Chapter 18: Mimëntët

The afternoon sun was holding steady in the mid day sky. Its golden rays gently caressing everything in its path. With the passage of time, the trees were now in their full bloom. Differently shaped leaves of green waving from even the highest points above. The May air had transitioned from its brisk morning condition to a much balmier mid day warmth, enticing even the fiercest hermit out of its dark corner of the forest.

Alice strolled in circles around the glade admiring the white and yellow daisies that had peaked their soft petal heads from the earth below. The pleasantness of the day luring her out of her almost bedridden state within the cabin. Uncas had rose earlier, even before the sun, to continue work on Nathaniel's cabin as he had done so for weeks now. The men had begun building as soon as the earth started to thaw. His absence from her bed every morning left her feeling a bit forlorn. She understood the importance of his work, though selfishly craved for his body to be wrapped around hers as she lifted her eyelids embracing each knew day.

At Prudence's insistence, Lydia had come along with her for a walk around the glade. Prudence had been adamant that at this stage in her pregnancy, Alice should not go off anywhere alone. Alice had nodded her head in understanding and offered her hand out for Lydia to take and the pair walked casually out of the cabin together. Alice watched as Lydia pulled handfuls of flowers out of the ground, some she would toss into the air dancing beneath them, some she would bring in small clumps over to Alice as a little gift. She watched Lydia skip and spin in large circles, squealing happily with every twist and turn of her little body.

Alice lifted her head up towards the sun, letting the suns warmth envelope her. She could feel the faint wetness of sweat forming on her brow, the small droplets beginning to slowly slide down the sides of her face. She slid her palms around her belly, feeling her little baby gently shift within her womb. Alice smiled widely to herself, silently pleased that she and her baby shared these quiet moments together. Moments that only they knew about. Moments that as her child grew older, only she would be able to recall. It gave her an overwhelming feeling of peace, as she rubbed her thumb against her skin where a slightly protruding little foot had appeared.

Alice reopened her eyes staring across the wide glade. Lifting her hand, she shielded her eyes from the bright sun and looked out amongst the flowers. Her joyful smile dimmed then faded as she began scanning the scene before her. She could not see Lydia anywhere. Alice began slowly spinning in a small circle, scouring every inch of the glade with her wide eyes narrowing at even the smallest of hiding places. When slowly the feeling of panic began to grow inside her, Lydia was nowhere to be seen.

She walked frantically towards the center of the glade and closed her eyes. As she had failed to see Lydia, Alice hoped to try a different approach. She focused her hearing on any slight sound that might lead her to Lydia. She heard everything, noise coming from all around her. With her frustration building, Alice took a deep breath and tried to rein in her ever growing panic. She forced herself to focus on Lydia and to listen, just listen. She toned out the sound of the birds over head, the blowing leaves atop the trees and listened. When finally the tears began to brim in her eyes that she had lost a beloved friends daughter, in plain sight no less, she heard it. The faint whisper of a giggle coming from the cornfield. Alice turned her head in the direction of the lyrical sound and made quickly towards it. She held tightly to her belly and weaved in and out of the cornstalks until she saw Lydia sitting crosslegged in the dirt between two large stalks of corn constructing a small necklace made of white daisies. Alice stopped at the little girls feet and gently patted her head, relief washing over her.

Alice crouched down next to her and gently cupped her chin in her hand and turning her little head upwards to face her, she said, "Lydia, my darling, please do not run off like that. You gave me quite a fright. Do you understand sweet girl?" Lydia smiled sweetly up at her, nodding her head angelically. Alice smiled back at Lydia and her worry fluttered away with the passing breeze. She patted the side of Lydia's face and began to stand. As she began rising to her feet, Alice felt a searing pain slash through her abdomen forcing her forward towards the ground. She knelt over the dirt, her knees pushed deep into the hard earth. Alice focused her eyes on a tiny white daisy that laid helplessly before and grasped tightly to a cornstalk as she tried desperately to regain her bearings. She slowly began to regain control of her breathing and made to stand again. Just as Alice made it to her feet, the pain tore through her again. Alice keeled over at the stinging sensation, scattering the fistful of flowers Lydia had picked for her across the ground and planting both of her palms flat against the dirt. She let out a small sob as the pain pierced like a knife stabbing into her side, and tried to roll her body backwards sitting on her bottom.

