CHAPTER 50

While all of the excitement at River Run was happening, Ian, Jamie and Claire were completely in the dark as they continued on their mission to find Roger.

But after four endless months, they had finally reached New York. From directions given to them by other Natives and tradesmen they met along the way, they were able to find Shadow Lake.

However, they didn't approach the Mohawk right away. They were taking a few days to just scope the village out from a far and look for any sign of Roger without alarming any of the Mohawk.

On the third day, Jamie had gone on his own, leaving Claire and Ian at their camp.

"Do ye think we'll be able te go inte the village by temorrow? We've been waitin' fer days." Ian asked Claire as he brushed Finley.

She looked up at him from tending to their fire. "We'll see what Jamie says when he gets back. We're going to have to go about this carefully. I don't know how easily they're going to give Roger up."

"We have plenty te trade with. Hopefully they'll be as agreeable as they were when I met them last. Then we can finally start fer home again."

Claire could hear the longing in his voice for home and understood why he felt that way. She walked to him and said, "I know how much you miss Skylar, Ian. But it won't be much longer now. You'll be back with her soon and then the two of you have your whole lives to be with each other."

He just gave a very quiet, "Aye," as his response, and Claire went back to her work, seeing he didn't want to talk about it more.

When she was gone, Ian took Skylar's necklace out from inside shirt where he kept it to make sure nothing would happen to it. He held charm and looked at it. "Missing Skylar" didn't cover the half of it. Every minute that he was away from her, the emptiness he felt that only being in her presence could fill grew larger. She truly was his life support and not being close to her for this long was like going without oxygen this whole time.

This feeling was the worst at night when all he wanted was to hold her against him as she slept beside him. He wanted to feel her warmth from her body heat and breathe in her intoxicating scent, which somehow always smelled sweet.

He also was aching to touch her again and for her to touch him as they had the night they were handfast. After their first time sleeping together, or three, it became like a drug, and he was desperate to satisfy his need for her body. Unfortunately, he now had to go back to relying just on his imagination as he did before. But with the addition of memories from that night and no longer having to just fantasize about what she looked like under her clothes or how it would feel to lay with her, he was able to get himself through this period of being without her.

Over everything though, he just wanted to see her. He wanted to take her in his arms and call her his wife again. He hoped that they would be able to marry for real almost immediately when he returned so they could finally begin their own life as husband and wife and work at starting a family. The daydreams he had about their future were what was keeping him from losing his mind.

He was brought out of one of those said daydreams by Jamie's voice. He kissed the necklace quick, then put it back in his shirt.

"Claire," Jamie said, announcing himself.

She met him halfway. "Any sign of Roger?"

"No. But the Mohawk ken we're here. We should make our way inte the village soon."

"Teday?" Ian asked.

"Aye. There's no use in puttin' it off any longer. It'll only make them more suspicious. We should go before it gets dark, and the sun is already low."

After taking some time to figure out what their plan would be when they arrived, as well as what Ian would say, they headed onto the path towards the Mohawk and hopefully Roger.

As they made their way to the village, leading one of their horses carrying all sorts of goods to trade with, none of them could shake feeling as though they were being watched. Rollo could sense something too, letting out a low growl the entire way. Ian knew they weren't just being paranoid. He caught many glimpses from the corners of his eyes people moving through trees and heard whistles that sounded more like signals than bird calls.

They all felt the tension and pressure increase drastically as the village came into sight and they walked into it. When they did, the Mohawk that had been following them came out from the trees and joined the large group that gathered in front of the white strangers, unsure if they were peaceful or dangerous.

Ian was terrified. He knew this all came down to him being able to effectively communicate with them to get the information they needed. But he kept his face as stoic as he could, afraid any show of weakness would be used against him, as well as Claire and Jamie.

Jamie was the first to speak, in the little bit of Mohawk Ian taught him. "Greetings. Peace," he said to show they were not a threat. He went on in English, "We've come te trade."

