Chapter 21: Serenade

Sampson stood from the rocking chair he had been sitting resting in, his infant granddaughter nestled tightly in his arms. Martin was kneeling on the floor only a few feet from where he had been sitting, his head resting softly against Pru's listless arm. Sampson silently crossed the distance, placing a comforting palm on the back of Martin's head. He began repeatedly stroking his sons head as Martin weeped uncontrollably beneath his father's soothing touch.

Sampson knew, the moment Prudence began to bleed, how his son would react. Martin would be absolutely grief-stricken. He would blame himself for not being there for her, when she needed him the most. Regardless of the fact that no one could have predicted that Prudence would give birth several weeks early, as that had never been her norm. Sampson watched as Martin continued sobbing, his breathing became rapid and Sampson feared he was about to hyperventilate. He stared down at the back of his son's head and began making his way to his own knees. Sampson dragged his hand from the back of his head to the center of his son's broad back and began rubbing it in large circular motions.

Sampson leaned forward slightly and lifted his granddaughter into Martin's view, gently placing her atop the bed next too Prudence and said, "Look at your daughter, Martin."

Martin slowly allowed his eyes to focus on the little bundle in front of him. She was tiny, though not too tiny. Her hair was a shade or so darker then his own dirty blonde coloring. Her delicate little features smooth and serene, as though the day of her birth had been anything other then traumatic. She had not made a peep since he walked through the bedroom door. She was so quiet in fact he had almost forgotten she was even there.

Martin gently receded his hands from Prudence's body and lightly scooped up his baby daughter from the bed where she peacefully laid next to her mother. He pulled her firmly against his chest, touching his forehead to hers. He could feel the tears breach his eyelids again, slipping silently from his cheeks and landing in soft droplets upon her little body. Martin pulled his head away, staring at her and said, "I'm sorry sweet girl that this is how your first day in the world had to be, without the affection of your Mama. Without having been given the opportunity to properly meet your family." Martin's breath hitched as he tried to rein back the urge to cry again and continued, "Your Papa is here now." Martin brought his little girl back to his chest, hugging her tightly against him and said in almost a whisper, "Please, everyone leave us."

Nathaniel and Cora had been standing, watching from the doorway. Cora had wrapped her arms around Nathaniel's lean waist, pulling him closer into her body. Silent tears had begun falling from his somber eyes. Tears Cora was certain he did not even realize he was shedding, after watching Martin's painful display of emotion. She gently began dragging him away from the doorway, making space for Sampson and Chingachgook to depart the bedroom. Leaving Martin alone with his wife and children, as Elijah, Ash and Lydia were all three curled up on the floor atop some blankets also keeping vigil for their mother.

After Sampson and Chingachgook exited the room, Cora shifted Nathaniel sideways and began pulling the bedroom door shut behind them. Pausing for the briefest of moments, allowing Nathaniel one more look at his sister before completely closing the door with the soft clank of wood. Cora began guiding Nathaniel into the kitchen and helped seat him atop a bench across from Uncas, who could scarcely look on Prudence in her current state. She went to the pantry, retrieving an open bottle of whisky and serval glasses. Cora placed them on the sturdy wooden table and began pouring both of the brothers a small glass. She slid one in front of Nathaniel and Uncas, looking up from the table she saw that Chingachgook and Sampson had gone outside. Leaving the unfilled glasses alone on the table, she slid her body onto the bench next to Nathaniel and began gently rubbing his back in soft reassuring motions.

Cora stared back and forth between both brothers, concern prevalent in both of their expressions. She traced the rim of the empty glass in front of her with her finger and asked, "How did it happen?"

Uncas lifted his eyes from the wooden table, seeing them for the first time since they sat down and replied, "Sampson said she hemorrhaged." Uncas looked down at his glass of whisky, picking it up in his hands and swishing the liquid inside it. He watched as the brown liquid swirled around the glass nearly spilling out over the rim. "I have never seen anything like that. Not in battle, not at the Delaware camp, never."

Nathaniel finally broke his stare away from his own chosen spot on the wooden table and looked up into his brother's dark brown eyes. "She suffered."