Lydia leaned over to Alice gripping her shoulder in her little hands. Alice looked into the little girls eyes, silently chiding herself for thinking Prudence too over protective for sending Lydia along with her. Alice could feel the pain begin to prickle through her abdomen. She clenched her teeth as the small prickle turned quickly into an overwhelming agony. Alice grabbed onto Lydia's hand forcing the little girl in front of her. Thick, wet tears began streaming down Alice's cheeks as she began to speak, "Lydia, I need you to listen to me." Lydia nodded her head in understanding. "Do you know where Papa and Uncas and Nathaniel are, past the cornfield in that direction." Alice pointed in the direction that the men were off in building Nathaniel and Cora's cabin. Right then, Alice flung her head back and howled, "Ahh!" She squeezed her eyes tightly shut as another pain ripped through her. Lydia crouched down further and began rubbing Alice's back. "Lydia, I need you to run, as fast as you can and tell Uncas where I am and that the baby is coming." Alice gripped tightly onto Lydia's little arm. "Can you do that sweet girl?" Lydia took Alice's head between both her small palms and planted a kiss on her forehead then ran as fast as she could towards her father and the others, leaving Alice alone on the dirt covered ground wailing in pain.

Uncas, Nathaniel and Martin were all working tirelessly on the cabin, in the hopes that the sooner they finished Nathaniel and Cora's cabin the sooner they could start Uncas and Alice's cabin. The mid day sun was beating down on them, attacking their skin with its stinging rays. A light searing burn beginning to form across their shirtless torsos. Their lean sweat covered figures reflecting the suns ray like a mirror. Nathaniel and Martin had taken a moment to gather their strength and laid prone across the ground staring up at the cloudless sky, hands folded neatly against their stomachs. Uncas was sitting crosslegged next to them staring off into the vastness of the forest before him, casually gulping mouthfuls of water. The breeze was shuffling softly around them, cooling their overheated bodies. They sat peacefully, surrounded only by the hypnotic sounds of nature. Until a wild shuffling amongst the cornstalks drew their attention.

When Lydia's small frame abruptly burst through the tall corn screaming, "Papa! Papa!" Martin immediately jumped from his prone position on the ground and sprinted over towards her. She flung her arms open at the sight of him and he quickly scooped her up off her feet and hugged her tight against his sweaty chest. She wrapped her little arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder. "What has happened little one?" Uncas and Nathaniel had joined them at the edge of the cornfield awaiting the news of what they needed to prepare themselves for. Lydia fought for a moment to take in a few small gasps of air before turning her head to Uncas and saying, "Uncas, Alice is in the cornfield, the baby is coming!" Lydia pointed directly to where she was had left her. Uncas followed her pointed finger and without hesitation charged forward in the direction of his wife, followed closely on his heels by Nathaniel and Martin, still cradling Lydia tightly in his arms.

Uncas propelled his body forward, pushing it to its limits. He zig zagged in and out of the large stalks of corn. Trudging forward towards the now prevalent sounds of her wails. The closer he came to her the louder her cries of pain became, the sound echoing through his ears and quickening his pace. Until finally he burst through a tall wall of corn and saw her bent over, one hand planted firmly onto the ground, her fingers clawing into the dirt and the other clutched tightly to her belly. Her head hung low almost touching the earth below and a large puddle of wet dirt seeping out from under the blue floral print of her dress. Uncas dropped to his knees at the sight of her, gently wrapping is arms around her shaking back. Alice lifted her tear stained face up towards him and smiled faintly into his eyes. Uncas smoothly shifted her body into his arms, tucking her gently against his study frame and lifted her up off the ground.

"I'm here now." Uncas softly whispered into her ear. Alice wrapped her arms around his strong neck and nestled her head deeper into his unclothed chest. She placed a sweet kiss on his collarbone just before the pain returned. Alice gripped hard to the back of Uncas's neck, gazing his skin with her nails. She arched her back in his arms and let out a ghastly scream, tears slipping freely from her eyes. Uncas quickly rose to his feet, sprinting in the direction of the cabin.