Murmurs spread throughout crowd, and, seeing it was going okay so far, Jamie nodded to Ian to take over. He swallowed and touched Skylar's necklace though his shirt, as if she was there to encourage him.

While some of the villagers came to look at what was being offered, Ian took a breath then went closer to the crowd and said, in their language, "We are looking for a man, for a man we sold to your people." Those listening looked to each other, as if they had no idea what man Ian was talking about. "Do you remember this?" He held up the large medallion he got at the initial trade, seeing if it would mean anything to anyone. When there was still no response, he turned back to Jamie and took from him the drawing Brianna had made of Roger and showed it to his audience. "This man. Is he here?"

He handed it to a man in front of him, and a couple others came next to him to look at the drawing closer. "Ehhaokonsah," one of them said. Ian knew that translated to "Dogface," but he didn't understand why the man had said it.

Is that what they've been callin' him? He's here, then? he thought. His heart picked up at this new ray of hope

He continued, "We will trade for the man in the picture." Another member of the Mohawk then came to the front of the group, dressed in a bright red jacket, very similar to what the Redcoats wore, as if he held some high position of power in tribe. He had what looked like blue feathers attached to his head and a large scar on his left cheek, and Ian recognized him instantly.

Knowing this man spoke English, he said to him in his own tongue, "Do ye remember me? We met a few months ago in North Carolina. The man I sold te ye, we've come te buy him back."

The women who came forward with him, quietly repeated, "Ehhaokonsah," to explain and the man understood who she was talking about.

"I will return this te ye," Ian went on, showing him the medallion, "if ye return the man te me."

The man asked him, in English as well, "Why? What is he to you that you would come all this way?"

"He's important te our family."

To the woman, he instructed her in the Mohawk language, "Let us take them to Tehwahsehwke." He walked away quickly and the woman gestured for Ian to come with her. He nodded, then looked to Jamie and Claire, signaling for them to follow him. So the three went along with the villagers to wherever it was they were leading them.

They were brought in front of a very large hut that was set on top of a hill and the entire tribe circled around them.

They saw a man come out of the hut, dressed in bright colors and wearing a sort of crown. Ian had to remind himself to breathe as, who he knew was, the chief, Chief Tehwahsehwke, came down the stairs.

He tried to think optimistically. This has te be a good sign. If we're talk in' wi' their chief, they must be willin' te trade wi' us fer Roger.

The man Ian had originally traded with whispered something out of earshot to the older man when he reached the ground. Tehwahsehwke stared at three for a moment before approaching them.

Jamie put bag of tin objects in front of him to show their offerings. When the chief stopped in front of them, the three bowed.

They were surprised when he spoke to them in English. "You must be a very good friend of his. This man you seek, you brought him whiskey to drink? Metal trinkets as well?" Ian was trying to read his body language to gauge if they were being successful. He was smiling so Ian figured they weren't failing. "I hope you have not traveled far."

Claire jumped in before he could get out another word. "So he's here then? The man in the picture?"

Tehwahsehwke kept smiling. "You want him very badly."

"Aye. We hope te trade with ye," Jamie said.

The chief stared at Jamie, then turned to walk back to talk with his seconds-in-command. He motioned for everyone else to go to Ian, Claire and Jamie to see what interested them.

Ian went on, speaking in Mohawk about what they had brought, "Come, look. We have blankets, pots. Good whiskey." He went with Jamie to assist having some of the people try their whiskey.

But he was very confused when everyone around them suddenly gasped and started to back away from them. He went back in middle of the circle with Claire and Jamie. Everyone was looking at Claire and, clearly, talking about her.

When the woman who had brought them to chief said with the utmost urgency, "She wears Otter Tooth's stone," she spoke in Mohawk, so Ian understood her but Claire nor Jamie knew what the problem was.

Jamie tried to explain that whatever Claire had done. It was completely innocent. "She meant no harm. She was only tryin' te show the boy the scarf."

