Two months later
Alice peers over the window of the small kitchen, as she places the cake she just baked in the table. The cake Uncas has been waiting for since that night at the fort. Finally, after two months of recovery, he is well enough to eat it again and she can't wait to see his face when he discovers her little surprise.
She observes him from the window, as he trains with his father to improve the strength on his right arm. The one who was hurt by Magua during their fight on the cliffs. Fortunately, his wounds were not serious and, after the fever disappeared, he started to quickly recover.
Alice also has changed for the last two months. So used to the sad life at the fort, she enjoys living in the cabin with the little family they have created. Though, she is still a bit worried about the time they leave to live with the Delaware and the idea that maybe people there don't accept her as Uncas' woman.
The same as Cora, now she wears simple gowns, that both sisters sew, and discarded the uncomfortable corset that constricted her upper body. Alice wouldn't change the comfort of breathing freely for anything. They don't pin up their hair in elaborated buns anymore, but let it fall loose down their backs. Finally, they changed their boots for comfortable moccasins made by the Mohicans.
Running in the field with her moccasins, loose hair and comfortable clothes, she feels like the little girl she once was. It seems a life with Uncas means freedom in every sense of the word. A freedom which would have been denied to her in her old life in England.
Alice observes with a smile as the old Mohican palms his son's back tenderly, just after they place the knives on their belts again, finishing the training. Uncas drinks from the jar of water she gave him before and Chingachgook tells him something, probably congratulating him on his good improvements in fighting. Then, the old Mohican walks away to the orchard where Nathaniel and Cora are working together.
Alice is distracted momentarily for Tommy's babbling, who is lying on the cradle Chingachgook carved, shortly after their arrival. Alice had insisted that it wasn't necessary he wasted his time on it and that they will manage without one, but the old Mohican worked on it secretly, and surprised her with a comfortable cradle for Tommy. He even had tied to it some feathers, saying that they meant protection against evil spirits. It seems he has taken his recent role of grandfather with a lot of joy and Alice is happy about it.
"I know you would like a piece of cake but you still have to grow up a little more, honey" she says sweetly, observing her baby kicking on the cradle. It was incredible how he had grown up for the last two months. Then, she hears the door opening and turns around.
Uncas smiles at her, just before he notices the good smell in the kitchen. He seems confused by some seconds until his eyes repair on the cake and his face lights up with joy.
"You have baked it" he says, as if he had been thinking that she wasn't going to do it after so long. "You kept your promise".
"How did you dare to question my words? I always keep my promises" Alice says, pretending to be upset "I was waiting for you to be well enough".
"Sorry I shouldn't have thought that way" he apologizes approaching her with a tiny smile "It's only that the wait was sooo long…"
"I've been working a lot in this cake...don't you think I deserve a reward?" Alice says with a mischievous smile. Uncas grabs her waist and kisses her deeply. "Is this enough?" he asks when they part away from each other. Alice thinks about it for some seconds "Well, I think so...". Uncas chuckles and pecks her again on the lips before he turns his attention to Tommy.
"Hello little man. If you continue growing like this, soon your grandfather will have to carve you another cradle". He picks up the baby, who instantly puts his little head on Uncas' shoulder, feeling safe on his arms.
"How was the training today?" Alice asks enjoying the beautiful vision of Tommy and Uncas as father and son. The Mohican already feels he is the baby's father and she feels the same. He is the best father Tommy could have.
"It was good. I'm improving quite fast and I can almost handle my weapons normally" Uncas says as he places a sleeping Tommy on his cradle again. For some reason, it was easy for the baby to fall asleep on Uncas' arms.
"I knew you were going to retrieve all your fighting skills. You are a good warrior" Alice compliments him, taking a knife to cut a piece of cake for him.
Noticing that the piece she is going to cut is smaller than what he had in mind, he places himself behind her, taking the hand where she has the knife. "Bigger please".
Alice chuckles as he makes her cut a more proper piece of cake "Alright but only this time". Then he slides his arms around her waist and kisses her neck softly. "Thank you for taking care of me so much" he whispers in her ear.
Alice is touched by his candid statement "You take care of me too" she turns her head to kiss his cheek. Then, Alice cuts another piece of cake to herself. It's better for them to eat now before the rest of the family arrive and devour it.
