Uncas and Nathaniel finally arrived in Albany. They had stopped by a stream earlier to wash up and pull on clean shirts. It was almost midnight and the Wheelocks' house was in darkness, except for one room – Alice's. Uncas pushed through the doorway without hesitation and barrelled into Cora, whose face was white. "Alice…Alice…" she gulped as she ran a shaky hand through her hair. Uncas froze. No. "She pulled through the surgery, Uncas." With that, Cora burst into tears and fell into Uncas' arms in a heap.
Uncas hadn't realised he was holding his breath until he released it in relief. "Go to Alice. She's waiting for you." Reverend Wheelock calmly instructed from his seat in the sitting room. Uncas gently passed the sobbing Cora to Nathaniel and sprinted up the staircase. He knocked the room door and entered. And saw the pile of bloodied bandages piled on the floor next to the bed, and Alice's dress blotched crimson. Uncas wanted to throw up – not because at the sight of so much blood, but at the thought of Alice going through so much pain. The pain must had been horrendous. Nathaniel had given him a quick rundown of Alice's injuries during the journey and Uncas wanted to howl in agony.
Uncas' eyes fell on Alice, swaddled under blankets on the bed, her usually glowing skin ashen. He could barely make out her breathing and beads of sweat dotted her forehead. The physician was taking her pulse, with Daniel hovering anxiously by his side. Marianne and Chingachcook flanked Alice on either side on the bed, holding both her hands. "Alice." Uncas whispered, his voice hardly audible. He made his way slowly towards her.
Marianne jumped at the sound of his voice and immediately flew over to him. "Oh, Uncas." Her voice wobbled as tears ran down her face. Uncas hugged Marianne gratefully and turned to the physician, "How is she?" The physician seem taken back at Uncas' flawless English but quickly recovered and delivered professionally, "It's a miracle she survived the surgery. She lost a lot of blood and her heart stopped once but we managed to revive her. This young lady has a ferocious will to live."
Uncas stared at Alice's bloodless complexion. Her heart had stopped. His fingers started to tremble and he curled them into a fist, "Is she going to be all right?" The physician grimaced, "Honestly, I do not know. She's unconscious now. If she survives and regains consciousness in two days, I dare say she'll make a slow, painful but full recovery." "If she doesn't?" Uncas bit out roughly. "She'll drift away slowly within days." Two days. He had two more days with Alice…No. Alice would wake up. She had promised she would never leave him.
The physician left instructions and medication with Marianne and Daniel and took his leave. The couple embraced him comfortingly before leaving the room – they knew the Mohican warrior wanted to be alone with his English love. Chingachcook got to his feet. When he drew level with his son, he advised, "Talk to her. Hold her to you, to this world. Her spirit is listening even though her body and mind are asleep." He clapped Uncas' arm and exited the room.
Uncas carefully sat on the bed, just inches away from Alice's face. He tenderly brushed damp tendrils away from her clammy cheeks and tugged down the blankets. She was only wearing a shift and he could see the bandages under it – one under her heart, one on her hip. There were also dozens of scratches and bruises all over her body. His jaw clenched as his tucked the covers back around her.
He took her hand and wrapped his fingers around it in a death grip – she didn't return the favour for the first time. Her skin was icy. Uncas started rubbing it in slow, strong motions. And he started talking. "I'm back, Alice. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so damned sorry." He didn't stop apologising to her until his voice went hoarse. He drank water and continued babbling in an urgent, hushed tone. He told her how pretty the stars were, how he loved her scones, how he was going to teach her to shoot, how he missed her smile… when he was finally too exhausted to resume, he sat down on the floor and laid his head on the bed, watching her chest rise and fall shallowly. He held on to her hand, kissing her fingers. He croaked, "I know you are listening to me. Keep listening. Don't stop listening. Please." Uncas kept murmuring until he fell into a distressed slumber.
Uncas' eyes snapped open when he felt a touch on his head. Alice. But it wasn't. She lay in front of him, her eyes still shut, inhaling her breath in short, sharp spurts. Her hand cold and lifeless in his. He cranked his head up - it was his father. And it was already the next morning. "Go wash up and eat. I'll look after her." Uncas wanted to protest but Chingachcook was right. He needed to freshen up and eat something for sustenance. Uncas rolled to his feet, dusted a soft kiss on Alice's forehead and left the room. Chingachcook dragged a chair next to the bed and looked at the blond girl lying on the bed. He opened his book of sonnets and began reading aloud.
Uncas headed to the kitchen after his bath. Cora was sitting at the table, picking at her scrambled eggs. He sat across her and apologised sincerely, "I'm sorry I left her." Cora shot him a wan smile, " It's not your fault. Alice shouldn't have wandered into the forest alone." Uncas took a piece of toast and started buttering it. "She loves you, you know." Cora announced abruptly as she took a sip of tea. Uncas regarded Cora steadily, " I know." "My shy little sister... reading that poem aloud in front of people. She used to hide behind huge vases during balls to avoid talking to others." Cora related, her expression sadly wistful. Uncas didn't say anything, he couldn't. His throat was all clogged up.