"Uncle, it's no that. It's the stone Auntie wears," Ian corrected him.

Believing it was something of importance to them, Claire asked Tehwahsehwke, "Would you be willing to take this in exchange for our friend?"

But he shut her down. "No. We will not trade with you. You must leave us at once."

Jamie moved in closer to them, feeling like he needed to protect his wife. But the man with the scar got in front of him with his hand on his knife as a warning.

Ian, while he was watching this play out, was thinking, We're so close. This canna be happenin'.

Claire tried again, begging, "Please. We cannot leave without him."

"We will not trade with you. Do not make me say it again. You must leave." The foreboding tone of the chief's voice meant the conversation over. When they didn't leave, he looked again to his seconds and gave them the okay to use more forceful tactics to get them off their land.

The two men got in their faces and stared them down. The one across from Claire yelled "Go!" in Mohawk.

Claire knew they had to give in. "Alright. Alright." She, Ian and Jamie started backwards with the men following them, until the three were able to turn around and walk out.

None of them spoke until they were far away from the village. They were too nervous that some of the Natives might have followed them and were listening closely and watching their every move.

Ian didn't pay attention to what his aunt and uncle were saying. Feelings of upset, disappointment, anger and confusion were rushing through him. He was a fool to have thought it really would have been that easy. There had to be some sort of catch.

He took in a heavy breath and held the heart charm around his neck. He rubbed it in between his thumb and index finger as he thought, This will work. It has te. We will try again and we'll get him. And then, my love, I will return te ye and I will never leave ye again.

When they got back to camp, they began to unload their horse. But they barely got half the stuff off when Jaime suddenly said, "Don't move."

Ian and Claire froze and their eyes snapped to Jamie. Jamie's own eyes were darting around the trees, not sure what he was looking for but he knew there was something out there. He slowly went to look behind him and one of the Mohawk ran out and tackled him. Before Ian or Claire could do anything, three more warriors appeared and surrounded them, baring their weapons.

The same woman from the village came out after and just stood, staring at Jamie fighting his attacker. Jamie was able to take the man's axe and held it to his throat, glaring at the woman.

She spoke very simply, "We're here for the stone. Give it to us. We will not harm you." She looked to her fellow Mohawk and motioned for them to stand down. They followed her order and lowered their weapons.

Claire squared up with the woman. "We'll consider giving it to you if you help us get our friend back."

"Very bold, considering we could take the stone from you by force if we wanted."

Jamie stood up with his attacker, still with the axe at his throat. "Not all of ye will be walkin' away whole."

"We could return later if you like, try again."

Ian stood very still, making sure those still closed in around him could see he had no intention of reaching for a weapon or to threaten them.

Claire went to the woman to try a make some peace with her. "Please. What is your name?"

She was hesitant to answer, but then answered, "Wahkatiiosta."

"Wahkatiiosta, tell me. Why is this stone so important to you?"

"That is not something you need to know."

"If this," she held up said stone, "is what will help get my daughter's husband back to her, I want to know why you want it so badly that you're willing to kill us over it."

Ian was searching his brain for any mention, from his learning with Myers, of any legends, healing properties or anything at all that went along with a certain stone, but he couldn't think of any.

When Wahkatiiosta finally agreed to explain, Jamie started their fire again and they all sat around it as she began story.

She spoke about a man from long ago called Tawineonawira, or "Otter Tooth", who was the owner of the stone. She said that when he came to Shadow Lake, he would talk about from when he came, rather than from where. He said that he had come to warn the Mohawk that they would be wiped out by white men and in order to protect themselves, they needed to strike against the white men first. He led many Mohawk warriors to act on his message. They would often leave the village and then return with white scalps. But those that did not follow him were scared that this violence would only cause the white soldiers to come kill all of them out of revenge, and so the chief at that time banished Otter Tooth from the village. However, he kept coming back again and again to speak more to them about what was to come. But his rants and raves made the Mohawk believe that he was possessed, and on his last time coming back, he was sentenced to death. He had escaped and the men chased him. When they caught him, he begged them to listen to him. But they did not. No matter how much they beat him, he kept going. So they ended his cautionary tales by cutting off his head.