Uncas's brows furrowed, he was unsure if his brother was asking him a question or making a statement. Not knowing what else to do, he simply nodded his head yes. Nathaniel shut his eyes and reached for his glass of whisky hoping to drown the images that had been rapidly coursing through his mind since he pulled the reins on the horses just outside the cabin. He drank the brown liquid down in one smooth gulp, smacking his empty glass back down against the table. Cora instinctively reached for the bottle and began slowly pouring the dark caramel colored liquid, refilling Nathaniel's empty glass.

Nathaniel watched as Cora poured more whisky into his glass, this time filling it all the way to the top. He could not believe this was happening, could not believe that fate was still toying with them in such a wicked way. He turned his head towards the open cabin door, noticing that night was still upon them. Nathaniel seemingly having had lost track of time. He could not recall if they had been at the farm for ten minutes or two hours. Nathaniel rested his elbows on the long wooden table and hung his head forward dropping it into his open palms. Replaying over and over again his conversation with Martin and why it had been so important for them to leave to begin with.

The warm air in the cabin was ripe with misery and despair, its stench encompassing the whole of their once serene home. It weaved its way in and out of every crevice within the cabin, even reaching the peaceful mood of another little baby. Night had not yet made its decent into morning, when Alice rose from bed at the soft whimpers of her son. She had only slept for an hour or so and only at Uncas' urging. He had promised to wake her should Prudence's condition change in any way.

Alice sluggishly rose from bed and padded over to Matto, pulling his little body free of his crib. She cradled him in her arms and sat down into the rocking chair that resided in the corner of the room. Swaying back and forth she loosened her shift, allowing Matto to suckle from her swollen flesh. She moved the rocking chair in a slow and steady rhythm, lulling Matto into a state of peacefulness. She rubbed his little head, thinking about Prudence and Martin's baby girl and prayed that she would not have to find out what it was like to grow up without a mother as Alice had. Her and Cora's mother had died giving birth to her and it is pain that one does not easily recover from. She had never known her, was never even able to be cradled by her mother. Having been quickly whisked away and placed in the hands of a near stranger.

As a little girl, Alice had tortured Cora with her desire to know every little detail about their mother. She wanted to know everything from the way she wore hair, to her favorite color. She was desperate to know how she was with Cora. Alice wanted to know if she played on the ground with her or if she would chase her about in the garden. Until one day, Cora's patience had worn out. When Cora was eleven years old she had screamed in Alice's face, stating that she had already told her everything about her and many times over. Alice had been heartbroken by her sisters's words and even worse her tone and ran to her room weeping at the echoing sound of her sisters cruel words. Though the older she became, Alice began to realize how much it must have hurt Cora to constantly have to retell the same stories over and over again about their beloved mother, who they had both lost much too young.

That is why when the children had asked to sleep in their mother and father's bedroom, Alice had gone over Sampson's decision and piled up several blankets and pillows along the floor. Ushering their little bodies to the ground and giving each of them a tight squeeze before laying them down to sleep. Alice knew that Sampson meant well, as he would not want them in the room if something terrible happened. Though, she simply could not bare to deny them the closeness they desperately desired with their mama, especially after hearing what their little ears had been forced to hear.

Alice looked down at Matto, who had fallen asleep against her flesh. His little mouth slathered with milk and hanging open in a soft o shape. She smiled at the sight of him and gently placed him back in his cradle. After adjusting her shift, Alice wandered out into the common room. Peering through the dimmed light of the hearth, she saw Uncas, Cora and Nathaniel sitting silently at the table, no doubt drowning themselves in sorrow filled glasses of whisky. She crossed the room as Uncas lifted his solemn face up at her. He tried to smile, though it never reached his eyes and beckoned her to come to him with a long out stretched arm.

Alice slid her body unto the bench, shifting her frame further into the crook of his body and melding perfectly into him. Uncas wrapped his arm around her, allowing her space to rest her head against his chest. Alice placed a soft kiss on his collarbone and ran her thin palm under Uncas's shirt, gliding her fingers softly against the taut skin against his chest. She knew him witnessing Prudence's traumatic labor had affected him greatly. He had never witnessed a birth, not even that of his own child, as was the custom of his people and now he had viewed it in the most terrible way. Not the painful yet beautiful experience it was for her. The only thing that saved him from falling into utter despair was that sweet little girl. Alice mused to herself how blessed the baby was to have Uncas be the first to truly hold her, to have had his loving and protective arms wrapped around her in such a moment of turmoil and in the absence of both her affectionate parents. Alice sincerely believed that it had been divine intervention. She continued to trail her fingers across his abdomen, reassuring him with her touch that everything was going to be alright. Uncas briefly closed his eyes to the feel of her hands against him. Her gently touch always soothing, silently lulling him away from the events of the day. Uncas let himself succumb to her gentleness and buried his head in her beautiful blonde hair. He began softly trailing his fingers up and down her arm and ask, "Matto?"

