"If we keep working hard at building trust, that won't happen. And sharing knowledge is part of that trust-building. Besides, if we are attacked by the Spanish, the Powhatans will be of much better military assistance to us if they are properly armed. Bows and arrows won't have much effect against powerful Spanish cannons. Ultimately, I believe the risk is greater if we withhold our knowledge from them. The Spanish pose a much greater threat, after all," Rolfe explained.
Mr. Spurling nodded. "You make a compelling argument. Alright, Lord Rolfe, I'm in."
John Rolfe grinned in excitement. "Wonderful! Thank you so much, Mr. Spurling."
…
APRIL 10, 1614
Every day for over a week, John Rolfe spent his mornings collecting maple sap with Pocahontas and bringing the gatherings to Kekata. He really enjoyed the morning excursions with his lady friend, as it gave them time to bond despite his busy schedule. In the afternoon, the leaders of the Powhatan Confederacy came to the settlement to meet with the Jamestown council. Since there were so many people of high status present, they all met in the drawing room of the town hall.
The first thing John Rolfe and Edward Wingfield did when everyone arrived was to go over the terms of the peace treaty with the werowances. A small amount of debate and diplomacy took place before some minor amendments were made, which were generally pleasing to everyone. The settlers agreed to lend the Powhatans more muskets and even several soldiers for their war effort against the Monacans, which they intended to launch in late May. At last, everyone made their mark and the peace treaty was officially in effect. Afterward, Chief Powhatan approached John Rolfe with his daughter by his side. "Now is time for you to come to Werowocomoco and teach the warriors to shoot the fire-sticks. They are all ready and present. I remind you it was part of our agreement. Going forward, my people expect the settlers to keep to their word."
"Yes, sir," John Rolfe replied. "I'm ready."
Pocahontas appeared antsy as the two men spoke to each other. Chief Powhatan took notice of his daughter's restlessness. "Are you alright, Pocahontas?" the chief inquired.
"Yes, Father. I-I guess I'm just anxious to get back home," she blurted, turning to address Rolfe. "After you're done giving shooting lessons to the warriors, Father will have his answer for us."
Chief Powhatan nodded. "I spoke to the whole council this morning and came to a decision," he confirmed, his facial expression giving nothing away about the nature of said decision.
John Rolfe started to get anxious too, but he tried not to show it. "Yes, sir. I will come to see you as soon as I'm done teaching your men how to operate the muskets," he returned.
"Come, we'll bring you to Werowocomoco by canoe," Powhatan offered.
…
When John Rolfe arrived in Werowocomoco, Chief Powhatan and Pocahontas escorted him to the shooting range. Hundreds of warriors from all different villages were lined up to learn how to load and shoot the English muskets. The diplomat was surprised that so many men were there. He had only expected the warriors from Werowocomoco to attend the lesson, but in fact there were many more. They would have to take turns using the muskets because there simply were not enough to go around. The men had to literally gather around him in a circle to be able to see what he was doing. Pocahontas stood by his side to translate as he walked them through the steps of loading and shooting the rifles. When he finished his explanation, he had some of the warriors move out of the way of the targets in the shooting range. From quite a far distance back, he aimed at a target and shot it very close to the middle. Part of the target was obliterated.
The warriors, especially the ones from other villages, all appeared to be stunned by the power of the fire-spitting weapons. Some of them even ran over to examine the damaged target after the devastating shot. John Rolfe beckoned them back to their places and Pocahontas translated as the first line of warriors took hold of and loaded the muskets. Then Pocahontas and Rolfe got out of the way as they took aim at the targets. A series of loud booms erupted into the air as the men squeezed the triggers. Very few of them actually hit a target. "Excellent!" John Rolfe declared. "Very good, men. You've done well. Now, hand over your weapon to the next brave in line."
The warriors all looked at each other before one of them protested, "But we did not even hit the targets. Why are you congratulating us?" It was Naganwaya, a brave who always lived by very high standards. He was not about to take credit for what he believed to be a failure.
John Rolfe raised a brow in confusion. "But that's the first time you ever shot a musket. You need practice to become accurate, my friend. I was congratulating you all for loading and firing them correctly without blowing your own or anyone else's head off in the process."
Naganwaya snorted, looking very displeased with himself as he handed his musket to the next man behind him. The others did the same. It took several hours to make sure all the men had memorized the procedure perfectly so they would not accidentally hurt anyone when operating the dangerous weapons. By the time they were done, it was evening and the sun leaned near the trees. With a hand motion, Chief Powhatan beckoned John Rolfe and Pocahontas to follow him as the warriors continued to practice by themselves. They walked up the hill to the Powhatan family longhouse and went inside. There were a few family members in the building, including Sooleawa. She gave Pocahontas and John Rolfe a big smile when they arrived, which they found encouraging. They both had been sweating bullets during the short walk home.
