Chapter 2

23 December 1783 - Onondaga Village, New York State

The sun was a few hours away from setting as Connor entered the Onondaga village. As soon as he entered, he could hear the whispers following him as he and his guide made their way to the longhouse.

'Did you see him?'

'He's so tall!'

'And he's built like a bear'

'Why is he wearing the white man's clothes?'

'Is he their messenger?'

'Do we have to leave our home?'

Men, women, and children all looked up from what they were doing to take a look at the newcomer. The men looked on warily as he walked by and the women curiously. The children giggled and whispered as he passed by them, some of the children even dared to go close to Connor before giggling again and running away, back to the safety of their mothers.

The constant attention was embarrassing for Connor and he hoped to get to the longhouse soon before the blush started to show on his face, he walked more quickly behind his guide, the journey to the Bear Clan village had been long and the weather cruel. As their journey was of great importance to both the clans, they had had no time for comfort and often journeyed through the night only stopping to rest the horses.

Connor had discovered that the man was named Sho'enrí:se. He had originally grown up in another clan to the south, but after his marriage he was adopted into the Onondaga Bear Clan. He knew that Connor would be marrying into the village the same way he had and already considered him a brother. Sho'enrí:se was a few years younger than Connor and, once befriended, he willingly shared all the knowledge and information that he knew. The journey to Connor's village had been Sho'enrí:se's first official task as the messenger of the Bear Clan and was the furthest away from his village that he had travelled. He had married a little over a year ago, and he and his new wife were expecting their first child in the next spring.

Connor found the man's constant streams of tales about his life a comfort as they journeyed west toward the village. These were the type of people he had grown up with, who had taught him. After everything that had happened in his life he felt like, with these people in the Onondaga village, he would finally be home again.

Sho'enrí:se stopped before the open doorway of the longhouse.

"The elders are waiting inside for you. I must leave you now Ratonhnhaké:ton." He put his hand on Connor's shoulder in a way of parting. Connor thanked him took a deep breath and then went inside.

A wave of nostalgia hit him as the familiar scene and smells, he smiled in spite of himself. There were two people at the firepit in the middle of the longhouse who looked to be in deep discussion. No doubt these are the Clanmother and Chief, Connor thought.

He made his way toward them. At the sound of his footsteps the Clanmother and the Chief stopped their discussion, and both raised their heads to look at him.

The Chief stood to welcome him, and they clasped arms in a greeting. "Welcome to the Bear Clan brave warrior, we greet our Turtle Clan brother. Your journey must if been hard, come please rest yourself by the fire" The Chief gestured for him to sit to which Connor gratefully did. "What is your name warrior?"

"Ratonhnhaké:ton, I greet the Chief and wise Clanmother of the Bear Clan" He inclined his head to the both of them and stretched out the white wampum Sho'enrí:se had given him in between him and them.

"We are pleased to see you. Are you representing your Clan?'

"I'm sorry to inform you that my Clan is no longer here, I am the only one left" The Clanmother and Chief looked shocked for a moment before looking at each other with understanding and grief. The Chief turned again to Connor as if to confirm what he already feared,

"They have been removed from their lands?" Connor nodded, the Chief sighed, "then it is as we feared. I am sorry for your loss" Connor nodded to the Chief in thanks before clearing his throat.

"I know it is not ideal circumstances, but I do think we can continue this promise between our Clans" The Chief looked at him curiously, but gestured for him to continue. Connor took a deep breath and plunged into what he had prepared.

"Good Clanmother and Chief, I know that you are hoping that an alliance can be formed between our Clans. I am of the same mind so that we can strengthen the bond between us that our people may be stronger. I may be the only member of my Clan left but I can still benefit your village by helping you to retain your lands and also trade with the white men." He took a deep breath and continued. "But I must warn you that I no longer have a normal village to return to, nor do I-" He struggled to find the words. "Live. A normal life. I could not live in your village."