Alice smiled into his chest and replied, "He is blissfully asleep." Uncas nodded his head in understanding and continued to gently rub her arm, while breathing in the sweet scent of her hair.

Alice looked over towards her sister and Nathaniel. Cora had wrapped her arm around Nathaniel's broad back, no doubt rubbing her thumbs in relaxing circles down his spine. As Alice had seen her do many times before. Alice shifted her eyes towards Nathaniel, whose head rested heavily within his palms. Certain he was coming to grips with the situation in his own way. The silence hung deafening between them, until Alice decided to break it. She thought of the only thing that could possibly lift the melancholy mood of her loved ones and said, "Did Uncas tell you our sweet niece has two different colored eyes?" Nathaniel and Cora both lifted their eyes to Alice, stunned by what they were hearing.

Alice smiled brightly for the first time since seeing Elijah in the glade those many hours ago. "Yes, she has one sky blue and one green. Sampson said it's extremely rare. She is truly a special little girl."

"That's incredible." Cora remarked, a soft smile playing across her face.

Alice nodded her head in agreement and said, "Yes it is."

Nathaniel stared at Uncas and said, "Mënëkòn nataèpia."

Uncas smiled widely, "Rainbow eyes. They are truly beautiful brother." Nathaniel was slightly eased by this new knowledge, allowing himself the briefest of smile. His little niece would forever show through her unique eyes the love of both her parents that created her. Nathaniel could not help but marvel in the realization.

Alice could feel the slight shift in temperament around the long wooden table and so choose to continue, "Did you know that in Greek mythology, Iris was the goddess of the rainbow. She was a messenger for Zeus and Hera ,who rode the rainbow she guarded from heaven to earth. Iris means rainbow in Greek.", Alice said having clearly enthralled them, smiled with satisfaction.

"You always did love Greek mythology." Cora said with wide smile.

After having this brief moment of respite, the four of them sat in respective silence. Individually mulling over the events of the day. Nathaniel began sipping at his glass of whisky, letting the burn slowly run down his throat. Desperate to feel something again. Cora glance up at Nathaniel's still forlorn face and continued quietly massaging his back with her fingers, hoping that her careful touch would soothe him. While she silently revisited her own private thoughts from long ago. Visions of her dead mother began dancing through her thoughts. She could still see with perfect clarity, her mother sitting in the window seat of their home. The sun gleaming down on her porcelain skin, the same fair shade as Alices'. Her long dark curly hair, flowing loosely down her back. Cora remembered her mother pulling her into her arms and up onto her lap in the window seat, pointing out past the glass at the many passersby as they strode across the street, in their latest fashions or silly hats. She remembered how her mother would throw her head back and laugh with such enthusiasm that anyone in her presence could not help but join her. Cora was suddenly overcome with the realization that neither her or Alice laughed like that. Their mothe'rs intoxicating laugh had died with her, leaving no trace within her daughters. Suddenly saddened by the thought, Cora could only hope that when her own children entered into the this world, she might be able to find her mother's laugh within herself and share that pure joy with them.

Cora looked across the table towards Alice. Instantly meeting her little sister's eyes. Alice smiled softly back at her sister, knowing exactly where Cora thoughts were ruminating. Alice reached across the table with her free hand, leaving it palm up and waiting eagerly. Cora immediately clasped Alice's open palm, a small tear slipping from her dark brown eye.

As the sisters silently reflected on their past, the sweet sound of music began filtering into the whole of the cabin. The beautiful rhythm drawing everyone's attention from their sorrows, to the tightly closed bedroom door. Alice slid closer into Uncas's body, still holding Cora's hand tightly in hers. Unwilling to break their connection. Cora rested her head on Nathaniel's shoulder and he began running his fingers through her thick curly hair. Uncas leaned in and settled his head atop Alices', softly kissing her crown. As the melancholy music began wafting its way through the cabin, leaving their small gathering wrought with emotion.