Sampson and Chingachgook and gone hunting earlier in the day, taking Elijah and Ash with them. Leaving Prudence and Cora to enjoy some quiet time in ideal conversation. They stood up over the long wooden table kneading and rolling small balls of dough to bake into biscuits for part of their supper. The windows had all been opened as well as the cabin door, allowing a pleasantly warm breeze to waft through the cabin. The women laughed happily amongst themselves, until they heard the hoarse sound of Nathaniel's voice calling out to them from outside the cabin. Prudence and Cora hastily crossed over towards the door to see Nathaniel approaching the cabin at a full sprint. Scaling the porch steps in one quick leap, he made his way through the threshold, past Prudence and Cora and into the cabin.

"What's happening?" Prudence said as she crossed over to Nathaniel's slightly hunched frame.

He took a few quick breaths and blurted out, "The baby is coming. Uncas is carrying Alice here now." He lifted his eyes to Prudence's, smiled and continued with, "Good thinking having Lydia go along with her. Otherwise she may have given birth right next to the cornstalks!"

Prudence laughed, "After what happened with Elijah, I have certainly learned my lesson!" She gave him a quick wink and turned to Cora. "We need clean sheets and boiled water. I will get Sampson's medical bag and some whisky." The women wasted no time, splitting themselves to the tasks at hand. Cora walked over quickly to Nathaniel and planted a small kiss on his lips in hello, then just as quickly went straight to putting water over the large flame encompassing the hearth.

Only mere moments later, Uncas rushed through the cabin door with Alice body curled in his arms. He immediately made his way to their bedroom and gently laid her body across the now barren bed. Prudence had already come into the room and stripped the bed of it soft blankets leaving only a white sheet draped lightly atop it. Upon Uncas placing her on the bed she grabbed a fistful of white sheet and hollered as another acute pain shot through her abdomen. Uncas hated seeing her in pain, though this was the best and most beautiful type of pain, as it told them that soon enough they would hold their little baby in their arms. The three of them together as a perfect family.

Prudence entered the room and began laying out a few things from Sampson's medical bag. She touched Uncas on the shoulder, shaking him from his thoughts and said, "Take her clothes off of her. It will be better for her without the constraints of all that fabric."

Uncas immediately began disrobing her. He gently pulled the laces of her gown away from her body, loosening the bust of her dress. He gripped it from the bottom and shimmied it clear over her head and past her arms, exposing her naked body to himself and Prudence. He would have though that Alice might have tried to cover herself up, though she did not. Instead, she sighed in relief to have the heavy fabric gone from her sweaty body. All that was left on her person was the beautifully braided bracelet that Alice never took off.

Cora walked in then with a large stack of sheets under her arm and a full pot of boiled water. She placed the pot on the floor and went over to her sister. Cora gripped Alice's hand and rubbed the sweat away from her brow with her other. Staring deep into Alice's eyes, Cora could see the same look that she had seen some many times throughout their childhood. "Do not be scared sister." Cora smiled at her and continued, "This day will be the greatest of your life and I am so very thankful to be here with you for it." Alice gripped tighter to Cora's hand and began to cry, though not tears of pain but of happiness.

Prudence reached up from her position on the floor, touched Uncas's knee and said, "We will need a bit of room in here if we are to see your little babe safely into the world." Uncas touched Pru's hand with his understanding she was politely kicking him out of the room. He leaned over Alice and taking both her cheeks between his palms, he whispered into her mouth, "I love you Alice, I will be right outside."

Alice leaned towards him and kissed his mouth, though bitting back another wail of pain through clenched teeth. Uncas released her face and walked out of the bedroom closing the door tightly behind him.

Hours passed and Alice continued to labor with child. Martin and Nathaniel had finished the supper that Prudence and Cora had begun and after the arrival of Chingachgook, Sampson and the boys, the family sat down to try and eat. Though listening to Alice wail made the men quickly lose their appetite. It was difficult to focus on the enjoyment of a family meal when not everyone was present for it and certainly not whilst knowing someone was in pain. Martin ended up only feeding the children before ushering them up to bed and away from the tension filled common room.