He had thought about it for the entire journey there. He was willing to enter the arrangement for the people's benefit, in times as these, they needed to be stronger and more united. But he could not let them go forward with their decision if he had not informed them of what he couldn't give them or what life he led. The Chief frowned.

"This is not the way Ratonhnhaké:ton. Have you forgotten the rules of our ancestors?"

Connor's heart dropped, he had hoped that they would just accept it without arguments.

"With all respect Chief, I don't mean to go against anything. But I have a task, a duty if you will, that I must see-through. Even if I do marry into your Clan, I still cannot stay in your village. You would be subject to greater danger than you already are."

The Clanmother who had been watching him silently and curiously during the exchange, now smiled gently and spoke to him.

"We know of your deeds Ratonhnhaké:ton. We know of your strong bonds with the white people and we understand that these bonds are you. We wish for them to continue." She paused and smiled a bit ruefully, "We knew your Clan had bonds and influence with the white men and we had hoped to take advantage of that, which is the reason that we desired the marriage in the first place. We are quite grateful that these bonds still live on with you, even after your village has gone. I hope you do not think less of us for it."

"I am of the same mind, so I cannot complain"

The Clanmother smiled at him and turned to the Chief.

"Well, if not living in the village is all the opposition you have to this arrangement, then shall we put it behind us and discuss the terms of the marriage?" The Chief nodded curtly. Connor bowed in respect toward the both of them.

"I count on your wise guidance Clanmother and Chief"

The discussion lasted until the sun had finally gone down and both sides were happy with the arrangement. They had agreed to allow Ratonhnhaké:ton to live outside of the village and continue his current lifestyle, but insisted that his wife was to go and live with him. They would be free at any time to come back to the village if circumstances allowed. Connor in return for this, would be the bridge between the Colonials and the village, and help them to retain their lands and foster trade deals. The marriage ceremony itself would be a few weeks away with only enough time for Ratonhnhaké:ton to travel to the Homestead and prepare. They would prepare quickly and travel only a few days after him.

The Chief rose to his feet and stretched.

"You must be tired after your long journey brother, come eat and rest with us."

Connor was grateful to comply and soon joined and took comfort in the simple familiarity of the Onondaga's ways. He laid on a borrowed straw mat in the longhouse with some of the other male tribe members. His mind raced through the changes that were soon coming to his life, he eventually fell asleep to the comforting sounds of the wind whistling through the longhouse.

The next morning, he left at dawn break. The Chief and Clanmother came to see him off, he felt regret leaving a place so familiar to him and was tempted to just give it all up and live here forever in a place he would gladly call home, but he knew that this was not possible, he knew that if he stayed the past would only repeat itself. And he would not let that happen to these people.

He took one last longing look at the village in the glistening morning lights before he turned and rode away into the forest.


24 December 1783 - Onondaga Village, New York State

A pair of soft brown eyes watched as the stranger rode away from the village. The woman had returned from the fields just as the stranger was departing and watched until he had vanished out of sight. He had looked as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders and she felt sorry for him.

She had seen his arrival to the village yesterday but had only been able to catch a glimpse of his head above the crowd before he had gone into the Longhouse, she had spoken with the other woman of the tribe and the had speculated on why he would have come.

"Oni:dä"

A call broke her from her thoughts. The Clanmother and Chief were coming toward her and she inclined her head to them both and smiled.

"What can I do for you my Chief, Clanmother?" Oni:dä asked. The old woman smiled and looked at her fondly, before schooling her features and speaking in a serious tone.

"It is your time to marry child" said the Clanmother. She gestured to the direction the stranger had gone, "The man who just left is Ratonhnhake:ton, he is to be your husband." she gave a faint smile, "But only if you are willing."

Oni:dä straightened up, understanding the importance of the situation.

"I will accept the marriage Clanmother."


Hey! And so we meet Connor's wife-to-be.

I don't know how regularly i'll update but i definitely have the whole plot written out (i just need to write it...)

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