"Oh Alice, you are so beautiful!" Cora exclaims, visibly touched, observing her little sister in her wedding dress. She and Aquene are helping Alice to prepare for the ceremony in Minda's wigwam, while the rest of the people are waiting for her outside. And Uncas too.
"Cora, the dress is so pretty, I can't imagine how much time you have spent sewing it for me. Thank you" Alice says, embracing her sister. She is wearing a mid-sleeve white gown, quite simple but beautiful at the same time. And the most important thing is that my beloved sister was who designed it. Despite that the wedding was going to be celebrated in the Delaware tradition, everybody agreed that Alice could wear the white dress of Christian weddings. And Uncas knew how many times she had dreamed about wearing such a dress in her wedding since she was a child, so he wasn't willing to change that. Still, Alice wears the beautiful hair ornament that Uncas gave her, tied to the braid she always wears on her hair since that night behind the waterfall.
"There is nothing for you to thank me for. Your little sister doesn't get married every day. This is a special day for you Alice…and for me too" Cora tries to hold back the tears of happiness that are starting to wet her eyes.
"As soon as he sees you, Uncas won't be able to take his eyes off of you, Alice" Aquene says in her usual cheerful tone. Then she adds with a mischievous smile. "And neither does his hands, tonight".
Alice smiles but blushes deeply at the same time. Though since her conversation with Cora, she is more at ease about the idea of lying with Uncas in their wedding night, she can't help but get nervous, every time the thought comes to her mind.
Cora chuckles at Aquene's comment but, reading her sister's mind, she adds warmly. "Everything is going to be alright tonight, Alice. There will be only Uncas and you and no one else. There is no reason for you to be afraid". She caresses Alice's face tenderly, happy that she finally found a man who truly loves her and treats her in the way she deserves.
Alice nods, aware that her sister is right. "I can't believe that I'm about to become Uncas' wife. I have dreamed with this moment for so long…" Alice thinks about all the times she imaging her wedding when she was a child and how it would be her future husband. Honestly, her idea of the wedding and the husband was quite different but reality is much better.
"So now it's time for your dream to come true. And it won't happen if you stay here all day" Aquene says, touching her arm warmly. "Come on, Alice. Your future husband must be already believing that you have ran away".
Alice chuckles at Aquene's words. They have already become very close friends and she always manages to make her feel better with her usual sense of humour.
"Are you ready?" Cora asks, looking at her sister's eyes.
Alice takes a deep breath and nods confident. "Yes, I am". Grabbing her sister's arm and followed by Aquene, Alice leaves the wigwam, walking to her new life with the man she loves.
All the village is present in the ceremony, eager to witness such a beloved relative of them like Uncas, finally joining his life with the woman's he has chosen. All eyes are set on the beautiful couple who stand in front of the chief, looking at each other with a look of pure adoration. However, three pairs of eyes reflect a particular emotion.
Cora, holding his nephew in her arms, looks at the couple as they exchange vows to each other and she is barely able to supress her tears, aware of her sister's happiness in that moment. Her little Alice, who had suffered so much over the past year, has finally found the kind of love that is able to heal all past wounds. She thinks about the sister she knew back in England and how much she has changed since then. Alice is no longer the innocent child who was always looking for her protection. Instead, she has become a strong woman who is able to work hard and raise a child at the same time. And she managed to do it on her own, though she will never be alone again. For this reason, Cora can't feel prouder of her sister. Then, she looks at Nathaniel, standing by her side, and smiles at the thought that soon they will be the ones who will stand in front of each other, exchanging their own vows.
As the couple gives each other their personal gifts, Nathaniel observes his little brother. Who would have imagined that quiet Uncas, who always did what was expected from him, was going to rebel against everything in order to share his life with a woman so different from him? He remembers the little child who ran behind him in the forest, trying to prove he was a good warrior like his father and older brother. He became a warrior a long time ago but, over the past year, he proved the kind of warrior he was. He even dared to challenge their father's wishes for him to marry a Delaware woman, though fortunately, he finally understood his decision and supported his son as the good father he is. And how many difficulties they had to face in order to be together but, despite everything, Uncas always fought for Alice. And for Tommy. He is sure his brother will be a wonderful father for him. I hope I can be such a good father someday. He holds Cora's waist and caresses little Tommy in her arms.