Uncas paced back and forth across the cabin floor, often finding himself hovering behind their tightly shut bedroom door, silently pleading to be allowed in. He would rest his head against the door and drag his fingers up and down the doors wooden crevices, hoping to slowly scrap away the wood so he might see into the room. Chingachgook came up behind his son and rested a sturdy palm on his shoulder, understanding his son nervousness. As he had found himself in a similar way when Uncas was born. The moment his father's touch connected with his skin, Uncas fastened his eyes shut and began to release his overwhelming anxiety. Chingachgook moved closer to him, taking his palm and resting it on Uncas's cheek, turning his head to face him. Chingachgook looked into his son's concerned face, worry devastating his naturally stoic features. Chingachgook dragged his thumb across his skin just below his right eye and began pulling his son towards him, enveloping him in his strong arms. Uncas gripped onto to his father, as though he was a frightened child lost in the woods all over again. Chingachgook held him tightly and whispered into his ear. Uncas nodded and buried his head deeper into his father's strong shoulder. They stood like that, wrapped in each others arms, for just a moment when suddenly a sharp high pitched cry came from within the bedroom.

Uncas lifted his head from his father's shoulder and spun around towards the door. He reached for the handle but hesitated. Uncas knew right then, he was a father. Ultimately and completely responsible for the small defenseless life on the opposite side of the door, his life had forever and irrevocably changed. Another small cry came from within the bedroom. Focussing Uncas's attention back towards the door. He reached to open it, though before he could, it was tugged open from the inside and Prudence stood before him. She was cradling in her arms a well bundled little baby, a mess of sable black hair atop its head. Uncas could see the the baby was darker skinned like him, perhaps only a shade lighter and he smiled.

Prudence took another step closer to him, a wide smile on her face. She brought herself as close as she could get with her own protruding belly and began to pass the baby into Uncas's waiting arms. "You have a son, Uncas." Prudence laid the little baby into his arms and leaned forward kissing him upon his cheek. "You are a father now. Go be with your wife." Uncas smiled down at Prudence, slowly stepping past her and into the bedroom. Upon seeing Uncas, Cora kissed Alice on the head, grabbed an arm full of soiled sheets and walked out of the bedroom closing the door firmly behind her.

Alice sat up against the back of the bed, covered with only a thin white sheet. Her pale white face heavy with exhaustion. She slowly slid her body over to one side of the bed and patted the spot next to her for Uncas to come sit beside her. He immediately did as directed, stretching out his long legs next to her, their baby still nestled in the crook of his arm. Uncas used his free hand to gently cup Alice's face, pressing his lips softly to hers. He slowly moved his mouth against hers, tasting the saltiness of her sweat that still lingered on her thin lips. Alice reached her arm around him, hugging him and the baby closer to her chest.

Uncas pulled his mouth from hers and asked, "Are you alright? Do you feel well?"

Alice smiled widely at him and responded with, "How can I not be well? I have you and our healthy baby boy in my arms."

Uncas buried his face in her neck. "I love you Alice. You have given me everything I have ever wanted and things I never thought I needed." He looked up into her blue eyes. "You have made me a husband, a father. With you I have become best version of myself."

Alice ran her thin fingers through his long black hair, rubbing the edges between her thumb and forefinger. Tears beginning to form within her wide doe eyes. She lifted her fingers from his hair and grazed his cheek with the back of her hand, rubbing her thumb across his full lips. Staring deep into his dark brown eyes and she remembered. She remembered when they first met that swelteringly hot summer day on the road. How she would lose her balance while walking throughout the lush forest giving him cause to grab ahold of her. She remembered every silent glance they shared, their inner passion cloaked behind their dark eyelashes. When they made love, how gentle his touch always remained even when she knew he was losing control of himself. Alice thought of how he fell to his knees and wept when she told him she was with child, his child.

Alice shifted further into Uncas's body and said, "I have never known love the way you so freely and completely bestow it upon me. I could never live without you." She pressed her forehead against his briefly shutting her eyes, now determined to confess her deepest secret. "That day on the cliffs, I was completely overcome with fear. An absolutely paralyzing fear of losing you. I had just found you, just found my greatest love." Alice opened her eyes and gently caressed the soft black hair of their baby's head and continued, "If you had fallen that day, I would have followed you. I would have followed you into death. My heart could have never bared the separation from you. You are my sunrise and sunset. My beginning and my end. I will love you until my last breath and beyond." Alice lifted her head from his to take in the sight of his full face. Uncas stared back at her, wide eyed at her confession and with silent tears slipping from his glazed over eyes. She leaned closer into his mouth just barely grazing his lips with hers, when a soft whimper interrupted their not so private moment.

