I sat on the ground outside of the longhouse, my head in my hand as frustration consumed me. The moment Dakota went limp in my arms caused nothing short of panicked hysteria. At first, I could not tell if she was breathing- even now it was shallow and slow. I had no other options but to bring her to the village for help. Slight relief came when the village accepted her under their care, but even now I was shaking with worry. I know they would have questions about her. I did not have answers for any curious inquiries they may have. Dakota was the charismatic one, able to give an indirect response that seemed to answer questions to her origins. I learned a long time ago that it was a talent that I was not gifted.
When Dakota was situated and redressed, they allowed me inside to see her. I knelt beside her bed and watched her breath. It had become raspier since I had left her, the death rattle had already begun. She was dying and I could do nothing but kneel beside her and watch. How could this have happened? I was unable to save her fast enough from the water, and now I was forced to watch as she died. The thought caused my eyes to sting; I rested my head against her abdomen, taking one of her hands in both of mine. I prayed to the spirits. I prayed to my mother. I begged Dakota not to die. But her breathing was worsening with long breaths filled with that haunting rattle.
Even sick and dying, Dakota was beautiful. My heart ached as I looked upon her. There were so many things left unsaid between us, and the chance to say such things had passed. I wondered if she knew how thankful I was to have her by my side. Or if she knew that she made life as an Assassin bearable. I thought of the way her eyes brightened when she smiled, and how her laugh sounded. A sad smile spread across my lips as I thought of the first time she hit a target perfectly using my bow. She laughed and bounced with the excitement of her success. It was one of the first times she had arrived at the manor; I was young and found her absolutely astonishing. But it was in that moment, as I watched her celebrate her most successful shot, I knew I was never going to be able to deny her anything, even if she never shared the same feelings towards me. Now, I would do anything to keep her alive.
Dakota inhaled deeply one last time, holding it upon release. I felt my throat tighten at the threat of my emotions spilling over. I gripped her hand tightly and cursed myself for my inability to save her. Suddenly, her body jerked as she fell into a hard coughing fit. I fell back onto the ground, thanking the Maker that she was still alive. Her cough was horrid; causing her to gasp for air, leaning over the bedside, before another cough shook through her. Finally, she fell back on the bed panting for air, looking around the unfamiliar surroundings with confusion.
I knelt beside her again just as another hard cough ripped through her. "Dakota," I said softly.
She turned her eyes quickly upon me, "Connor? Where are we?"
"I...I had no other options. I brought you to my village."
"How...how long was I out?"
"A few hours."
Her eyes narrowed, "How long is 'a few hours'?"
I sighed, defeated and knowing that I had to tell the truth. "It is almost sundown."
She did not respond, only dropped her eyes for a moment. She had other questions; her eyes began to scan the walls of the lodge to see if she could find the answers herself. Her eyes stopped on something across the room. I glanced over my shoulder to find her robes being dried beside a small fire. Next to her robes laid her weapons. That was the answer to her unspoken questions, she relaxed and began to readjust herself upon the bed. She looked down at her new clothes, a deerskin dress provided to rid her of the wet robes.
"Do you remember what happened?" I asked, bringing myself to sit next to her on the bed.
"I remember slipping and falling. The next thing I knew you had pulled me out of the water."
"You were under longer than a few seconds. A pack of wolves delayed my reaching you," I could hear the worry still in my voice.
"Thank you, Ratonhnhake:ton," She said softly, taking my hand in both of hers.
"You do not need to thank me."
Night fell quickly; I left Dakota for her to rest. She had grasped my arm and begged me not to leave her. I promised her that she was safe here, and with my words, she laid down without protest. I made my way to Kanen'to:kon's lodge, who always saved a place for me if I was to return to the village. We had spoken very briefly when I brought Dakota earlier, but I was too worried for her well being to say only more than a few words.
"Ratonhnhake:ton," Kanen'to:kon stood the moment he saw me, "How is she?"
"Awake," I sighed with relief. "I first thought her dead."
"As did I. She must be strong."
"She is," I nodded with a smile, knowing Dakota had the strength and stubbornness to recover.
I rose early the next morning and peeked into the longhouse Dakota was lodging. She was curled on her side and sleeping soundly. Her breathing still rattled in her chest, and every few moments would let out an involuntary cough. I left her alone for the majority of the day to rest and recover. I had taught her enough of my people's language to get her by through rough translation that I need not worry about communication barriers.
By the later part of the afternoon, I decided that I should see her. I reached the longhouse and made to enter, but stopped short at the sound of voices from inside. Peeking around the corner, I found Dakota sitting upright in her bed, letting out one of her giggles and explaining something in our language. Her visitor was Oia:ner who spoke to her with a rather pleased expression. I waited outside for a few minutes longer while the conversation drew to its conclusion. Oia:ner stepped from the longhouse and found me waiting patiently.
Oia:ner smiled, patting me on the shoulder, "I like her." She walked away with a nod of her head.
I stepped inside, greeted by the awful sound of Dakota's deep cough. She panted after each coughing spell and swore to herself. I took a few steps closer, to which she turned her head to see her newest visitor. Her eyes brightened and her smile widened when she saw me, but her excitement sparked another deep cough.
"Ratonhnhake:ton!" She smiled and wiped away the tears that her cough caused.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, sitting beside her on the bed.
"Oh," she sighed, clearing her throat, "I'm alive. Thanks to you," she smiled.
"I see Oia:ner has visited you."
Dakota giggled, "Yes. She is very nice."
"She likes you," I smirked.
"I've turned a lot of curious heads. I'm a little embarrassed that I'm meeting everyone being sick," she looked down to her dress and pulled at the material, obviously uncomfortable.
"I know it is not what you are accustomed to wearing," I nodded to her dress.
She looked up with a small smile, "Oh, no it's fine. I don't mind it at all, really. I just don't like not wearing a bra," She laughed nervously.
We shared a long moment in silence, looking upon one another's faces. I could not stop staring at her with the thoughts of her accident circling in my mind. To see her body go limp in my arms over and over again. I relived the moment of carrying her into the village in my arms, my heart beating hard in my chest as my people took her in without question. I felt the twisting pain in my own spirit again thinking of the moment I believed Dakota dead. It was the same agony I felt when my mother died.
Dakota reached out and touched my arm, gently brushing her thumb against the beads of my armband. She looked tired; dark circles were forming under her eyes, her skin paled and lips dry. Without a word, she readjusted herself to rest her head on my shoulder, her legs across one of mine. I brought an arm around her, more than happy to oblige to her want of physical comfort. We sat and talked quietly as the evening drew late. For a few moments, I believed Dakota to be asleep. She had closed her eyes, comfortably resting against me, with smooth sounding deep breaths. As I listened to her breathing, I closed my own eyes and held tightly onto this moment of peace.