Chief Powhatan shooed the children out of the room before sitting on his throne. John Rolfe and Pocahontas stood before him, beside each other, and Sooleawa sat on a nearby bench watching her husband. "Alright, like I said, I've come to a decision," he began. "I discussed your proposal to my daughter in great detail with the council this morning and we believe that such a union would be beneficial to our nation. Not only will it promote trust and peace between our peoples, but it will also provide additional stability that the people really need right now. However, there was one major concern that was brought up by several of my werowances. It is the matter of your fealty, Ulkekahone. I informed them that you told me your loyalties lay with my daughter first and foremost and, by extension, with us—as well as with the Great Spirit. To quell the fears of some of our elders, the council has requested to hear you make a vow in person that you will not betray the Powhatan Nation, so long as we ourselves do not become corrupt. We understand your first priority must be to do the right thing at all costs and we respect that. But if you are going to marry my daughter, technically that will make you part of our tribe. And as part of our tribe, you must formally swear loyalty to us before you can join. Are you willing to do this?"
"Yes, sir," John Rolfe replied. "Those terms sound perfectly reasonable to me."
Chief Powhatan's face lightened as if he had been worried that the gentleman might not agree to the conditions. "Excellent. But, just so you know, the council wants you to say your vow in Powhatan so they can all understand it. I can dictate the words and you simply repeat after me. Does that sound agreeable to you?" Chief Powhatan inquired for confirmation.
John Rolfe nodded. "But first I should like to know exactly what I'm saying."
"Of course. I can tell you now. The words are, 'Sequen temorezimequat Ulkekahone sin abotoss getuinomuss uvetteke peya Powhatan siroqueth lofumuss kiwiwantossa legiritnowse mowenw avingtenat siliwicolotamoraquen inditititavia, uluquoquw ilvisuirough newhawper. Deyi vigeno legonomonorat zighwigh sepaughtynere viletequensolongso oi lofississentinto avodact.' The translation is, 'I, who am known as Favored by the Great Spirit, swear to everyone present before me and the rest of the Powhatan people that I will follow tribal law to the fullest extent and I will never betray the Nation as long as I live on this earth, allowing for an exception in the case of serious corruption. These words I swear on all that is important to me to be done until the end of my days.' That is the vow the council agreed upon. Is it agreeable to you?" Powhatan asked.
"It is," John Rolfe replied without hesitation. "But I have one request. When you dictate the vow, I beseech you to go one word at a time. I would not want to embarrass myself by messing up the pronunciation too terribly in front of your council. So when shall I make this vow?"
"Right now," Chief Powhatan indicated, rising from his throne. "Come, the council is waiting in the communal longhouse. We must go to them now because it is getting late and they will depart at the break of dawn tomorrow morning. I'd prefer to get this done before the Werowocomoco village get-together tonight, which is going to start very soon. So let us hurry."
John Rolfe nodded as he and Pocahontas followed Chief Powhatan out of the family longhouse. The village was bustling with activity when they walked outside. Children were roughhousing, women were cooking, warriors were preparing the bonfire, and the musicians were gathering in the village center. Powhatan, Rolfe, and Pocahontas walked down the hill eastward and through part of the village before they arrived at the communal longhouse. Smoke was coming out of the hole on the rooftop when they approached. Powhatan turned to his daughter. "You stay out here, Pocahontas. We will not be long. If everything goes according to plan, we will announce your engagement to the whole village this evening before supper," Powhatan told her.
The Powhatan princess had been about to protest, but then she looked excited. "Yes, Father!"
He smiled at her as a guard pulled the reed mat barrier aside to allow the men entrance. Chief Powhatan went inside first, followed by John Rolfe. Pocahontas felt her heart pounding, unable to contain her excitement. She addressed the adolescent warrior who stood guard outside of the communal longhouse. He was someone she had known for years. "Chamah, when they get out, let them know I went to Dyani's house. Tell them to come and get me," Pocahontas requested.
"Yes, Pocahontas," the young man replied.
After that, Pocahontas skipped off to a nearby yehakin. "Dyani, are you home? I want to tell you something," she called, listening for a reply. Seconds later, Dyani poked her head out.
"What is it, Pocahontas? I was just cooking up some steaks for the festivities tonight."
"Is Hoko here?" Pocahontas asked. Dyani shook her head. "Can I come in then?"
Dyani smiled. "Of course," she replied, holding the deer hide door aside to allow her friend entrance. "You look excited. What is this all about?" she inquired as the princess entered.
"It's something I meant to tell you before. I told Nakoma, but I forgot to tell you. I hope you aren't cross with me about it. I just want you to know that I'm going to be getting married soon. My father just gave his consent. I'm so excited!" Pocahontas related as she stepped inside.
Dyani screamed excitedly. "Seriously?!"
Pocahontas nodded. "It's going to be announced to the village tonight."
"Oh, wow! I can't believe it. You and Naganwaya are going to be so happy together. Congrats!"
Pocahontas shook her head. "Nakoma thought it was Naganwaya too. But no, it's someone else."
Dyani froze, looking stunned. "Who else could it possibly be?"
The Powhatan princess smiled. "You'll find out very soon. I don't want to spoil the surprise."
"Well, can I help you plan your wedding at least? I'm a great wedding planner. You remember mine last year, don't you? It was so much fun! Oh, I can't wait. Since you're a daughter of the chief, the event is probably going to be absolutely spectacular just like your huskanasqua was."
