Chapter 17: Ivory Flowers

It was halfway through February and with the passing of Christmas and The New Year, a calm had indeed embraced them. There had been months of nothing but peacefulness surrounding the cabin and its many dwellers. Even Mother Nature had seemed to be gracefully allowing winter's decent into an early spring. The snow had already begun to dissolve into the still frozen ground. Leaving different size puddles of dark wet earth scattered all across the farm.

Prudence and Nathaniel sat on the cold steps of the cabin porch, wrapped in wool blankets watching the sunrise. The pair sat side by side, shoulders touching, while the first break of dawn peaked its bright rays through the trees of the thick forest. The barren trees allowing the large streaks of light to weave around the forest giving it the look of an intricately woven basket.

Watching the sunrise was always something they enjoyed doing together. When they were young they would wake early and sneak off to watch the sunrise from the top of a large rock formation near the Delaware camp. They would sit crosslegged and just watch as the dawn broke its way free from darkness of night, never uttering a single word. Content sitting with each other in silence. It had been something only they shared. Something that they still, even in adulthood, enjoyed.

Nathaniel glanced sideways at her, eyeing her up and down. He, like everyone else, had taken notice that she had been unusually ill with this pregnancy. He knew Martin was silently concerned, having Sampson examine her on a regular basis. Martin was not a man who overreacted, if he was concerned then that in turn concerned Nathaniel. Just before the dawn Nathaniel had quietly crept into her bedroom, as if they were young children again, and nudged her awake. Taking her hand and leading her wordlessly out of the cabin and into the still darkness of night.

Nathaniel leaned into her shoulder and whispered, "Will you tell me the truth if I ask you?"

Prudence stayed ever focused on the morning light. "I always tell the truth."

"How are you feeling?"

Prudence quietly huffed to herself and said, "You are the one getting married today. How are you feeling?"

Nathaniel hated when she evaded a question instead of out right lying. Though knowing her all too well he decided it was better to simply answer her question then to continue into a probable spar. "Honestly, I am happy." He looked back towards the forest before continuing, "I never thought of myself as a husband before. I could never picture that life for myself until Cora. She understands me. The only other women to understand me has been you." Nathaniel turned his head back towards Prudence, eyes slightly narrowed at her.

Prudence leaned her shoulder against his and pushed back lightly on him. She met his eyes and said, "This has been the hardest pregnancy so far for me. The sickness has been unrelenting and I started too lightly bleed a few weeks ago." Nathaniel shifted his body to almost face her now, concern prevalent in his expression. Prudence tried to ease his worry and said, "It is not completely unusual Nathaniel. It is just unusual for me." She slid her arm through his and continued, "I know you know Sampson is examining me daily. It is his belief that my body is reacting to the physical and emotional trauma it endured before. As it is, it is a miracle I did not lose the baby early on." Prudence looked up at Nathaniel, who was trying to mask his concern with an awkward smile. "I will be fine, my sweet girl will be fine and you will make a fine husband." Prudence squeezed his arm reassuringly and they both looked out towards the now bright morning sunshine. It was going to be a beautiful day.

Cora, Alice and Prudence were all in her bedroom helping Cora prepare for her impending wedding. Prudence had sewed her an elegant ivory colored wedding gown, the satin material had been patterned with ivory colored flowers throughout. Prudence had given Martin an overall idea of what type of fabric she wanted him to procure on his last trip into town. Trusting only Martin with this task, she had not been disappointed. Martin had brought back exactly what she had asked for. She had spent weeks tirelessly working on the dress, sizing it perfectly then adding just the right amount of trimmings to it. Shaping the dress into a simple yet elegant creation. When Cora finally put on the finished product, even she was certain that Prudence really was a witch.

Alice had done Cora's hair up in an almost wild looking bun, with a few curly wisps of hair hanging freely from the back of her neck. When Alice was satisfied, she added a beautiful flowered hair comb that Prudence had graciously lent to her. The end result was incredible. Cora looked more royal princess than that of a frontier woman.

"You are stunning sister!", Alice proclaimed admiring her sisters beauty.

Cora stood looking at her reflection in the small oval mirror Prudence held in her hands. She blushed at Alice's comment and began waving her hands back and forth in front of her face to try and cool herself down. Prudence took Cora gently by the arm and sat her down atop the bed, then crossed the room and pulled open the thick wooden covering allowing a cold breeze to waft into the room.

"Prudence?" Cora looked up at her, still waving her hands in front of her face.

"Hmm?"

"What was your wedding like?", Cora asked as Alice sat down next to her on the bed taking her hand in hers and gently rubbing her thumb over her knuckles in a calming motion.

