Chapter 19: Masked

Dawn had not yet peaked its light through the darkness of night. The stars only beginning to lose their evening twinkle, in the night's slow surrender into morning. Uncas and Chingachgook sat peacefully on the cabin steps, Matto nestled gently in the crook of Chingachgook's arm. Father, son and grandson sat serenely together, listening to the quiet sounds of the forest around them and waiting for the first rays of sunlight to welcome them to a new day.

Matto had proved to have a restless spirit, often crying out even when there seemed to be no cause for it. Seemingly already to be a young boy, merely trapped in the body of a baby. Matto would squirm about in his small cradle, perturbed by its confines. It appeared to everyone that he wanted to be set free, to roam about and explore. Though his spirit may have desired freedom, his infant body restrained him only further antagonizing his mood. Alice found it difficult to sleep, waking often to his soft cries throughout the day and night. Uncas would often get up with his son in the night, taking him outside into the fresh air and would walk him in circles around the glade. Always quiet, allowing Matto to listen to the sounds of the forest. The soft symphony of the crickets playing just for them as they strode silently through their performance. Oftentimes, Uncas found that Chingachgook would follow them outside, craving time with his grandson. Chingachgook would stretch out his strong sturdy arms to Uncas gesturing for Matto to be placed in his waiting grasp. Toting the little boy around the cabin or farm, Matto blissfully happy in the crook of his arm and regaling him with stories of their people. Only ever speaking in Mohican to Matto, being certain he learned their language as early as possible.

Chingachgook stared off into the dense forest, reveling in the knowledge that everything he had wanted was before him now. Prudence had finally been given the opportunity to heal from the demons that threatened her peaceful dreams. Nathaniel settled his own restless spirit and had married. He had built a home for himself and for the family Chingachgook so often prayed for him to have. Chingachgook turned his head to the stoic face of his blood son. He had always desired Uncas to marry a Delaware women, someone who could help him to continue the line of their people. Though Uncas had always resisted. Chingachgook found himself often frustrated with the situation, not understanding Uncas's quiet defiance. Yet here and now, Uncas's resistance made perfect sense. His son would not marry without love. Would not bring a family into this world without the purest foundation of love and because he had chosen to wait for his best match, Chingachgook now held in his arms the newest member of the Mohican people. A beautiful baby boy with a proud name and with the unending protection of his ancestors that came before him.

Chingachgook reached across the open space that divided him from is son and gently stroked the back of Uncas's head. Uncas shifted his head to face his father, calmly waiting for him to speak. Chingachgook paused for a moment staring into his sons dark brown eyes before saying, "I am proud of you and of your choices son. I may not have always understood your decisions, though had you not trusted yourself, you would not be where you are right now." Chingachgook stroked the back of his head again and said, "Where you are now is utopia."

Uncas's smile grew wide across his face, thankful that his father perceived his life in the same light that he did. Contented that he had both honored his father and his people with a son and brought forth that son into the world through love. After holding each others stare for a few more moments. The two men turned their focus back to the forest where the first streams of light began to weave itself amongst the trees, fulfilled in this moment of quietude.

With the breaking of the morning light, so awoke the cabin's many dwellers. Cora and Nathaniel were the first to stir from their dreams, slowly pulling their tightly entwined bodies free from the others. Only able to do so, knowing that their own cabin was mere days away from being completed. They would no longer have to sleep fully dressed and within full view of the family. Soon enough they would be able sleep wherever and however they chose and the thought was freeing. Cora longed to wake naked in Nathaniel's arms, able to finally enjoy the privacy their own home provided. She smiled widely at the thought and watched as Nathaniel began rolling his head to face her.

"Sweet dreams?" Nathaniel lifted his long eyelashes exposing his bright blue eyes to the morning light and Cora's beautiful face. He leaned further into her body, softly kissing her slender neck.

"Hmm, I was just thinking how wonderful it will be to awake naked in your arms." She snaked her arms around his back, pulling him atop her.