Finally, the young couple kiss each other at the end of the ceremony and right then, Chingachgook's eyes are focused on his blood son and the woman he is going to share his life with. Looking at his beloved Uncas, he can't help but see himself in him. He was only a few years younger than him when he married Uncas' mother, but the look in his son's eyes when he looks at his wife is the same that he had in his own wedding day. He knows all the happiness that came after that wedding and he is sure it will be the same for Uncas. And looking at Alice, his new daughter, he is able to see his own wife in her. The way Alice embraces Uncas happily, right after they break their long kiss, and her eyes full of pure love when she looks at him, while everybody shout joyfully at the end of the ceremony, reminds him of the strong woman who once decided to share her future with a young and quiet Mohican warrior called Chingachgook. Yes, in our wedding day my beloved wife looked at me in the same way that Alice is looking at my son right now. He can't help a tear running down his cheek at the memory of his deceased wife. Oh my love, you left this world too soon and I miss you every day of my life. But I'm sure you are watching this moment whenever you are. Look at our children, they have finally found the love we knew so well. I hope they can be together until they are elders and enjoy the life we couldn't live.
With the ceremony finally coming to an end, Alice goes to embrace her sister and son, while Uncas goes to his father, who hugs him tightly, caressing his back tenderly.
"I'm so proud of you Uncas. And your mother is proud as well" Chingachgook says looking at his son, as soon as they part away from each other.
"Thank you, nooch" Uncas says, deeply touched with his mother's memory. Though he was very young when she passed away, there is no day he doesn't miss her. But he knows she is watching over them, from their people's council and he is sure of one thing: she likes Alice and Tommy.
Chingachgook observes his two sons embracing each other warmly, as Alice comes to him with bright eyes and a big smile on her face.
"How do you feel, daughter?" he asks her, grabbing both her hands in his.
"Oh, I'm so happy that I could cry!" Alice says excited, as she throws her arms around the elder Mohican, as he returns her embrace tenderly.
When they part away from each other, Uncas comes to them and Chingachgook grabs his son's hand and Alice's one and joins them together. "From now on, your lives are joined forever. You have a son to raise and more children to come. You have to work together and take care of each other" he smiles tenderly at his son and daughter-in- law, who look tenderly at each other. "I know you will do it".
The celebration lasted the rest of the day. There was a delicious meal and traditional dances and when the night came, everybody was talking at each other around a fire in the centre of the village.
"It seems he is exhausted after so much fun" Uncas says softly, looking at Tommy, who is soundly asleep in his arms.
"Yes, he is. He has had a really good time" Alice says, sitting in the log next to them. It amazes her how sleep always comes easily to Tommy every time he is in Uncas' arms. Usually she was the one who was able to make him sleep, but it seems there is something in the Mohican's strong arms that makes him feel at ease. I can't blame him, the same happens to me. Alice thinks amused, watching their baby resting so peacefully, totally trusting his father to keep him safe during his sleep.
Uncas turns his head to look at Alice, now his wife, and bends to kiss her cheek. She is so beautiful today that he can't barely take his eyes off of her. He is distracted delighting himself in each of her features, when a voice interrupts his thoughts.
"Sorry dad, but it's time for this little one to come with his uncle and aunt" Nathaniel says in a joking tone, taking Tommy from Uncas' arms, carefully to not wake him. Then he adds with a mischievous look "You and your wife need some privacy to enjoy your wedding night".
Alice blushes deeply at his comment and Uncas looks upset at his brother, as if he was scolding him for making Alice feel uncomfortable. His brother and Cora offered to take Tommy to spend the night in their wigwam, in order for the newly married to have the necessary privacy for the wedding night.
"At least you will enjoy tonight. We will be very busy changing this little thing's diapers" Nathaniel adds, enjoying Alice's embarrassment and Uncas' anger towards him.
"Nathaniel Hawkeye Poe, it's better for you to get used to it. At some point we will have our own children" Cora scolds him, hitting his chest playfully. Then she turns to Uncas and Alice. "Don't worry, I won't let him alone with the baby". She reassures them and walks away with Nathaniel to their wigwam, not before giving Alice and encouraging look, noticing her sister's growing nervousness.
The rest of the people is starting to leave the place in order to go to their respective wigwams and Chingachgook leaves too, not before embracing his son and daughter-in-law one last time.