Prudence turned away from the window and smiled at the sisters. "Well, Martin and I were married during one of the hottest summers we have ever had. I had even altered my dress the night before to accommodate the unbearable heat. We were married in the glade, with the sun blaring down upon us and the white and yellow daisies in bloom all around us. We were both barefoot and Martin had rolled up his trousers almost to his mid calf. I remember Chingachgook taking off Elijah and Ash's shirts once he noticed their little faces turning flush with temperature. We kept it a small family affair. Although a few of our distant neighbors had attended, as they had long been friends with Sampson. Once the small ceremony was over, we all sat outside and enjoyed a small feast together. After the entire affair was over, Martin and I along with Nathaniel and Uncas quickly ran away, with the children in tow, to swim at the lake. In the end we probably spent more time in the water than we did with the entire wedding!"

"That truly does suit you and Martin!", Alice exclaimed.

"Yes it does!", Cora agreed.

Prudence crouched down to pull a stray thread from the bottom of Cora's dress. "It suited us. Just as I am certain this day will suit you." Prudence smiled up from her lowered position.

A soft knock echoed across the door. "May I come in?", Martin's soothing voice asked.

"Yes my dear." Prudence answered sweetly.

Martin pushed the door open and stepped in. He smiled widely at Cora and said, "You look beautiful." Cora instinctively looked down at the floor and blushed. Martin shut the door behind him and crossed the room towards Prudence. "Are you ladies almost ready to begin?" Prudence looked over to Cora waiting for her confirmation.

Cora took a deep breath, stood up a bit straighter and said, "Yes."

"Wonderful! Shall we?" He extended his open arm too Prudence, who easily slid her arm through his and the two walked out of the bedroom leaving Cora alone with Alice.

Alice stood in front of Cora, running her hands over the dress. She wanted to be certain that it was perfectly placed around Cora's body.

"Alice." Cora looked deep into her sisters eyes.

Alice shook her head and said, "No Cora." Alice took Cora's hands in hers and held them tightly. "I am happy with my life, with my choices. I am already married, it is you turn now." Alice brought Cora's hands to her mouth and kissed them. "Shall I walk with you or will you go by yourself?"

Cora wrapped her arms around Alice, she leaned far over her now prominent belly and hugged her tightly. She was happy to share this small moment with Alice. She was happy they were both alive together here and now, fitting so perfectly into this beloved family. Cora pulled herself away from Alices' embrace and she said, "Go and join your husband. I will be out in just a moment." Alice nodded, kissed her on the cheek and walked out of the bedroom.

Cora took a moment alone and reflected on everything that had happened leading her to this moment. She thought of her long dead mother, her father even Duncan came to the forefront of her thoughts. She thought of the moment she realized she was in love with Nathaniel. Cora was certainly intrigued with Nathaniel their first night together in the forest. Though it was not until he came to find Uncas in the infirmary and he had boldly stared at her that her feelings for him turned into something much much deeper.

She walked over to the still wide open window and took a deep breath. The sun was still making its slow decent into evening and the colors in the sky were glorious. A mix of orange, purple and pink all set against a darkening blue sky. Cora smiled to herself, flattened her dress again down her front and made her way out of the bedroom.

Nathaniel heard the bedroom door open and quickly turned his head to see Cora walking towards him. Her hands were folded in front of her, eyes downcast as she slowly walked closer to him. Nathaniel's mouth hung agape at her beauty. The gown hugged tightly to her upper body, accenting her curvy figure. She looked so different than how he was used to seeing her, in her everyday cotton or linen dresses. The dress, her wedding dress, was cut off her shoulder, exposing her pale white collarbone and shoulders. The satin fabric only went down to her elbow, from there a beautiful ivory lace draped down and off around the seem, longer in the back and shorter in the front. The gown was cut tight around her waist then flowed out over her hips and down to the floor below. As she came closer to him, Nathaniel was struck with what to say. Telling her she looked beautiful simply did not seem enough. Nathaniel reached out his hand to her and drew her closer to him.

Cora saw that Nathaniel had pulled all of his hair back with a thin leather strip, neatly at the back of his neck. He was wearing a well tailored black wool jacket, wool pants and white linen shirt. The necklace she had given him at Christmas was hanging outside the buttons of his shirt. Cora was overcome with emotion at that moment and leaned into his body, placing a small soft kiss upon his lips.

"You are not quite there yet." Came the humor filled voice of Sampson from behind them.

Cora laughed and placed her head against Nathaniel's. She looked up at him through her thick eyelashes. He cupped her chin and asked, "Are you ready?"

Cora smiled widely at him and said, "Yes." They took their place, side by side, in front of the Reverend and the ceremony began.