Alice walks back to the cabin, along with Chingachgook. He had taken her to the forest to collect some berries and show her which are the best ones and which are poisonous. He also taught her some knowledge about plants and trees. They spent the whole morning there. She carries Tommy on her back, in the cradleboard the old Mohican made, in order to make her trips easier, carrying her baby. She couldn't thank him enough. Tommy is growing up so fast that soon it will be uncomfortable for her to carry him on her arms.
As they approach the cabin, Nathaniel and Cora walk to them, the last one with a basket on her arm.
"Nathaniel and I are going to have lunch in the forest. He says there is a beautiful clearing that is perfect for a picnic." Cora explains when they reach them.
"That is good. Have a good time" Alice doesn't say anything about joining them because she knows they want to spend some time alone together.
"But we thought it would be a good idea to take Tommy with us. It will be good for him to spend some time with his uncle and aunt" Nathaniel says, as he and Cora share a smile.
"Oh, alright. I've already fed him so you won't have any problem" Alice says, a bit surprised by the offer. "Are you sure you don't prefer to be alone?" The moment she asks it, she blushes deeply, realizing what she is just insinuated. But everybody knows what they do each time they go to the forest together.
Nathaniel chuckles at that. "Don't worry, we'll be fine". Alice gives him her pack with clean diapers for Tommy. Carefully, Cora takes the cradleboard from Alice and puts it on her own back. Then the couple disappear into the forest.
"It's better for us to go inside. I have to prepare lunch for the three of us". Alice says to Chingachgook.
"I'm not hungry. I'll go to town to buy some supplies and do some business there" the Mohican says, handing her the bag with berries. "Uncas is inside. You can eat without me, I'll be back late".
"Alright then…" Alice says, surprised that everybody leaves at lunchtime when they usually eat together. As the Mohican walks away, she goes to the cabin and opens the door.
She observes what is in front of her, wide-eyed. A special meal is served on the table with a bowl of stew and a pie. Two plates are placed in front of two chairs and a jar with a bunch of white flowers decorate the centre of the table. Uncas is standing, looking at her with expectant eyes.
"What is…what is all of this? Alice finally asks, when she regains the ability to speak.
"It's a surprise…I wanted to thank you for all your cares while I was recovering" Uncas explains, hoping that she likes it.
"But…did you cook all this food?" Alice asks, surprised that he has prepared the meal.
"No…Cora did it…you know I'm not good at cooking…" he says, a bit ashamed. He would have liked to prepare the meal by himself but he wanted a special meal, not a simple porridge. "But it is the game I hunted yesterday…and I picked up the flowers" he quickly adds.
Alice smiles, noticing his insecurity, as she places the bag with berries on a shelf. He feels ashamed for needing help preparing the surprise. She won't allow him to feel that way. "They are my favorites…how did you know it?"
"Every time we went for a walk, I noticed you looked at them in fascination" Uncas explains, feeling better now that he is sure she likes the flowers he chose.
Always so observant… It wasn't necessary that she told him what flowers she likes; he already knew it. "They are beautiful…" she says, touching the petals delicately. Then, she approaches the Mohican and touches his face. "Thank you for the surprise…and I like that the rest of the family help you with it" now she understands Nathaniel and Cora's insistence on taking Tommy with them or Chingachgook's long lessons about berries and plants that morning.
"I'm glad you like it. I wanted to prepare something special for you…" Uncas' words are cut off by Alice, sealing his lips with a kiss.
"I love you" she says, when they finally part away from each other.
"I love you too" Uncas smiles, knowing that there is still another surprise for her. But it's better to wait until they finish the meal. "Shall we eat?".
"I thought this was going to be a romantic picnic" Nathaniel says, as he removes Tommy's diaper. He has to make a big effort to not hold his nose because of the smell. "This doesn't seem very romantic...".
Cora chuckles at that. "It's better for you to practise before your own children arrive Mr. Poe". She proceeds to clean the baby, who is giggling and kicking with his chubby legs, and then puts a new diaper on him.
"I prefer not thinking about that" Nathaniel jokes, which makes him gain a playful slap on his chest.
"Don't forget you asked me to marry you as soon as we reach the Delaware village. Children could come at any time" Cora pretends to be upset, though in fact, he adores his sense of humour.