Wahkatiiosta added, "Tehwahsehwke, our chief, was a young warrior then. He took the head and buried it far, far away."

"His skull was with the stone," Claire stated.

"How do you know that?" Claire didn't answer right away. She just stared at the stone in her hands, putting the many puzzle pieces together. "It is said that one who possesses the stone has the power to see how my people's story will end and that Otter Tooth's ghost walks with whoever carries it. Has he appeared to you?"

"Yes. I was lost in a storm, and I took cover under a fallen tree. That is when he came to me. I believe that ghosts only exist when there is something to be remembered, a story worth telling, or a message worth relaying."

"Do you believe this Otter Tooth te be right?" Jamie questioned Wahkatiiosta.

"Yes. I believe he came to warn my people and the stone will enable us to see what is coming."

Claire tried again to bargain with her. "If you help us rescue the man that we came to take back, then we will help you preserve the memory of the man who fought for your future. Help us. The stone will be yours."

Wahkatiiosta thought for a long time, but at last agreed.

They set out right away. Wahkatiiosta and then men with her led the three to lake where the canoes they had used to get to the travelers' camp were still on the shore. They divided themselves into the canoes, with Rollo coming along as well, and paddled across the water silently.

When they reached the other side, Jamie told Ian to keep Rollo with him and stay at the shore as a look out.

Ian sat next to Rollo, absentmindedly petting him. He couldn't stop his fingers on his other hand from rapidly tapping on his knee. Rollo could sense his unease and licked his face. Ian chuckled and kissed the dog's head.

After 10 minutes, he stood and stared out over water, playing with Skylar's necklace in his fingers. "Please let this work. Please let this work so we can go home," he said out loud to no one.

He heard Rollo whine and looked down to him when he felt his head nudge against his leg. Ian knelt and scratched his head. "I know, boy. I miss her too. It willna be long now."

After another 20 minutes, he was getting anxious. "Christ. Uncle Jamie, Auntie Claire, where are ye?"

He suddenly heard movement behind him. He whipped head around and called, "Hello? Uncle Jamie? Who's there?" A group of three Mohawk men then jumped out from trees and grabbed him. They dragged him back to village and all the while Ian was fighting them, yelling at them in English and Mohawk to let him go. He could see they had gotten a muzzle onto Rollo and picked him up and were carrying him along as well.

The scene he was brought into when they got to the village was horrifying. All of the Mohawk men had surrounded Jamie and Claire with rifles, axes, knives and torches. One of the men landed a blow against Jamie's back, bringing him to his knees. The Mohawk in the bright red coat from earlier, whose name they learn from Wahkatiiosta was Kaheroton, took Jamie's gun from his belt and put it to his head. Ian was using every ounce of strength he had to try to break free from the men still holding him, but they were too strong.

Claire shouted out in Mohawk, "Peace! Peace!" When the attackers ceased, she continued in English, "Stop! It's over. It's over."

Kaheroton and his fellow second-in-command grabbed Jamie and Claire and brought them, along with the ones still holding Ian, back to Chief Tehwahsehwke's hut. They were forced down to sit, with the Mohawks that helped them kneeling in a group next to them.

Put next to Ian was the man he recognized was Roger. The guilt ate at him as he took in Roger's appearance. He was in bad shape to say the least. His clothes were all but in shreds, he had dried blood and mud all over him and his arm in a sling. He was looking down at ground absolutely dejected, like any last slivers of hope he had for escape were gone. Ian wanted to say something, offer any sort of apology, but he didn't have the words.

He lowered his head when the chief came in front of them. He spoke to the Mohawk first, directing his speech to Wahkatiiosta.

