Chapter 4
6 January 1784 – Davenport Homestead, Massachusetts State
As the group came in view their quiet conversations halted at the sight of Connor and Prudence. Both parties were silent as the man followed by three Onondaga women made their approach, the snow crunching beneath their moccasins.
As they approached, Connor noticed that they each carried a basket each filled to the brim. However he soon forgot the baskets, and failed to take much notice of the rest of the group, as his eyes were drawn to focus on the woman stood in the center of the little group.
She wore a similar outfit to the one he was wearing but hers was white that reached to the floor. Instead of the embroidery that adorned his outfit, hers was a lot simpler with only a few strings of beading along the shoulders woven into the tassels that were already there. She had long dark brown hair that was tied neatly into two plaits that laid at either side of her face, and a beaded headdress was carefully placed on top and a beaded necklace on her neck. As they came drew closer, she looked up and her eyes meet his gaze. He gulped.
This was his bride.
The man reached into the satchel he was carrying and brought out two mats, placing one in front of the mat Connor had put out in the morning and placing the other adjacent. He then gestured for both parties to sit.
Both parties then wordlessly sat on the mats facing each other. Prudence sat in the center of one mat with Connor at one side, and the old Onondaga woman sat in the center of the other with both the bride and the third woman at her sides. The man then turned to Connor.
"I am the Council chief presiding over this sacred ceremony. We have been informed of your circumstance, that due to the lack of clan woman you have had need to ask for the help of an outsider for the ceremony. Is this she?" Connor nodded.
"This is my good friend Prudence. She is trusted and well-respected within this place. She will be representing my mother in the ceremony and I will translate it for her so she will be able to participate." The council chief nodded and began the ceremony turning to address the Onondaga woman in the center.
"Woman what is the name of this daughter, and what of the Clan she is from?"
"Oni:dä from the Bear Clan of the Onondaga."
"Is this daughter capable of filling the responsibility of marriage and be able to help guide the future of the Clan as a wife and mother?"
"Yes."
"Do you have proof of this claim?"
"Yes"
The three Onondaga woman then passed Prudence the three baskets that they had been carrying. Prudence took them with grace and looked inside just as she and Connor had practiced the day before. The baskets were filled with cakes of bread, corn, and beading all gathered or made by the bride. Prudence nodded to the Council Chief and he continued with the questions.
"If hard times come will you open up your home to this young daughter and her husband if they ever need it?"
The woman answered affirmative once again. The Council Chief then turned to Prudence and repeated the same questions, but in relation to a son rather than the daughter.
Connor once again repeated the questions to Prudence in English. She managed to respond haltingly to each one in their language as Connor gave her the words for her to repeat after each question. This time Prudence and Connor presented the skins and meat that he had hunted and prepared over the past few days, to which the older Onondaga woman accepted gracefully.
The Council Chief then gestured to the Connor and Oni:dä to move to the center of their mats.
Prudence moved with some relief to the corner of the mat and Connor took his place at the front facing his bride. This time they didn't face each other but together faced the Council Chief.
The Council Chief then addressed Oni:dä first.
"Are you prepared to be a wife to this man? To care for him when illness strikes and care for him and any children that the Creator bless you with?"
"Yes"
The voice was soft and gentle as each question was answered, and Connor realised that this was the first time that he had heard the voice of the woman he was marrying and without realising he leaned in and listened more closely to the sound.
The council chief continued listing of the responsibilities, to which Oni:dä responded affirmative at the end of each. Then in term he turned to Connor and responded with the same questions to which Connor answered the same. The Onondaga man then stood and again placed his hands on each of the couple's shoulders.
"May the Creator bless you as you travel life together."
The two parties then arose, and Prudence said her goodbyes before heading in the direction of the Mine to collect Hunter. Connor and his new wife then walked the Onondaga group to the edge of the Homestead's north-west boundary line. Then, saying their goodbyes they left, Connor and Oni:dä stood and watched them until they disappeared out of sight. Connor turned to the woman at his side.
"The people of this village are eager to meet you, they have prepared a feast to celebrate your arrival if you are willing to come."
"They are your new clan?" was the soft questioning reply.
"In a way, yes."
"Then we are family. I will gladly great them."