"I know but…at first I would like to have you only for me." He holds her around the waist, pulling her to him on the grass. In fact, he can't wait to have children with her. It will be wonderful to have a baby from the same age as Tommy, so they can grow up together as cousins.
Cora leans her back against Nathaniel, enjoying the feeling of his arms around her. "I can't wait to be your wife" she says, smiling at the thought of a life together.
"Neither do I" Nathaniel says solemnly. Then a thought that has been worried him crosses his mind. "Are you sure you don't prefer a Christian wedding?".
Cora doesn't need to think about it, before she answers. "If we are going to live among your people, I'd like to marry in their tradition. I want to learn everything about your culture" Cora had never enjoyed the pompous weddings that took place in England. She deeply believed that a couple doesn't need to show their love, wasting money in a ceremony where they invited people who they barely knew. A wedding has to be something simple with the people you love the most.
Nathaniel's heart fills with joy at the realization that she considers him truly a Mohican, no matter his skin is white like hers. He has always considered himself exactly the same, though sometimes he feels like he lives between two worlds. He truly wants to live among his people but not before he makes sure his future wife wishes the same "Our marriage won't be registered if we get married that way. Maybe Reverend Wheelock…".
"I don't mind if we don't register our marriage. I don't need a piece of paper to know we love each other" Cora cuts him off "We can get married in a Christian ceremony with Reverend Wheelock if you want, but not before we got married in the Delaware tradition, Hawkeye."
Nathaniel smiles, realizing it's the first time she calls him by his Mohican name. When he is about to kiss his future wife, Tommy starts making sounds to demand attention, clearly disappointed that his uncle and aunt have completely forgotten about his presence.
"It seems we won't be able to enjoy a private moment today" Nathaniel sighs deeply as he picks up Tommy and starts tickling him mercilessly.
"The meal was delicious…and the company was better" Alice says, smiling at Uncas across the table. Both have enjoyed a wonderful time together, eating and talking, totally at ease in the other's company. It was difficult to have a private moment between them with all the family around so they needed it so much.
"I'm glad you liked it" he says, looking directly at her with soft eyes.
"Now it's better for me to tidy up the table" Alice stands, willing to do her part, since the whole family prepared the surprise only for her.
"I'll help you, but first I want to give you something…" Uncas stands and holds Alice's arm gently, making her stop her task. She notices as he seems a bit nervous.
"What it is, Uncas?" She asks confused, but instead of answering, he guides her to the corner where his travel pack is.
"Close your eyes…" Uncas says softly, a hint of shyness in his voice.
Alice obeys and when she hears Uncas rummaging in his pack, she feels nervousness growing inside her. What is this all about?
But then, she feels Uncas holding her hand and placing something on her finger. A ring.
She opens her eyes and lose the ability to speak. In her finger, there is a simple ring made of leader, a thin cord as the one he uses to tie his braid. Slowly, she lifts her head, meeting his eyes, which are looking directly at her, love radiating from them.
"Marry me Alice Munro" Uncas says, looking intensely at her. "I promise to always take care of you and provide for you. And I'll try to be the best father to Tommy. I love him as my own son".
"Uncas…I…I…" Alice tries to speak but no words come to her lips.
"We can get married in the Delaware tradition, when we are in the camp. Your sister and my brother are going to get married in the same way…" Misunderstanding her lack of words as a sign of her doubts, he quickly adds "Sorry…I know I can't offer you a proper wedding but…"
"Of course I want to marry you" Finally words come to Alice's lips, as tears of joy come to her eyes "I don't mind how we get married, I only want to spend the rest of my life with you". She throws her arms around Uncas' neck as he embraces her back.
"You will make me the happiest man in the world" Uncas can't believe his dream of making her his wife is going to finally come true. His lips search for hers and they share a passionate kiss.
"It will be an honour to get married in your people's tradition" Alice says solemnly, when they part away from each other. Then, she looks again at the ring on her finger, as she touches it delicately.
"I know about the ring tradition among your people so I wanted to you to have one" Uncas explains as if he was reading her mind. "Though I know is not the ring you probably had in mind…".
"It's beautiful because it's made by you. I wouldn't want any other" Alice says, touched by the fact that he made her a ring in order for her to have some tradition from the weddings among her own people.