A short while later, the ceremony was completed and Nathaniel wrapped his arms around Cora's back pulling her into his tight embrace. He slid his right palm up her back to the bottom of her neck, gliding his thumb in a small circle around the nape. He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers and stared into her eyes, lingering just a moment to take in the picture of his wife. Slowly, Nathaniel dropped his head even lower and firmly placed his lips against Coras'. He kissed her with all the passion he had been stockpiling inside him these several months. Cora placed her hands on either side of his cheeks and let herself free in his kiss. When they finally parted it was to the sound of cheers and whistles echoing through the cabin. They wrapped their arms around each other and began embracing their family.

Alice went immediately to Cora, hugging her tightly. "Congratulations sister!"

Cora released her arm from Nathaniel and wrapped both of her beautifully donned arms around Alice. "Thank you sister."

Alice turned her head to Cora's cheek laying a soft kiss upon it and whispered, "I love you Cora."

Tears began to well up in Cora's brown eyes. She buried her face in Alice's neck and whispered back, "I love you too little sister."

Uncas and Prudence went to Nathaniel, embracing him from both sides. Nathaniel wrapped an arm around each of them, kissing Prudence atop her head. She gave him a light pat on his chest and said, "Well done brother, well done." The three of them smiled widely at each other.

They broke their embrace only when Chingachgook came over to the three of them. He placed a weathered hand on the side of Nathaniel's face and rested his forehead against his sons' for a brief moment before lifting his head back up and planting a small kiss where their heads had just touched. Nathaniel was incredibly humbled by the sweet gesture. "Thank you Father."

Chingachgook smiled and nodded, before stepping towards Cora and expressing his congratulations with a similar gesture. He let his hand rest on her cheek for small moment before smiling at her and saying, "Daughter." He then reached his other hand out to rest it against Alice's cheek, turning his body slightly to face her and said, "Daughters." Alice's eyes immediately began to well up with tears, several slipping from her eyes before she was able to stop them. Chingachgook slid his thumb across her cheek wiping them away from her porcelain skin.

Nathaniel, Uncas and Prudence looked on at the beautiful moment with a contentment they never thought they would feel. Uncas was moved the most with this small act of love. He had, until that moment, still harbored fear that his father did not approve of Alice. Though now he was warmed all over, the fear had evaporated with the slightest touch of his father's hand. Prudence noticing Uncas' reaction to the scene before him, grabbed tight to his hand and said, "I always knew I was right." Nathaniel and Uncas stared down at her and laughed heartily, secure in the knowledge that she was indeed their own White Witch.

Martin had approached their little group, Lydia wrapped in his arm and slapped Nathaniel on the back and happily said, "Congratulations!" Lydia instantly reached for Nathaniel and he took her straight away from Martin's arms. She wound her little arms around his neck and tugged on his tightly pulled back hair. She smiled and whispered in Mohican into his ear. Nathaniel turned his face to her and stared into her bright blue eyes, his and Prudences' eyes, he nodded his head at her and said, "Thank you little one." Lydia briefly touched his cheeks with her hands, before reaching out for her father. Martin retrieved his little girl from Nathaniel's arms and turned to his sons and Sampson who were all offering their congratulations to Cora.

"Well." Came a voice from behind them all. "Shall we celebrate?" Everyone turned in unison towards the Reverend.

Martin laughed out loud and said, "Oh yes sir we shall!"

The entire group squeezed in around the splendidly decorated table. Elijah, Ash and Lydia had covered the top of the table with white linen sheets and hung white paper chain garlands around the edges. Nathaniel and Cora sat in the center spot of the table and everyone else was placed randomly around them. The food had been delicious, Prudence and Alice had delighted them with a wondrous meal consisting of different meats, wine, whisky and Prudence had baked a small yet beautiful looking white wedding cake, sprinkling a few tea leaves atop it for decoration.

They all sat together as a family, laughing, drinking and retelling tales of past adventures. The children chased each other around the table happily as the adults continued on with their dinking and merriment. Nathaniel, Uncas and Martin took several shots together until Alice chided Uncas, reminding him that he was not fond of the outcome last time. Nathaniel and Martin mocked him for it and readily agreed with Alice on her wise judgement. Sampson, Chingachgook and the Reverend sat drinking a well hidden bottle of wine that Prudence had brought out and remained in joyful conversation. Cora, Alice and Prudence conversed happily with each other, discussing future plans and Cora's hopes for a child.