"They are at the Inn" He pointed in the direction and they both began walking through the forest on the worn paths. They spoke only a little on the way back, Oni:dä would ask questions about the Homestead inhabitants and Conor willingly answered. It was nice to talk to someone once again in his native tongue and they passed the time like this until the Inn came into view.
The Homestead children were looking down the streets and waved to the new couple as they came into view. They ran up to greet them and gathered around chattering to Connor about what the feast looked like, he smiled at their antics and guided Oni:dä down towards where the tables had been laid out near Terry and Godfrey's bowling lawn.
Corrine and Prudence were by the tables putting the final dishes of food on the table whilst also directing Warren, Oliver, Father Timothy, and Doctor White where to put the other food dishes. Ellen and Myriam were talking together with Norris and Big Dave, and the others were gathering their children ready to begin. All of them had prepared their best outfits and he could tell they were all determined to make a good impression to the new arrival.
Catherine and Diana came over first to welcome them with the children in tow.
"We've be so excited to see you my dear! I hope your journey wasn't long."
"What's your name love?
Oni:dä looked astonished and Connor quickly stepped in and translated the questions for her. Then he turned back to Diana and Catherine.
"Oni:dä doesn't speak English very much so I will be translating for her."
"Ah! So her name is Ohni- Owne-."
"Oni:dä."
"Ownida?"
"Oni:dä." He repeated with emphasis on the syllables. Catherine laughed and, to Connor's great astonishment, she hugged the equally surprised Onondaga bride.
"Oh my, I'm sorry my dear it's going to take me a while to get that right."
This broke tension from the area and the other Homesteaders laughed and came closer to say hello and introduce themselves.
Oni:dä just nodded and allowed Connor to lead her to the food. The rest of the evening went smoothly. The Homesteaders chatted among themselves and Connor sat by his new wife translating any questions and conversations directed at her, to which she responded in broken English.
The sun had long gone down by the time Connor decided it was time to retire and told the Homesteaders they would be leaving. Godfrey and Norris gave him a look at this statement which he didn't understand and just decided to ignore them. They said their thanks and goodbyes and made their way up to the Manor. They walked in silence, each to their own thoughts, making their way through the dark crisp area until they walked past the Church when Oni:dä spoke.
"They are all from different places." It was a statement rather than a question.
He nodded, "Yes, they have found a new home in this place."
"They are happy here aren't they?" She questioned. He looked up at the sky and smiled.
"They have come from tough backgrounds they deserve some happiness."
"They all love you very much Ratonhnhaké:ton."
Connor glanced over at Oni:dä with some astonishment at this statement, but she was looking at the path ahead as she continued,
"I can see that they really have really become your family, your new Clan." She hesitated, "If I could, I would like to get to know them better."
He smiled at her as they walked up the steps of the Manor.
"I will show you around tomorrow when you've had enough rest, you can greet them properly then." He opened the door to the Manor and gestured for her to come inside. "It's been a long day and I'll show you to your room."
He made his way up the stairs with Oni:dä following after him and gestured for her to walk in. She walked into the room and looked around for moment without saying a word. He stood by the doorway and watched as she took in the surroundings. He wished he could have got her room prepared in advance, but it still would take a week or so to make a new bed.
"I'll get another room prepared for you later so you can have your own space." She looked at him with some confusion at this statement.
"It's fine, I don't require two rooms."
"I mean for a bedroom."
"Isn't this our bedroom?"
He hesitated "Well, yes. But are you sure? You will be sharing with me."
"We are married, I assumed I would be staying with my husband." She looked self-conscious now, "But if you don't want to, I will be fine staying in another room-"
"No I don't mind, I just assumed you wouldn't want to…"
His voice trailed off and an awkward silence took its place in the air between them. When he heard a knock at the door, he gladly excused himself and quickly made his way downstairs. He opened the door to reveal an exhausted looking Irishman.
"Duncan, what brings you here at this late hour?"
"I'm sorry Connor but Dobby sent me to send you some information about some of the new recruits."
"Alright, go to the north by the ridge and I'll meet you there." Duncan nodded and disappeared into the night. Connor swiftly went back to his room and retrieved him assassin coat and weaponry. Oni:dä watched him quizzically as he strapped the belt around and slung his quiver over his shoulder. He turned back to her.