"Do not tempt wife, for it has been far too long since I felt you all around me." Nathaniel began slowly kissing the exposed skin of her collarbone, pulling slightly at the top of her dress further exposing her soft flesh. Cora began almost silently moaning in his ear, encouraging him along. She brazenly began nibbling on the lower part of his ear, trailing her tongue down his neck and sending Nathaniel's breathing into slow husky intakes of air. Their desires began growing with every soft touch, completely forgetting where they were. Nathaniel began running his hands up her thighs, lifting her skirts with the slow progression of his touch. Cora arched towards him, eager for his contact. She tugged his shirt free of his body discarding it onto the floor beside them. Nathaniel hungrily put his mouth to hers, slowly devouring her.

"Natty?"

Nathaniel quickly halted his actions, lifting his head to see Lydia standing just behind their heads. Her head tilted to the side, curiously staring at them.

Nathaniel recovering quickly from his initial shock, smiled brightly at her and said, "Good morning sweet girl."

"Good morning." Lydia sweetly replied and began swaying her little body back and forth, holding tightly to her dolly.

Martin came up behind her, eyebrows raised at the sight of them passionately wrapped around each other. "Teaching my daughter lessons in love?" Cora quickly covered her face with her hands, embarrassment coursing through her veins. Martin merely smirked and gently ushered Lydia away from them and towards the kitchen so they might compose themselves without the inquisitive eye of a four year old looming over them.

Nathaniel looked down at Cora, smiling wickedly. He gently pulled her hands away from her face, revealing her own devilish grin. He leaned down, peaking her on the lips and in a quick fluid motion hoped onto the floor beside her. Nathaniel deciding it was far too hot for a shirt, left his abandoned on the wooden floor and made his way over to where Martin was preparing biscuits and jam.

Martin slid onto the bench next to Lydia and began slathering raspberry jam all over it for her to enjoy. "Will you do that with mine as well?" Nathaniel playfully asked as he sat on the bench across from them.

"I thought Chingachgook stopped cutting your meat for you last year?" Martin said with raised eyebrows, equally playful.

"Haha!" Nathaniel mocked. He turned his head backwards at the sound of Cora raising. She smiled faintly at him and with a quick wink made her way outside, leaving the cabin door wide open behind her.

Martin slid the food towards Nathaniel and began talking seriously, "I have been thinking that we should make a trip to town. You and Cora will need several supplies for your cabin and I need to pickup some things before the baby is born."

Nathaniel nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, Cora has already made a rather extensive list."

"If we leave within the hour we can we back before sunrise tomorrow."

Nathaniel raised his eyebrows high into his hairline, shocked by Martin's statement. "That's a quick turn around. I thought things had been going well with the baby."

Martin ran his hand through his thick dirty blonde hair, somewhat of a nervous trait that Nathaniel had noticed years ago. Martin's eyes dropped, briefly focusing his attention on a small chip in the wooden table, seemingly mesmerized by the pattern the flaking wood created. He stared deeply at it, noticing how it looked like little arms reaching up for help from the depths below. His brows began to furrow at the sight and the direction his thoughts had taken him. Briefly closing his eyes and shaking the dark thought from his mind, Martin looked up and met Nathaniel's eyes. "Father says they have. Though I wonder how honest Pru is being with him or herself. She may put on a serene face but I know she has been struggling."

"Struggling?" Nathaniel's brow furrowed in question.

Martin narrowed his eyes, deciding how much to divulge. "She barely sleeps anymore, laying in our bed tossing and turning throughout the night. Sometimes even leaving the cabin to walk in the fresh air. Uncas has told me several times, how she has come outside and walked with him and Matto in the wee hours of the night." Martin looked down at Lydia's little head, gently smoothing her wild dark hair. He choose not to tell him that the times that she did sleep, she almost always awoke crying. Soft silent sobs, that if he had not slept next to her every night for fourteen years, he may have never noticed.

"You think she's been ill?"