It had been a magnificent night. Everything had been perfect, majestic even. As the night grew longer, slowly the group began to dwindle away. It began with the children, who Prudence had ushered up to bed after their second piece of cake. Then Alice and Uncas went off to bed, as she was growing more swollen with child and tired much easier than before. When Uncas made to stand up and join her, she pushed his shoulder down keeping him in place. Uncas gripped her hand in his and claimed he was exhausted and was ready to fall asleep himself. Once they departed, Prudence walked around the table and kissed both Nathaniel and Cora on top of their heads, before reaching for Martin's hand and guiding him with her to the bedroom. Chingachgook and the Reverend quietly retired to the common room leaving Sampson to make his way up into the loft. Sampson had told Nathaniel earlier in the day that he was giving the newlyweds his bedroom for their wedding night, even though he was certain it would not be the first time the two laid together. It would be the first time they laid together as husband and wife. Sampson departed the table with a casual wink of the eye.

Cora and Nathaniel were the last two sitting at the table. Nathaniel motioned for Cora to get up from the table. When she hesitated, his brows furrowed in concern. She turned her attention the disastrous looking table. "What about this mess?"

Nathaniel threw his head back in laughter and said, "This is what you worry about on our wedding night? Do not worry, I am certain it will all be dealt with before you or I rise from bed in the morning!" He removed himself from the table, leaving his hand out for her to take it and join him. Cora did as directed and Nathaniel led her towards Sampson's bedroom.

Nathaniel guided Cora through the bedroom door and closed it firmly behind him. He walked over to the night table and lit the candle that rested atop it. Nathaniel wanted to see her, all of her. They had never made love before in a bed or even in a room. He wanted to enjoy the moment, wanted her to enjoy the moment. He crossed over to her and ran his hands over her exposed shoulders, dragging them down until he held her hands in his. Nathaniel stared into her eyes and slowly helped her out of her gown, limb by limb until she was naked before him. Cora had pulled her hair loose from its previous bun. Allowing her dark curly tresses to fall freely down her back, almost touching her curvy hips and little waist. He put his hand out against her chest, trailing his fingers down to her belly button. He began tracing her pubic bone with his thumb, back and forth in a small line.

Cora stepped towards him, helping to release him from his now heavily creased white linen shirt. She pulled the shirt up and over his head exposing his broad chest. Cora ran her fingers along an old scar, long ago healed. Feeling the hardened skin under her finger tips. She moved closer to him sliding her thin finger between his trousers and his warm skin. She looked up into his eyes from beneath her long thick lashes. He helped her slide down his trousers, kicking them across the floor. There they stood naked before each other soaking in every curve, every scar. Completely taking in every inch of the others body.

Cora moved herself towards the bed laying down upon it. She reached her hand out to him, beckoning him towards her. Nathaniel complied with her request and went to her on the bed, gently climbing atop her. He laid his body almost flush against her. Propping himself up on his elbows he ran his palms over her face to the back of her head, moving away the loose hairs that surrounded her cheeks. Cora's body began to tremble at his gentle touch. She moved her legs up and around his hips, the closeness of their bodies sending tingles radiating through her body. Nathaniel could feel her legs quivering in anticipation around his hips. The knowledge of this making him softly smile. Nathaniel's hands began playing with her curvy frame, feeling the softness of her body beneath his callused palms. Cora gasped as his palms drew lower and lower over her naked body. He smiled wickedly at her, gliding his hands against her skin. He was undoing her. Cora shut her eyes and bit down hard on her lower lip. A small droplet of blood began forming under her pressed teeth. Nathaniel ran his fingertips across her mouth pulling her lip free from her teeth and began kissing away the blood from the small rip she had made there.

Cora opened her eyes, placed her palms on his muscular shoulders and breathed, "Nathaniel." Hearing his name escape her soft lips was almost too much for him to bare. Nathaniel slowly took a tighter hold on her body and guided himself inside her. He shut his eyes to the feel of her warmth all around him. He kept his pace slow, taking his time. Listening to every sound she made, every gasp of air she took. He wanted to remember it, to sear it into his memory. Locking it away and keeping it safe for the moments that he would long for her, for the moments that he would be unable to hold her. Nathaniel opened his eyes, absorbing it all, all of her devastating beauty with every slight and slow motion of his hips until the night was no more.

Author's Note: Finally Nathaniel and Cora's wedding! I can't speak for anyone else, but there was something about this chapter that I just loved writing it! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

For BrynnaRaven: I had no idea who Alasdair Fraser was, so I googled him and yes...I imagine Martin plays just like that! I have always loved the violin and if there was ever a character that could possess such a talent...well it had to be Martin!

Thank to everyone who reviewed...Eilan21, BrynnaRaven, BlueSaffire, AsterLaurel, MohawkWoman, and my story's guests! Your comments and support are amazing and truly help keep me moving along!

Thanks for reading :)