"I banished these people, and you brought them back against the wishes of the council, causing violence and destruction. You are Mohawk. You will never be so again. You will leave the village and never return."

Two men came forward and grabbed Wahkatiiosta to escort her off the land. She kept crying, "No! You don't have to do this! Please! No!" as they took her.

Ian watched her go as she went past him and his guilt worsened.

Tehwahsehwke then came to his group. "You are not the reason for this strife. The pains and disharmony caused by Otter Tooth has always been with us. There will be no more trouble, only peace amongst my people. Take the stone. Leave the village. Never return."

Jamie let out breathe of relief at his mercy. "We are grateful. I only ask that we may leave wi' our friend."

"There has been no fair trade. Dogface will stay in the village."

There must be something we can do. We canna return te Bree wi'out him, Ian screamed in his head.

Kaheroton and another of the men picked up Roger and started to lead him away, but they stopped when Jamie stood up and said, "Take me."

"What?" Claire exclaimed in alarm.

Ian's head whipped around to Jamie, and he and Claire bolted to their feet

"Uncle Jamie, wait."

Jamie ignored them. "I'm able-bodied, strong."

Claire held onto her husband in desperation. "No, there has to be another way."

"There isn't. I must do this fer our daughter."

Ian pleaded with him. "Ye canna do this. Not only does Brianna need ye but Skylar needs ye as well. Yer her Da. Yer the most important person in her life. Ye canna leave her."

"Skylar will understand. This is the only way. It's decided. Ian, tell the council. Convince them."

Ian stared at his uncle for a long time, thinking of any way Jamie could get out of this. There was only one option he kept coming back to and the thought of going through with it tore him apart and made him feel like he was suffocating. But Jamie needed to stay with Skylar. She needed him in her life and he had to put her first.

Ian approached Tehwahsehwke and said to him, in Mohawk, as he felt his heart fully break at what he was about to do, "We have an offer for you."

As the council gathered, Ian closed eyes and held Skylar's necklace tight. I'm sorry, Skylar. I'm so so sorry, my love, for what I must do. But I have te. Fer ye, I have te do this. I will love you forever. Only ye. Teday, temorrow, forever and then some. Mo bhean, it is out of my love fer ye that I do this. Forgive me, Yank.

He gave his offer to the council, struggling to hold back tears at every word. It was accepted and all the air left his body. He gave a single nod in response, then they turned back to everyone.

"We accept," Tehwahsehwke announced. The crowd exploded with chatter over what this deal could possibly be.

Through his blurred vision, Ian saw his aunt and uncle holding each other, believing that it was Jamie who would be staying. Roger was brought back to them and left by their side. He also looked confused but more so at ease knowing he would be leaving this place.

Jamie pulled from Claire and stood strong and tall, ready to face his fate. He went to join the group of Mohawk, but Ian cut him off.

"I'm stayin'," he said, his stomach churning.

Jamie didn't understand. "Ian, what are ye doin'?"

"It's alright, Uncle. Ye are free te go, te take Roger." He moved gaze to Roger who Claire was holding in a tender embrace ."I'm sorry fer what we did te ye."

"Brave and canny move. As soon as ye can, escape, or I'll come fer ye."

Ian took a step closer to Jamie, his heart beating so loud it was all he could hear. "No, I mean it. I'm stayin'."

"And live yer life wi' the Mohawk?"

"I gave them my word. Dinna make me break it."

"Ye gave yer word te Skylar that ye would return te her. She's waitin' fer ye back home," Jamie reminded him.

Claire from her place with Roger, added, "You can't leave her, Ian. This will destroy her."

No longer able to hold back the tears, he said with such obvious pain in his voice, "Skylar is the most important person in the world to me, and I love her so powerfully with my whole soul. I'd sacrifice anythin' and everythin' fer her, even my own life. And that's why I have te do this. She's already lost both her parents." He looked directly at Jamie. "I cannae allow her te go through the pain of losin' her father again. I could never face her knowin' that there was somethin' I could've done te keep you with her. She needs ye more than she needs me. She can fall in love again, but she canna find another you. She'll realize that eventually."