"She does not appear to be. The nausea has completely faded and thankfully the bleeding has ceased." Martin's sullen expression threatening to reveal something else. "She has never been like this during any other pregnancy and I can not help but wonder if it has to do with the events of the past year." Martin looked towards their bedroom door, wishing he could see her face come through it. Longing to see her smile, not the mask of a smile she had been putting on for the past several weeks. Martin turned his attention back to Nathaniel, meeting his eyes. "It is a strange thing being pregnant, having another person take over your body and mind. Now think about how she must be feeling and add to it the events of the past year. She went through the physical trauma of being shot and the emotional trauma of having to live through her worst nightmare all over again, and all while being pregnant. It would be difficult for you or I and we aren't caring another person inside of us." Martin paused for a moment and then solemnly said, "I think sometimes we forget that she actually isn't an all powerful witch."

Nathaniel's heart sank hearing Martin speak. He knew full well the multiple tragedies that have stricken their family the past year, beginning with them bursting through the forest line with a seriously injured Uncas. The pain and happiness of the past year had been neatly entwined like a well constructed braid. So tightly pulled together that they all believed at any moment either could spontaneously happen. What he had failed to consider is the fact that Prudence herself was vulnerable. He had always seen her as a pillar of absolute strength, with an unwavering resolve. He never let himself believe that she was fragile in anyway. Perhaps he did that for himself, to make their separations over the years easier to bare. Or the knowledge that he had not been there to protect her all those years ago, easier to cope with. The thought of her pretending to be happy for their sakes made Nathaniel's heart sink deeper into his chest.

Nathaniel eyed Martin carefully, "Are you sure want to go to town?"

"I'd rather go now than wait and not be here when she gives birth."

"I could always get you whatever you need.", Nathaniel said. Concern for the situation prevalent on his face.

"I wish it were that easy. I need to get medical supplies from Charles and that crazy old recluse will only deal with me or Father and I'd much rather have Father here just in case anything were to happen." Martin instinctually eyed their bedroom door.

Nathaniel nodded, remembering full well Charles' rather extreme behaviors. He often wondered why Sampson did not just procure the supplies elsewhere. As Charles had always seemed a bit insane. Though he knew they had been acquaintances for many years and Charles did still offer many things that had seemingly been banned or disregarded from modern society and at an excellent price. Martin was right though, that batty old hermit did not embrace new people and only ever dealt with Sampson or Martin. Definitively requiring one or the other to go and it did make more sense for Sampson to stay behind should a true emergency happen.

Nathaniel balled his hand into a fist and began lightly tapping it against the top of the table, mulling over a thought in his mind. Finally meeting Martin's eyes, he said, "Let us go as soon as possible then. The sooner we go the sooner we can return."

Prudence sat swaying back and forth in the rocking chair on the cabin porch. The sweltering summer sun assaulting her already burnt skin. She had her legs extended out in front of her resting, ankles crossed, against the porch railing. Prudence had decided not to dress, as the weather was far too severe and she was far too uncomfortable. She settled on only wearing her sleeveless shift, certain she would not be offending anyone. She had carefully drawn up her shift between her legs so not to expose herself to the family and watched as Nathaniel and Cora began to climb into the wagon.

Uncas sat beside her, lightly rocking a recently fed Matto. Alice had been exhausted lately and with the group taking a small respite from building to take this trip to town, Uncas wanted to give Alice as much rest today as possible. He relaxed his head against the back of the wooden rocking chair, legs extended atop the rail and ankles crossed, just like Prudence. Swaying himself back and forth by the small movements of his elevated ankles.

He held Matto high on his chest, massaging his little back. Matto had already grown so much in the two months since he was born, desperately trying to achieve the body of a little boy and releasing himself from the confines of his crib. Uncas laughed at this, as his father had told him he was the opposite type of baby. Always serene in demeanor, never crying or flailing about. He wondered if Alice had been a fickle baby. Though, her sweet disposition made it difficult to imagine. Regardless, Matto could always be soothed while out in nature. Uncas could picture Matto running wild and free through the forest, exploring all the different paths and adventures the lush greenery so regularly offered.