Uncas did the dishes briskly as Cora busied with brewing a herbal tonic for Alice. It was a recipe from Chingachcook, who had woken up at the crack of dawn to pick ingredients from the forest. When Uncas was done, he made a beeline for Alice's room. He paused outside the door in surprise when he heard his father's voice resonating from within. After a few seconds, He realised his father was reciting sonnets to Alice in English. He stood at the door listening, the sound of Chingachcook's slightly musical inflection soothing his harried soul. In between sonnets, he spoke to Alice in Mohican, uttering words of encouragement to her, his tone berating in a fatherly manner. It was as if he was scolding an errant child of his. Uncas leaned against the doorframe, a small smile flitted across his face. Chingachcook had a way of handling things that always turned out for the better. Uncas fervently hoped his father's magic would work on Alice.
Papa. Alice thought hazily she heard Papa reading her favourite bedtime tale to her. He hadn't done that in a long time; not since she was ten years old. She clung to the sound of his voice desperately. But his accent sounded... different. With a drawling lilt. And it wasn't a story. It was a poem. Her entire body ached and rippled with hot, crippling pain. She wanted respite from the agony. Should she go...another male voice invaded her dreamy space. Younger, stronger. The velvety baritone bathed her senses and called her name gently. Alice. Miraculously, the pain ebbed slightly. Alice, I'm here. Tears pricked the back of her eyelids. She knew that voice.
Uncas was having supper with Nathaniel and Daniel when Marianne burst out of Alice's room, "She's burning up and shivering. I think she has a fever caused by infection. The physician did warn us this may happen!" Uncas' spoon dropped on the table with a loud clatter as he shoved his chair back. Dashing up to Alice's side, he felt her forehead with the back of his hand. It felt like a furnace. She was shivering violently and jerky gasps was bubbling forth from her mouth. "Get a basin of water. We need to break her fever or she won't -" He broke off, biting down on the inside of his cheek until he tasted blood. No. She was going to survive through the night. Tomorrow would be the second day. Uncas picked up a wet washcloth and started to sponge Alice's limbs with determination.
After two hours of constant sponging, Alice's fever still raged and her whole body was in between a state of trembling and convulsion. Her breath became wheezy and faint. Uncas couldn't endure it anymore. By the time, everyone had crowded into the room. "Leave her with me." Uncas said, his voice grainy and devoid of emotion. When it looked as if Cora was going to argue, he added, "Please." She studied him long and hard before giving a small nod. They quietly filed out of the room. Nathaniel gripped his shoulder, "Yell if you need help." Uncas didn't reply him, his gaze fixed unwaveringly on Alice.
Uncas kicked off his moccasins and climbed on the bed, settling against the headboard, his legs extended in front of him. He lifted Alice carefully and arranged her on his chest. With one arm around her, he resumed wiping her with the washcloth with his other hand. He began conversing with her yet again, "The first time we met on George Road, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. You captured my heart then..." Uncas rambled on, recalling all their times together: at the fort, under the falls, their passionate encounters in the forest, their supper at the inn in Albany... He kept talking, terrified she would drift away if he didn't.
It was an hour pass midnight. Alice's fever had lowered a fraction but she was still quaking from head to toe, her breath straggly. Uncas gazed down at her, as one lone tear slithered down his face. She wasn't waking up. Suddenly, he was furious with her. She couldn't just abandon him like that. Uncas railed at the unconscious woman in his arms, " Fine! Leave! See whether you can find your way back! You won't find me waiting for you!" He paused to collect himself and threatened, " I'll marry Huyana. She would be delighted to have me. I'll make her knives. I'll give her your soap. I'll give the dress I bought for you. We'll build a wonderful new wigwam together. I'll make her learn how to make scones for me..." Uncas kept up with his threats until he couldn't think of anymore.
The fight went out of him. Uncas gathered her against his chest clumsily and pleaded brokenly, "Take me with you then...I can't live without you. I can't. Not one day. Not one second. Take me with you, damn it!" He kept rocking her in his arms, alternately begging and ordering to be taken with her. He went on hour after hour. The others had been keeping vigil outside the room. There was not a single dry eye among them.
Uncas felt someone trail a finger on his cheek. He didn't bother to open his eyes. Nathaniel was waking him up to break his fast. He thought dully. Then he heard it. "Uncas." a reedy whisper swept over his face. His eyes flew open and stared straight in Alice's huge grey eyes, which were swimming with tears. He was lying alongside her on the bed. Sunlight filtered through the drapes. It was morning. Alice blinked and fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "Alice?" he husked as he remained still, afraid it was all a dream. She nodded weakly and he could see her trying to form words. But she was so drained of strength that she couldn't. A few words slipped past her lips but Uncas didn't catch them. He leaned in closer as she struggled to say the words again.
Uncas finally deciphered what she had been trying to say and unbelievably, he started laughing even as tears streamed unchecked down his cheeks. The rest barged into the room, thinking he had lost his mind in grief. They gaped when they saw that Alice had regained consciousness and turned to frown at the laughing Uncas. "Uncas?" Nathaniel questioned suspiciously.
Uncas finally contained his laughter. He smacked a playful kiss on Alice's nose before sharing in a tone filled with amused merriment, " Alice said no one makes better scones than her."
Author's Note
Nope, this is not the last chapter but the story is reaching its end. Deeply appreciate all the encouragement and fab reviews so far. You guys are the best! :) I am thinking of writing another fanfic about this couple and I have sort of decided how it should go. It will be quite different, a little more cynical, but still written in a way faithful to the characters. But before I go into that, enjoy this chapter! Everyone can now breath a sigh of relief ;)