As the music floated out the wide open cabin door, the warm summer breeze would catch it in its grip and cast it further off into the forest for all of the its creatures to adore. Upon hearing the violin from their position on the porch, Sampson and Chingachgook somberly reentered the cabin. The two men crossed the threshold, peering over at their family and watching as they drew much needed comfort from each other. They listened earnestly as the notes overtook the groups already fragile emotions, minds briefly in repose as images of their loved ones danced throughout their minds.

Elijah shifted his body to his side towards the the music his father was playing. He looked over at Ash, who laid flat on his back staring up at the wooden ceiling, Lydia wide awake curled up into his side. They could feel the hope, the sorrow the absolute pain in every movement their father made. He was begging his wife to awake, begging her to come back to her family, to her children, to him. Elijah could see a lone tear stream down the side of his brother's face. Then watched as his little sister reached up and gently wiped the droplet away with the soft touch of her little fingers. Ash never looked away from the ceiling, afraid that if he looked into the eyes of his siblings he might uncontrollably sob. The three children lay awake together, listening to the strings of their father's violin and the soft whimper of their baby sister, stirring awake from the music that was surrounding her.

Martin continued his serenade as the sun slowly began to break through the darkness. The blackness of the sky beginning to recede into a light blue, extinguishing the twinkling stars along with it. A warm breeze began blowing through the room, softly drifting around its wooden walls. Bringing with it the fresh smell of the morning dew that so delicately coats the forest's leafy underbrush. Martin had shut his eyes to the break of day, denial coursing through him. He could not bare to face the sunrise without her. Shifting his eyes to his wife, Martin took a deep breath and on he played. Until finally, beginning the song he had written for Prudence as her Christmas present. The song he had composed just for her. Martin closed his eyes and pulled the bow gently across the strings, letting the notes echo through the bedroom, never opening his eyes until the last movement was completed.

Martin pulled the bow slowly across the strings for the last time, completing his serenade. The sun was upon him, shining its vibrant rays through the window and illuminating the delicate features of his wife's face. Martin removed the violin from under his chin, letting both the violin and the bow hang limp within his hands. He felt weak with exhaustion, slowly lowering his body into the rocking chair behind him. Feeling himself connect with the wooden rocker Martin slumped forward letting the violin and bow fall to the floor beneath him. They landed with a smack, the noise ricocheting throughout the bedroom walls. Martin ran both hands through his thick dirty blonde hair, pulling slightly at its ends in frustration. Desperate to understand what was happening to his life.

"Stop." Martin opened his eyes, lifting his head in the direction of the voice. "You will tear your beautiful hair out." Martin immediately hoisted himself from the rocking chair and crossed quickly to the bed, falling to his knees beside it.

Prudence continued to lay deathly still and flat on her back, legs elevated up with pillows. Her skin remained ghostly white, its usual glossy shine non-apparent. Her voice hoarse from exhaustion and non use. Its scratchy sound almost completely foreign to him. Though her eyes were the same bright cerulean blue that Martin was so accustomed to staring into. She had extended her right arm out across the bed, reaching out for him as best she could. Eagerly awaiting the contact of his ever gentle touch.

Martin instantly laced his fingers in hers, sighing with relief at the feel of pressure, as her finger tips lightly pushed into his skin. He leaned closer to her, his body hovering over their infant daughter, who he had laid gently next too Prudence before he had begun his serenade and ran his fingers softly across her pale skin. Prudence closed her eyes as he caressed her face. Allowing herself the full pleasure of his touch. Only yesterday she believed she would never feel him again, never set eyes on his handsome face again or the faces of her beloved children.

"Open your eyes." Martin whispered. Prudence slowly lifted her long eyelashes, exposing her blue eyes once again to Martin's now illuminated face by the morning sun. "I need to see the life within them." Martin leaned forward, eyes wide open and began kissing his wife for the first time in what seemed to be an eternity. Martin gently caressed her lips and mouth with his tongue, desperate for her taste. Only when a soft whimper was heard beneath him did he break away from her. He turned his attention down to their daughter and smiled. "Mama is awake sweet girl."