Alice grinned widely into Uncas's mouth and looked down to their precious son beginning to wiggle and squirm in his father's arms. His little mouth making a small o shape, searching for much needed nourishment. Shifting his body, Uncas laid his son across Alice's soft chest and watched as he instantly began suckling from her body. Uncas reached his hand up, tracing the side of Alice's face with his fingers. Her blonde hair was in disarray hanging over right shoulder. Her porcelain skin still illuminated from sweat and the flame from the candle light. Uncas sat back deeper into the bed and silently took in the beautiful sight that was her and their son, body's connected in this serene moment of maternal bliss.

Alice smiled down at their baby, satisfied that she had safely delivered him into the world. She glided her thin fingers around his little body, fully taking all of him in. "We need to think of a name." Alice looked up into Uncas's eyes and said, "I am not sure we can continue to call him sweet boy."

Uncas chuckled and smiled widely at his wife. He reached out, resting his sons little feet in his own large palm. "I have a thought about that..."

Over an hour had passed since the birth of their son. Uncas and Alice had sat blissfully content in each others arms, taking turns cradling their small son. They had admired his little face, deciding that though he was dark like Uncas, with his caramel colored skin, dark brown eyes and thick black hair. He appeared to have some of Alice's delicate features. His tiny eyes were shaped like hers and it seemed he had her little nose. He was perfect. They could not believe that happiness could feel this way. Their whole future as a family was ahead of them and they dwelled in the thought of what their life would be like. Until, a small knock at the door shook them from their reverie.

Knowing that everyone was hoping to see Alice and the baby, Uncas pulled the white sheet further up over Alice's exposed body and said, "Come in."

Cora opened the door ajar and peaked her head in, seeing first that Alice was fully covered she pushed the door fully open and asked, "May we visit?"

Alice smiled widely at her and ushered her in with a wave of her hand. Cora began entering the room, the rest of the family entering slowly behind her, suddenly filling the room the small space. Martin went directly to the window pulling the wooden covering free. The air outside had cooled considerably, giving them a reprieve from the dense air currently encasing the bedroom.

Uncas shifted his body off of the bed taking his sweet boy with him. Everyone began admiring the baby and asking Alice how she was feeling.

Cora leaned over his little form, toying with his tiny foot in her hand and asked, "What is his name?"

Uncas looked over to Alice, who nodded her accent, and then off to the back of the room where Prudence was standing with her body leaning against the door frame, hands folded neatly atop her own belly. "We decided to name him after Prudence."

Nathaniel's eyes widened in humor and asked, "You named your son Prudence?"

Prudence's brows furrowed in confusion at his declaration and Uncas began to cross the room towards her, weaving in and out of their family members. When he was standing directly in front of her he said, "Matto, we named him Matto."

Chingachgook and Nathaniel instantly smiled at the name, already understanding its full meaning. Proud that Uncas had chosen a name with so much substance and honor for his son to bare.

Prudence's eyes instantly welled up with tears and she bit down on her quivering lip, fighting the urge to sob. She could not believe that they had decided on this name for their son, a name in honor of her. Prudence placed a hand over heart and stared up at Uncas. She smiled through her water filled eyes and said, "A Brave Warrior." Uncas nodded and lowered his head to Prudences', gently resting their foreheads together. He brought Matto up higher and laid him atop her swollen belly. Prudence wrapped her arms around Uncas, embracing them both, utterly humbled by this great honor.

Uncas leaned in, his mouth against her ear and whispered in Mohican, "You are the true meaning of strength. You have shown me that strength everyday since I was ten years old. I love and cherish you." Prudence could no longer hold back her sobs. Tears began falling freely down her face and atop Matto's silky black hair. Uncas gently placed Matto into her arms and stepped back, admiring the beautiful sight before him. Thankful once again for the family The Great Spirt had so graciously blessed him with.

Author's Note: Well here it is...the birth of Alice and Uncas's baby boy! Guess her vision was right! I needed Uncas to have a son, a boy that could be the very image of his father, a boy that he could teach to be a great man. I have big plans in store for Matto...I am certain he will live up to his name!

**Matto does mean A Brave Warrior

**Mimëntët means baby in Lenape

Thanks to everyone who reviewed, TithaJaime, Eilan21, BrynnaRaven, BlueSaffire, MohawkWoman and my story's guest, your support really is amazing and helps push me along

P.S. The Fourth of July is my bday so I waited to post the birth of their baby! My bday, his bday...kinda symbolic!

Thanks for reading :)