"Yes, I'd love your help. In fact, why don't we talk about it while I help you cook the venison steaks?" Pocahontas suggested, taking a seat by the fire. The steaks were already sizzling.
"They're about halfway done," Dyani said, taking a seat beside her.
Pocahontas used a pair of sticks to flip over one of the steaks. "So how did you go about planning your wedding? There is so much to do. It seems kind of complicated. I mean, I have an idea for my dress and all, but there's also the matter of where to hold the ceremony, what to prepare for the feast, and then, of course, we have to plan out our wedding vows."
"I would start with the dress. It's the most important part, at least in my opinion. I happen to think you would look fabulous in indigo and goldenseal," Dyani thought aloud as she flipped over the other steaks. They were cooking in lard on the hot flat rocks over the fire.
"That smells delicious," Pocahontas remarked. "I've got to have venison steaks cooked in bear's grease or lard for my wedding feast. That's a must. But I'm not so sure about those colors for my dress. I want what I wear to match my mother's necklace." She placed a hand over said beloved piece of jewelry. "And I've gained some inspiration from the dresses I saw in London. There are some things I liked about the dress I wore to the Hunt Ball and some things I didn't like. I wasn't crazy about the color, but I did like the yellow trim and the frilly train in the back."
"Oh, I wish I could have seen it. It must've been beautiful on you."
Pocahontas giggled. "Well, you might get to see something like it at my wedding. I liked the shape of the gown and all the layers and ruffles, but I could have gone without the corset. Ugh, you have no idea how uncomfortable those things are. I don't know how white women are able to tolerate them. It's so hard to breathe," she related, adjusting her position on the ground to get more comfortable. "I also like the idea of wearing a crown of flowers in my hair like Nakoma did. She looked absolutely beautiful and it was fun to help her make it before the ceremony."
"What about sleeves with long fringes that taper when they get to your underarms? That would look pretty neat. Oh, I'd almost forgotten how much fun it was to plan a wedding! It's too bad most women only get to do it once in their lives," Dyani excitedly remarked.
"Actually, now that you mention it, I'm reminded of the red dress I wore after we captured the pirate ship. I thought those sleeves were beautiful. They were short and sheer with a gold trim. I do want fringes, but I want them to be around the bottom of the gown and around the neckline. I was thinking of something off-the-shoulder with turquoise and shell beads as a trim."
Dyani scratched her chin. "But what color is the dress itself going to be and what kind of material are you going to use? If you want ruffles like the English women wear, that'll be pretty heavy with buckskin. Are you going to make it out of hide at all?" she inquired.
"I want the bodice and trims to be white buckskin or doeskin and the gown to be some kind of soft white fabric. I'm not sure what it is that English dresses are made out of, but I will find out. I think those two materials have the potential to look great together if combined in the right way."
"Your design sounds kind of complicated, Pocahontas," Dyani observed. "You're going to need to draw all this out somehow. Maybe you can use that thin flat stuff you get from Jamestown."
Pocahontas laughed. "It's called parchment. And yes, that's a good idea."
The two girls continued to chat for a few minutes. By the time the steaks were done cooking, they heard a knock on the door. "Pocahontas?" came the voice of John Rolfe.
"There he is!" Pocahontas announced, jumping up from the ground. She ran over to the door and pulled back the hide drape. The Englishman poked his head in and glanced around. Pocahontas pulled him inside and presented him to Dyani. "This is going to be my groom. You can call him Ulkekahone. That is the name Kekata gave to him," Pocahontas revealed in Powhatan.
Dyani's eyes widened. "Oh! It's the man you went on the voyage with. I should've guessed!"
John Rolfe glanced from woman to woman, not sure what was being said, though he understood some of the individual words. "Pocahontas, we're all done. We can attend the evening festivities now," he informed her. "Your father's waiting outside. He's going to make the announcement very soon. And who is this? Is she a friend of yours?" he inquired, gesturing to Dyani.
"Her name is Dyani, Hoko's wife," Pocahontas disclosed, switching to English. "She's a very good friend of mine and Nakoma's. She's going to help plan the wedding. We were just talking about it. But she doesn't speak very good English yet, so talk slowly when you address her."
The gentleman tipped his hat to Dyani. "Wingapo, Dyani," he greeted, just before noticing the venison steaks. The sizzling scent was delectable. "I just realized that I'm hungry."
"Well, let's go then," Pocahontas laughed. She told Dyani to come along in Powhatan.
As soon as they went outside, they saw Chief Powhatan standing there with two guards. "Come, Daughter," he said. "It is time to announce your engagement to the rest of the village."
Pocahontas felt like she was walking on air as they followed Chief Powhatan to the village center circle, yet anxiety rose in her chest. She worried about how the village might react. John Rolfe was feeling at least as nervous as Pocahontas, wondering how the Powhatans would receive him. Would they disapprove and jeer? He started sweating bullets as the bonfire illuminated the happy faces of the many men, women, and children who had gathered in the totem circle.