Alice twists her hands in her lap nervously, aware that there is only a matter of time that she and Uncas also leave to be alone.
"We should…we should go to our wigwam too. It's getting cold here" Uncas says hesitantly, standing up and offering her his hand.
Alice nods and grabs it, walking by his side to their new home. As soon as they reach the wigwam, she stops. "There is a tradition among my people. A wife can't walk into her new home the first time. Her husband has to carry her through the door".
Uncas smiles and in a quick motion, he scoops her in his arms, carrying her into the wigwam. Definitely he likes that tradition.
Alice throws her arms around Uncas' neck and enjoys the feeling of being carried in his arms, something that she always likes. Once on her feet again, she observes Uncas as he lights up a fire to keep them warm. He is so handsome in the traditional wedding clothes of his people. I can't believe he is already my husband. She can't forget the love that his eyes reflected when he was looking at her in the ceremony and she is sure that hers reflected the same.
"Well…I hope you liked our wedding…I know it is not the kind of celebration you dreamed of when you were a child but…" Uncas begins hesitantly but he is cut off by Alice.
"It was better than that. I wore a beautiful dress made by my sister, our families and friends were there supporting us…and my husband…I always expected for him to look at me like that in our wedding".
Uncas approaches her, deeply touched by her words. "I'm glad you liked it. It was the same for me". Slowly he reaches for her hair ornament and removes it, placing it carefully on the floor. "Are you nervous?"
"A bit" she admits in a low voice, unable to hold his gaze.
"Me too" Uncas says, looking at the floor.
"You? But you…why?" Alice asks confused. She doesn't understand how he can be nervous. She knows he has more experience than her.
"I want to do it right" he simply says.
His candid insecurity touches her deeply. In that moment her nervousness vanishes and she grabs his hands in hers. "Oh Uncas, don't be nervous. Everything is going to be alright because we are together".
"I promise I won't hurt you" Uncas says softly, caressing her cheek delicately.
"I know" Alice says, looking intensely at his eyes. Slowly she approaches him and presses her lips against him. The sweet kiss becomes more passionate and Alice feels Uncas' hands running down her hair as she throws her arms around his neck.
Uncas moves his hands towards her waist, enveloping her in his arms. As much as Uncas desires to start removing her clothes, he wants to wait until she starts undressing him. He is sure she will feel more comfortable this way. Fortunately, he doesn't have to wait too much until he feels Alice's hands, tentatively unfastening his belt.
Timidly and passionate at the same time, Alice peels off Uncas' shirt and feels heat invading her at the vision of his strong chest so near her. It's not the first time she sees him without a shirt, but finally, she can allow herself to enjoy his body. Slowly, she runs her hands up and down his chest until she finally explores all of his upper body with her hands, from his chest to his strong arms, passing through his shoulders and broad back.
Uncas feels that it's time for him to start removing her clothes as well, so he begins to unbutton the front of her wedding dress. Slowly and delicate. His kisses become softer as if he was reassuring her somehow. Finally, the dress falls to the ground and she stands in front of him in her sleeveless shirt and petticoat. She can't be more lovely in his eyes. He accidentally watched her once in her undergarments before and since then, he couldn't forget that vision. Her beauty is undeniable.
Alice let Uncas turns her around, leaning her back against his torso. The spark of shame that grew inside her when he began to unbutton her dress, vanished as soon as she was aware that the love in his eyes when she stood in front of him in so little clothes. His hands caress her delicate arms softly as his lips run down her neck and collarbone, leaving a trail of soft kisses. She feels like she is going to collapse of pleasure.
But she needs to do the same to him. She wants for him to feel the same sensations she is feeling.
Uncas watches Alice as she turns around in his arms and starts kissing him in the neck, running down his chest, leaving soft kisses there. She is totally undoing him and he resolves it is time to move forward. Her hands travel to his thighs and he helps her to untie his leggings, sliding them to the floor.
Slowly, they move to the furs on the ground, as they keep on kissing and touching each other, and Uncas lays Alice down the furs, carefully placing himself on top of her.
When she feels Uncas' hand sliding under her petticoat and stroking her bare leg softly, a spark of fear crosses her mind but she manages to toss it aside. He is not like George. However, realizing that the moment has finally come, she feels the urge to ask for one last requirement.
