I took a night off from updates to clear my head and figure out where I wanted to take the story. Hope it didn't ruin anyone's opinion of the story too much. I promise I'll churn out a couple of chapters today. A note on Pocahontas: as with all historically-based characters, there is a line between fact and fiction. I didn't want to make her a cliche or stereotype. I wanted her to be seen as a leader for her people. I also don't know enough about the Powhatan tribe to give an exactly accurate depiction of who the real Pocahontas was so please forgive any artistic liberties I took with her back story and life. As always, thank you for reads, reviews, follows, and favorites! Enjoy - Susy
Pocahontas offered to bring the group to her village to prepare before they headed out to the Snow Queen's lair. Regina was reluctant, at first, to leave the ship but the promise of warm food and the safety of the tribe lured her along with the rest of them. Pocahontas was leading the group deep into the forest.
"Remind you of anywhere?" Emma asked as Killian hacked at a low hanging branch.
"Neverland was never so inviting," he replied, "No dreamshade here,"
Emma watched the woman at the head of the line as she walked through the forest. She was confident and assured; she'd no doubt learned the layout of these woods many years before.
"Something on your mind, Swan?" Killian asked.
"Nothing," she replied, paying careful attention to step over a fallen log, "Just trying not to fall over,"
"Mmm," Killian replied in a tone suggestive of disbelief.
They continued on in silence through the forest for some time until the smell of fire and food tingled in Emma' s nose.
"Whatever that is, I want it," Mary Margaret said, pausing to take a deep breath.
"It could be human flesh," offered Regina, causing Mary Margaret to shoot her an unamused glare.
Emma could hear the faint noise of voices growing stronger as they approached. The group came to a clearing and the makings of a small village. People stopped what they were doing to watch the newcomers. They walked towards a large dwelling that resembled a Nissen hut.
Pocahontas stopped at the entrance and turned to them.
"Wait here," she instructed. With no further words, she stepped into the building and left the five outlanders waiting.
"What if she's plotting to kill us?" Regina asked, glancing at the curious eyes that were settled on the group.
"Then she's going to kill us," Emma replied, "But that's a risk we had to take,"
The door to the hut opened and Pocahontas beckoned them to come inside. The formed a line - Emma, Killian, Mary Margaret, David, and Regina - and filed into the building. People were seated all around the edges in neat rows on wooden risers. They entered at the end of the building and opposite them was a large, pelt-covered throne with two smaller seats flanking it. Those seats were taken by two mean-looking men dresser in similar fashion to Pocahontas.
"Stand there," Pocahontas instructed, pointing to the space in front of the thrones. She walked up to the large one and took a seat. Emma noticed that the room was buzzing with whispers as the people in the hut seemed to be equal parts enticed and afraid.
"The visitors have come to our land to fight Naantam and free us from her," Pocahontas announced to the room. Her voice boomed with an impressive authority. "The Great Spirits have told us of a savior who will come and rescue our people from the scourge of Naantam's powers. She has come to us now,"
The warrior's eyes laid directly on Emma.
"Naantam has taken too much from our people, from our lands. We will not allow her to continue this viscous campaign. Let us share in our knowledge and our gifts tonight so that we may share in our victory tomorrow!"
As Pocahontas finished her speech, the room was roused to its collective feet and chants, cheers, and shouts of support echoed thunderously in the round-roofed room. Pocahontas stepped down from the throne and walked directly to Emma.
"I have been alone in this fight for too long," she said, "I ask you now to stand with my people and help us to defeat Naantam. Will you?"
Emma wanted to look away, search a familiar face for guidance, reassurance that whatever her response was, she'd have support. But there was a ferocious intensity to the gaze of the warrior and Emma could not break it.
"Yes," she replied finally, but with conviction, "I will help you. We all will,"
After the initial show of pomp and circumstance in the hut, the villagers and visitors dispersed outside where a great feast was being prepared. Emma eyed the meat with some dubiousness.
"Not chimera, is it?" she asked Pocahontas.
"What? No," she replied, "We don't have that in this land. This is hippogriff,"
"Oh, of course it is," said Emma. Regardless of its questionable origin, Emma was hungry and not one to complain when a feast was being prepared in her honor.
There was a long table that they were invited to sit at. Emma and Killian sat next to each other, across from Pocahontas. As Killian reached for something on the table, the woman next to him eyed his hook and whispered to her neighbor.
"They want to know what that is," Pocahontas translated. Killian grinned and raised the hook to the women, who stared at it with curiosity.
"In a duel," Killian replied. One woman reached out to touch the hook tentatively and jumped back, giggling with her friend when she did.
Pocahontas seemed to break her facade, momentarily, and smile.
"What?" Emma asked, looking from the giggling women to the translator.
"They want to know," Pocahontas began, forcing herself to regain composure, "if you have other metal . . . appendages,"
Emma nearly choked on her food and Killian chuckled to himself.
"A pirate never reveals his treasure," he replied slyly.
After the meal, Pocahontas introduced various members of her tribe to the group. The warriors were quite taken with David's skills with his sword and Mary Margaret's arrows.
"Your parents are natural-born fighters," Pocahontas observed. She and Emma were seated at the table together. "Have you inherited their skills?"
"I've tried," Emma replied, "Although I'm not very good with a sword,"
"My father wished for a son for many, many years," Pocahontas said, "When I was born and my mother died, I think he decided that he would teach me all the ways of the warrior regardless of whether or not I was a woman,"
"He must have been proud to see who you became," said Emma quietly. Pocahontas' eyes looked distant for a moment as though a cloud had passed over them.
"I like to think he was," she said finally.
It was in that moment that Emma realized the connection she shared with this woman warrior: they'd both been abandoned, in their own ways, and forced to grow up quickly. They were both strong, solid, indomitable forces when they needed to be but there were soft places, some still raw with old wounds, that existed in the quietest parts of their souls. They were warriors and both carried with them every scar from every battle.
Though the sun never really set in the land of summer, it did dip into the horizon enough to cast the world in a soft, evening light. Pocahontas and a few of her fellow warriors would lead the group to the Snow Queen's fortress, up high in the mountains, in the morning. For tonight everyone would rest in preparation for the next day's battle.
Emma sat cross-legged on a tree stump in the woods, just outside the edge of the village. Her head was racing, trying to fit the new information with the old and desperately attempting to make sense of it all. And then there was Henry. He occupied more of her thoughts that she could've imagined. The boy, her boy, was so far away and there was no guarantee that she'd ever see him again. While she wasn't inclined to take Gold at his word, she believed that he would protect her son because of his love for Neal.
"Swan?" Killian called. Emma turned her head over her shoulder to see the pirate standing at the edge of the village and watching her with a curious expression.
"Hey," she said. He crossed into the forest to her.
"Communing with nature?" he asked.
"Something like that," she replied, "You know, if it wasn't for the creepy, childless village and the deadly snow wizard, this might be a nice place to visit,"
"Every location has its charms," Killian replied with a grin as he leaned against a tree trunk. They fell into a companionable silence, listening to the noises of the forest around them.
"What if we can't defeat her?" Emma asked suddenly, her eyes focused in the distance beyond, "What if we fail?"
"Aren't you supposed to be the daughter of Prince Positivity and Lady Can-Do?" he quipped but his expression changed when he saw her face. He walked to her and knelt down so that his head was just below hers.
"Why do you doubt yourself, love?" he asked, "Remember, you're in the book now. You're one of us. You're meant to be here, to do these things, to be great,"
He leaned his head up to kiss her.
"You have strength beyond measure, Swan," he said, his lips just inches from hers, "Embrace it and you will conquer everything,"