Martin carefully lifted their baby daughter from the bed and gently pulled the bed sheet down and away from Prudence's chest. He placed the little girl against Pru's body, allowing her to feed from her mother. Prudence wrapped her thin palms around her daughter's back and began massaging her soft skin. The last thing she remembered of her daughter was Uncas telling her it was a girl, only a moment later she had seen blackness and then nothing at all. All of her senses had disappeared into nothingness. Prudence knew she had been given a gift to have even awoke at all, as it was common for most women in her position to pass into death. She clutched tighter to her baby daughter and looked upward into Martin's low hanging head and smiled contentedly.

Elijah had crawled over to the bottom of the bed from his previous position against the wall, after hearing the harsh sound of his mother's voice. He had silently peeked his eyes just over the bed and watched as his parents shared a tender moment of reconciliation. The sight of his parents embraced made all of his anxiety waft away with the encircling breeze. Their mama was safe and in the arms of their father. There could be no better beginning to this day than what his eyes were now set upon. When Elijah saw his father begin to pull down the sheet, he quickly pinched his eyes shut and lowered himself beneath the bed. "Mama?"

Prudence and Martin turned their attention towards the sound of their son's voice. Martin took hold of the sheet and dragged it back up her body, covering both her and the baby. "It's alright Elijah, you can can show yourself."

Barely a moment passed, before Elijah, Ash and Lydia all hopped to their feet and made their way over towards their mother's side of the bed. Prudence took her hand and patted the space next her, encouraging the children to join her on the bed.

"Carefully my darlings." Martin said before any of them even had time to blink their eyes. Elijah and Ash gingerly climbed into the bed next to their mama. Both boys gently snuggled up against their mother's weak body, softly caressing her head with their little hands. Prudence turned her head into each of their hands giving both of them a small kiss against their palms. Martin looked over to Lydia still standing on the floor slightly behind her brothers, a somber expression playing across her face. She was feeling left out of this special moment. Martin saw her head hanging low in sadness, he smiled warmly at her and motioned for Lydia to walk around the side of the bed, where he lifted her up from the floor and placed her gently into his lap.

Prudence looked up into Lydia's bright blues, her eyes, smiled widely and said, "How fortunate am I to have such a loving and protective family." The six members of the Blackwood family sat arms around each, connected as one. Safe in the knowledge that they would embrace the new day as an entire family once again.

The hot summer day began to slowly transfer itself into a much cooler evening, giving everyone the physical reprieve they all seemed to need. When Martin had finally allowed himself to depart from his family and share to the good news with the rest of the cabin's dwellers, the relief was overwhelming for them. Prudence had remained in bed throughout long daylight hours. All of the cabin's dwellers had taken turns keeping her company. The bedroom door had been left wide open in invitation. Chingachgook and Uncas had sat with her during the morning hours, barely speaking. Acting as more of a calming presence as her weak body drifted continuously in and out of sleep. Alice and Cora had spent time with Prudence both together and apart. Alice told Prudence how she helped her nurse the baby, making certain that mother and daughter had that crucial time together. To which Prudence was eternally grateful, knowing herself that the easy choice would have been for Alice to feed her little girl from her own body. Alice also told her how Uncas continues to refer to the baby as mënëkòn, as she has yet to be properly named and the wonderful story of Zeus and Hera. The two women had sat together nursing their babies well into the afternoon. Their bond deepening even further. Martin and Nathaniel had joined her for a time, legs rested up and across the bed, all formalities abandoned. Their joint lighthearted company, a warm welcome against any gloomy thoughts she could possibly have. They laughed and joked for several hours, almost completely uninterrupted until the children came in announcing they had rehearsed an elaborate show for their mama. Martin and Nathaniel conceded to the children and with a quick kiss goodbye Martin left the room, Nathaniel shot her a wink and departed directly behind him.

Elijah and Ash had worn sheets wrapped around their backs as capes and dueled for the honor of the dark hair maiden. Lydia pretended to sit helpless in a corner, a crown of flowers resting gently in her lap. It would be her gift to her champion. The boys ran around the bedroom, lunging and jabbing at one another until finally Elijah overtook his little brother and Prudence watched as Ash very dramatically fell to the ground, sword tucked under his arm and pretended to die an agonizing death. Lydia leapt from her corner and as Elijah bowed before her, placed the flower crown atop his head. Prudence had clapped with vigor at her children's performance, giving each of them a gentle hug afterwards. When finally Sampson entered into the room, applauding loudly as the children took their final bows.