"Be gentle, please"
Uncas' eyes soft at her vulnerable words and a strong protective instinct towards her makes him want to erase her awful first experience with that bastard of George. I can't change that. But I can show her how it is to lay with someone who really cares about you. So, caressing her cheek tenderly, he says. "Always".
Alice smiles widely and kisses him softly at the same time that she notices the strips of her shirt being slid down, revealing the rest of her body…
Sunbeams illuminate the wigwam and Alice slowly opens her eyes, only to feel Uncas' strong arm wrapped around her waist. She smiles remembering what happened between them last night. She can't describe it with words…Turning around, she faces him. He is still sleeping and he has a totally relaxed expression on his face. Both of them are lying together on the furs, their naked bodies only covered by a blanket. Their clothes are mixed on the floor. Alice observes her husband in his sleep, realizing that it is one of the most beautiful things she has ever seen.
Delighting in his body and each of his features, she remembers his kisses and touches last night. He was so tender and delicate with her that she didn't feel any kind of pain…only pleasure. She enjoyed it so much that she is eager to do it every night. He is an amazing lover… I only hope he enjoyed it as much as I did… And the most important thing is that it was not only physical pleasure…she felt cherished and loved by him. He had treated her with respect, putting her needs in the first place and when they finished, he made sure she was alright and wrapped her in his arms, telling her how much he loved her. Finally, at some point of the night, they felt asleep in each other arms.
As much as Alice would like to remain still, watching Uncas sleeping, she knows it's time for him to wake up. Softly, she kisses him on his cheek and runs her lips down his neck and chest, leaving a trail of small kisses. "It's time to wake up, my love" she whispers tenderly.
Feeling soft lips running through his skin and a sweet voice talking to him, Uncas slowly opens his eyes and smiles at the lovely vision of his wife beside him. "Good morning. Have you slept well?"
Alice nods smiling. "I have never slept better. You?"
"The same" He strokes her hair softly. Then, he adds. "I'm glad you enjoyed last night…"
"I did. You were very gentle with me" Alice admits, touching his cheek. "Thank you for waiting… until our wedding night. It was very important for me".
"There is no reason for you to thank me for. It was your wish. I simply respected it" Uncas says sincerely, grabbing her hand. "And the wait was worth it"
"Did you truly enjoy it too? I don't have much experience…" Alice says timidly.
"You were amazing" Uncas says, making her blush, something that he loves about her. They kiss each other deeply, until he finally says. "We should dress up. Surely Tommy is already awake". As much as he would like to stay in bed with Alice forever, he can't wait to spend time with his son too. They are a family of three after all.
However, Alice has other plans on mind. She knows that Tommy likes to sleep longer in the mornings, normally after waking up several times in the middle of the night (and after making sure the adults are fully awake too), so there is nothing wrong if they stay together just a little longer…
"He must be still sleeping and it's good for my sister and your brother to practice with him for the moment when they have their own baby" she says. Then she adds with a mischievous smile. "I was wondering that…maybe we can repeat what we did last night…"
Trying to supress a smile, Uncas pretends to be serious. "Well…I suppose we can…a husband should not deny a wish like that to his wife…"
Both of them chuckle at that and Uncas rolls over Alice, kissing her passionately. The rest of the world can wait for them.
Author's note: Finally Uncas and Alice are happily married! I hope you liked the way I wrote the wedding scene, through the eyes of those who care most about them. I got very emotional in the scene where Chigachgook remembers his deceased wife. I really liked his character and I'm sure his love for his wife was as deep as the love his sons have for the Munro sisters.
And...the wedding night! I'm aware expectations are always high in scenes like that, so I hope I haven't dissapointed you. As I told you in my last update, I didn't want to show all details, so I focused on the previous moments and the meaning behind that scene: Alice finally realizing that all men are not the same and having the "first time" she deserved.
This is officially the last chapter, though I will write an epilogue, showing our family some years later. So the next update will be the ending of this story, that I've been writing for more than a year. I'm sad to see it coming to an end, but excited at the same time because, as I told you before, I have another idea on mind that I'm eager to share with you. However, I'm not sure if I will be able to post it as often as I would like because I have some personal projects in my life that will probably keep me busy. But still I'll try to find time to write!
As always, thank you all for keeping following this story and I really hope you enjoy the epilogue!