Uncas turned his attention towards Prudence, staring at her swollen belly. He found himself wondering if she was carrying a boy or a girl. If she had a boy, would their sons grow to be best friends. Perhaps even growing so close they would view each other as brothers, fighting side by side with honor for the people they loved.

Prudence shifted her eyes from the wagon, feeling a stare upon her and looked over at Uncas. She could see his gaze focused on her large belly and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Uncas lifted his gaze from her belly to her eyes and replied, "Our children."

Prudence smiled widely and began encircling her belly with her hands. The baby had been constantly moving within her since she opened her eyes this morning. Jabbing at her with its tiny hands and feet just beneath her stretched skin. "She's restless today."

"You still believe it's a girl?"

Prudence looked down at her belly, narrowing her eyes and said, "I can not explain it, I just feel like it's a girl."

Uncas nodded in understanding, though sheepishly continued, "I hope it's a boy. It would be truly special if we had sons together, partners in life."

"Partners in life." Prudence concurred with a soft smile playing across her face. Their two children would be the exact same age. They would go through life largely having the same experiences at the same time. Knowing the close bond that Elijah and Ash shared being a mere year apart, Prudence could only imagine the relationship their children would have being mere months apart. The thought quickly turning her soft smile into a wide grin, until Prudence shifted her gaze to see Martin.

Martin had appeared on the porch, breaking their conversation. He had been pacing absent-mindedly between the wagon and the cabin, searching desperately for something that had not been forgotten. When finally he stopped on the porch and stared at her. Prudence reached out her arm towards him, beckoning for him to come to her. Martin crossed the distance between them in a few small steps. He leaned his body against the porch rail and pulled her elevated legs from their position against the rail over and on to his own lap, gently massaging her lower legs with his fingers.

"What is troubling you?", Prudence asked.

"I am not too keen on leaving you when you are this far along." He gently dug is fingers deeper into her flesh feeling that her muscle was tight there, determined to leave her felling as well as possible.

Prudence pulled her legs down from his lap and stood from the rocking chair. She leaned as far into his body as her belly would allow and wrapped her long arms around his waist, burying her head in his chest. "I will be fine. Uncas and Alice are here, as well as Chingachgook and Sampson. They will see to me. Go and get the supplies." She rubbed the small of his back with her the fingers. "Better you go now than when we are absolutely desperate from them."

Martin surrendered himself to his fate and began walking to the wagon, arms wrapped tightly around his wife. Each slow step leaving him with a feeling of apprehension. Once in front of the wagon, Martin turned towards Prudence and said, "I'll be back by morning at the latest. You better tell that little girl to calm herself down until I return." Martin faintly smiled and gently rubbed Pru's belly. Prudence pushed herself up on the tips of her toes and kissed his thick lips goodbye, whispering into his ear for him to be safe, not fast. Martin climbed into the wagon, already in a rush to keep his promise and took the reins from Nathaniel. Prudence waved them off as Martin instructed the horses and began to turn the wagon, taking another quick look over his shoulder at her beautiful face.

Prudence stood hands on her hips and continued to watch from her position in the glade as their images grew smaller and smaller in the distance...

Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to post this chapter...sometimes life gets in the way! It was originally a VERY long chapter that I decided split in half.

For my guests: When Uncas hands over Matto too Prudence in the end of the last chapter. It was his choice to do that, his moment with her and as soon as that moment passed she would have rather quickly passed Matto along to Chingachgook, definitely not wanting anymore attention on her. As it is not her moment, but Uncas and Alices'. Unfortunately, I did't give her the opportunity to do it! :)

Eilan21: My husband is from Italy and when I told him what you said he laughed! I had no idea Matto meant crazy!:)

BrynnaRaven: Don't you worry about Nathaniel and Cora ;)

As always...thank you so very much for your comments AsterLaurel, Conbird, TithaJaime, Eilan21, BrynnaRaven,MohawkWoman, BlueSaffire, and my story's guests...your support is amazing and really does help keep me moving along!

Thanks for reading :)