"I beg of ye, lad, let it be me. I'll find a way te get home and back te Skylar. I swear it."

"Ye canna be one of them, Uncle Jamie. Ye dinna ken the language or their customs or ways of life. Even if ye could learn, it would only make it more impossible fer ye te leave. And if ye try te escape, they will kill ye. There's no around that. I can live wi' them peacefully. They will do no harm unte me."

Jamie knew what he was saying was the truth and that there was no changing his mind. He could see in his nephew's face how agonizing this decision was and that if there was any other way, he would've taken it.

Jamie's voice was shaking with his own heartbreak as he said, "How can I part wi' ye?"

"It will be hard fer us both. But ye must promise that he'll leave and no come back fer me. I've chosen this."

"Aye," Jamie promised, letting his tears fall.

Claire left Roger to go to Ian and hugged him, both of them outwardly crying. Ian held tight onto her, not wanting to let go.

When they did separate, Claire held his face and smiled sadly at him. "Is there anything you want us to say to Skylar for you?"

His heart rebroke every time they said her name. He took a big breath in and let it out. He licked lips and said, "Please tell her that I will love her til the day I die, and I'll never be able te say how sorry I am. I only ever wanted te have a life wi' her. Tell her te find someone else te love and live that life with, because she deserves te have someone who will adore her and make her happy. And give this te her." He unclasped Skylar's necklace and took it off. He looked at it for a moment then put it in Jamie's hand, feeling like he was giving up a piece of his soul. "She'll want it back." He thought he was going to be sick as Jamie closed the necklace in his hand and took away the last bit of the love of his life he would ever have.

"We'll tell her all of it," was all Jamie could get out without completely breaking down.

Ian stood in front of him once more and said, trying to hold in sobs, "Ye once said that ye wished me te become a man of worth."

"Ye dinna ken how worthy ye are." He took the young man in his arms and pressed him close "Cuimhnich," he whispered. "Cuimhnich. Remember."

"I willna forget," Ian swore.

They stayed in the hug for another few moments, but they knew it was time. Very slowly, they pulled apart and looked at each other. Jamie gave him a nod and Ian walked backwards towards his new life.

Jamie looked around and gave a very small smile seeing someone bring up Rollo on a leash, happy that those two would not be apart. He bowed to Tehwahsehwke and gave one last glance to Ian before going back to Claire and Roger. Feeling sick about it, they turned their backs to Ian and walked out of the village.

Ian watched them go until they were out of sight. He closed his eyes while tears kept steadily streaming down his face. His chest hurt and it was hard to breathe. It felt like someone had reached into his chest and was squeezing his heart, waiting for it to burst. With the reality sinking in, his legs gave out and fell to the ground. He couldn't stop himself from vomiting from the torturous heartbreak of knowing he would never see his family or his soulmate ever again.

I love ye, Skylar Anne Kelley Fraser. I will love ye ferever. I'm so happy I was able te call ye my wife, even fer just a short time.

As he caught his breath, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and it was Kaheroton. He said, "You are ready?"

Ian knew that this was the only option. This only way to get Roger back to Bree, and to keep Jamie with Skylar. He needed to put his emotions aside and focus on the good this would bring the people who were most important to him, no matter how painful it was.

He forced himself to stop crying and wiped his eyes. He stood up, looked Kaheroton in the eye and answered, "I am."

I want to thank you all so so much for being so patient for this chapter. Sometimes, as hard as it can be, you do have to make your mental health your priority and not push yourself when you're already burnt out…

BUT ANYWAY

When I say I have been STRESSING over this plot point since chapter 1! I hope that I did it justice and y'all liked it.

If you've liked the fic so far, please please please follow/favorite/review! 3 chapters to go!

Chap 51 will be out soon! I love ye all verra much. Stay safe and healthy.