"Well done!", Sampson said as he lifted Lydia up from the floor. He planted a sweet kiss on the top of her head, before turning towards the boys. "I need some time with your mama, now scoot!" He placed Lydia back on the floor, lightly smacking her bottom and waving his hands for all three children to exit the room.

Sampson closed the door tightly behind them and turned towards Prudence. "Well my dear girl, how are you feeling?"

"I am fine." Prudence said with a soft smile.

Sampson crossed the room, sitting gently beside her on the bed. He gently took her hands in his and stared into her bright blue eyes. Sampson narrowed his stare at her and said, "You are my darling girl and I love you dearly." Prudence made to speak, though was quickly silenced as Sampson firmly gripped her hands in his and continued, "You are not fine. I know it, Martin knows it and you know it. You can no longer pretend you are fine for the benefit of others. It is not fair to them or yourself. I understand how difficult it was for you to have to relive the events of that night not once but twice. It was a horrible thing that happened to you and no one here doubts your strength. You are truly a force to be reckoned with my girl. However, pretending you are fine will only hurt you more. You do not have to open up to me or even Martin, though I think you should. There are several other people here now and everyone of them cares for you. Any one of them would be willing listen to you, without judgement."

Prudence hung her head low, shamed that she had been found out. She had only ever desired her family to live in peace. How ever that was achieved. Even it was achieved with her own heartbreaking silence. She focused her eyes away from his, staring at a muffed spot on the sheets. "Look at me Prudence." Prudence immediately lifted her head up, facing him. "I know you understand the gravity of what happened during your daughter's birth. When you were shot, you were determined to push yourself through the pain and discomfort. Despite knowing you needed a slower pace to heal. You can not do that again. We have no idea how this will effect your body long term. You are incredibly lucky to be alive. If you try to push yourself, it will be to your ruination and I am not quite ready to see my grandchildren without a mother and my son without a wife. Now my darling girl, how are you feeling?"

Prudence stared into Sampson's weathered eyes and slowly let her eyelids fall shut, briefly shielding herself from the conversation. She carefully inhaled a large breath of air, holding it tight within her lungs. When she finally felt that she could bare it no longer, Prudence slowly exhaled the warm air from her lungs and opened her bright blues eyes peering back into Sampson's leveled stare. She felt like a little child being reprimanded by her parent, which of course in some way she was. Prudence eyed him carefully, absorbing Sampson's words. Allowing herself to feel the gravity within them, all while suppressing the growing urge to cry. She squeezed tightly to Sampson's hands, determined for the first time in months to discard her perfectly placed mask and be completely honest with herself. "Can you please get Martin for me?"

Sampson leaned forward, placing a soft kiss atop her head and said, "Of course I can dear girl."

Autor's Note: Prudence will never know how close she came to death. Also, I do realize I didn't reveal the baby's name...though she kind of already has one!

For Eilan21: Sampson has actually delivered all of Prudence and Martin's children! And Chingachgook could not bare for her to go through labor alone. With the absence of Martin, he felt it was his fatherly duty to be there for her! I think he handled the situation rather nicely :)

For AsterLaurel: I am so happy you perceive Uncas and Prudence as siblings! I certainly do as well and a lot of the last few chapters was to affirm that relationship!

For BrynnaRaven: I think you'll be interested in the next chapter! You'll know why when it happens :)

For my guest: The last few chapters, like I mentioned to AsterLaurel, were to affirm Uncas and Prudence's relationship as brother and sister. I spent much of the story defining her relationship with Nathaniel, that I wanted to come off as clear that they too considered themselves true siblings. Plus there is a bit of foreshadowing going on there...and not to do with them!

Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed BlueSaffire, BrynnaRaven, Eilan21, AsterLaurel, ELY72, and my story's guests...your comments are amazing and really do help keep me moving along!

Thanks for reading :)

P.S. Apparently Italy is the tie that binds! It's been amazing hearing how so many of us are connected by that beautiful country! My husband's family is from Monte Di Procida, right near Pozzuoli :)