Visibly touched, Uncas kisses her again and this time, he scoops her on his arms as she giggles and places her arms around his broad neck. He goes with her to the rocking chair, while they keep on kissing each other, and sits with her on his lap. Finally, their lips part away and Alice leans her head on his chest, her arms still around his neck, enjoying a moment of silence between them.
After all I've been through, I never thought I was going to find a good man like him, who loved me despite the fact that I have a son, born out of marriage and that I was disowned by my own father. Most men would have looked down on me, like if I was a woman of low moral…but not him. He is different to any man I met before, and better than those English officers that consider themselves true gentlemen.
Lost in her thoughts, something that has been troubling her recently, comes to her mind. "Uncas…do you think I'll be accepted as your wife among your people?"
Uncas looks down and his eyes meet her worried ones. "They only want me to be happy. And they don't mind where people come from, only the goodness in their hearts. You are the kindest person I've ever met, I'm sure they are going to approve my choice" He kisses her head and embraces her tighter on his arms "And you will like them too. They are nice people".
Feeling her worries vanish because of his words and totally relaxed by the movement of the rocking chair, Alice closes her eyes. When I was a child I always dreamed of finding a prince to marry and being happy for the rest of my life. Then, when George broke my heart, I thought those were only silly childhood fantasies. But they were not silly. I finally have found my prince...
She starts succumbing into sleep, but one last thought comes to her mind, right before she falls asleep in her lover's arms.
What I didn't know as a child, was that he was going to be a Mohican prince.
The town is quiet at that time in the morning, with only a few people in the streets. Uncas looks at Alice in her pale blue gown, and enjoys the vision of her with the sunlight reflecting on her golden hair. They have come to the town together in order to buy some supplies, while their siblings and his father stay at home with Tommy. Usually, it's Cora and Nathaniel who go shopping in the town, but Uncas and Alice also like to go from time to time.
As always, after walking through the forest holding hands, he let go of her as soon as they reached the town, in order to not catch too much attention. It is not common to see an indian with a white woman, so it is even more stranger if they are walking hand to hand. Anyway, they have never had any problems the times they have been there.
Though she wears her hair pin up in the proper way for a woman, Alice wears her moccasins, not willing to wear boots again, after getting used to such comfortable footwear. She observes their separated hands sadly, wondering why they can't hold hands in front of people like any other couple. She watches as the few people who are in the street look at them suspiciously. And then, in an impulse, she holds Uncas' hand.
He looks at her confused and his eyes talk to her. What are you doing? She smiles and tries to answer him also with her eyes. They seem very bored. Let's give them a reason to gossip. As if he understands her thoughts, he smiles her back and they keep on walking, holding hands.
A middle-aged couple looks at them totally scandalized and, for some reason, instead of feeling uncomfortable, Uncas feels amused by their terrified expressions. Meanwhile, Alice repairs on a group of young women, probably from her same age, who are whispering with their eyes fixed on them. I'm sure they would like to take my place at Uncas' side. They criticize us, but at the same time, they can't avert their eyes from him. She thinks proudly, aware that no woman could deny how handsome Uncas is. She doesn't forget to smile at them when they pass them.
"I'd like to buy some cloth to sew a new dress for Cora. She is always making dresses for me" Alice informs, as they reach the shopping area. "Why don't you go to buy supplies on your own? We can meet here in a while".
"Alright, it won't take me too long" Uncas agrees and walks away.
Alice walks in the opposite direction, turning down an empty street. Then, right after turning another corner, she collides with someone.
"Oh, excuse me, I was…" she apologizes, but when she looks up, her gaze meets a pair of blue eyes, that only a year ago meant the world to her, but now she finds them empty and cold. Eyes that she thought belonged to a good person, but she was wrong.
The man she wished she never saw again looks astonished at her. "Alice?".
George.
Author's note: Finally despicable George has reappeared and I can tell you that he is going to be a bit of an asshole to our favorite couple. Since the begining of the story I had doubts about including him in later chapters but I think is more interesting this way. Sorry for changing the tone of this fluffy chapter with this last scene, but everything was being too perfect and, as I always say, Uncas and Alice's romance is not an easy one.
Thank you again for your amazing support, it means a lot to me and inspires me to keep on writing!