"There is something I need to do, please rest first." He told her gently.
She looked startled for a moment, and he thought her saw a look of confusion and hurt pass over her face, but when he looked at her again it was gone. He picked up his bow and quickly left the Manor leaving the new bride behind.
After speaking to the Duncan for an hour or so and giving him some instructions to relay to Dobby, he made his way on his usual rounds through the Homestead. It had become a habit after outsiders kept coming in and hurting the Homesteaders, like the army coming for big Dave and Ellen's abusive husband. He sometimes found people in the forest who were either trying to poach or steal, to which he threatened to get of the land before he threw them out, but after the first few it was rare that he saw anyone.
The patrol was usually a time to clear his head and to have some peace from the sometimes-difficult balance of running a, now fully functioning, town and an ever-growing Assassin Brotherhood.
It gave him time to think, and this time all he could think of was his own brand-new status of Husband.
After enduring his own wedding, he could finally feel some pity towards Myriam. He now fully understood why she ran away from her wedding almost cancelling the whole affair.
He had been tempted to just run from his own wedding. The only thing that had kept him rooted in place was his promise to his people and hers, and the humiliation both parties would receive if he had just bolted.
How could he be a husband to this woman?
He'd spent so long on the front-lines of war being a solider and assassin that he had partially forgotten how to be with people as a group, let alone a family unit. The Homestead had helped him overcome some of his social ineptness, but he still was wary around people and was always on guard for danger in any form.
He had been raised from his youth into adulthood to be a warrior and stay in the shadows. Kill those who needed killing for the greater good and keeping the Templars from destroying people's freedom. Brought up to do what was right who fights for the weak, not a husband, let alone a good one.
As he jumped from each tree, free-running through the forest, he thought again about the startled look that had passed over her face. When he had said he that she could sleep first she had looked confused for a moment and he wondered why. Connor shook his head as if to free the thoughts from his mind and focused on the task ahead of him.
It had been some time since night had fallen and the moon shone high in the sky, it's bright light reflecting on the gently rippling water of the river below and lighting the gaps between the trees as he made his way past the mine Norris worked in during the day. Connor silently leapt over the river and made his way up the hill.
Once again in the trees, he passed Ellen's house and ran by the Inn. The other homesteaders were asleep by now and only remnants of the feast remained by the inn, the banners fluttering in the night breeze. This scene once again reminded him of the wedding from earlier and he recalled once again of his new wife's expression from when he left. Which he again pondered as he passed the Manor again on his way towards the docks.
He wondered if it could be the fact that said he had something to do. It's not like he was a normal Clan member, he had a duty to the Brotherhood and to the people of the homestead to keep them safe. If he was a normal clan member, he would have probably stayed in a new longhouse together for their wedding night.
Oh.
Suddenly Norris and Godfrey's expressions at the party made sense.
Losing his footing, Connor stumbled landing on the next branch, he thrust his arms out in front grabbing the branches to keep himself from falling from the tree. Connor pulled himself up to a safe position gripping onto the adjourning branch for support and stood for a moment breathing heavily. Once he caught his breath he groaned and sank down into sitting position on the thick branch underneath him as realisation struck him.
"You fool" he muttered to himself his face falling into his hands.
It was her wedding night. That's why she had been so confused and hurt. He had insulted her in possibly the worst way imaginable by accidentally rejecting her.
He needed to go back and apologise.
Connor turned in the tree and once again started running back the way he had come. Faster this time, he quickly bounded from each tree until the Manor came back into view, I single light coming from the bedroom . He quickly made his way inside the front door into the dark corridor and quietly up the stairs to where the light was coming from. His heart thumped against his chest rapidly, and he quickly tried to think of ways he could say sorry to her as he made his way up the stairs. He entered the bedroom and looked at the bed the source of the light was from a small stub of a single candle lit on the small table at the side of the bed.
He could see her sleeping silhouette from the faint light that the candle had emitted. As he approached the bed, he noticed that she was lying on top of the usual furs in her clothes from the wedding, as if she had fallen asleep when waiting for him.
Once again Connor cursed his stupidity and picked up the woven blanket that usually laid over the chair and gently placed it over her. He figured the least he could do at this point would be to help her feel more comfortable in her sleep.
Oni:dä shifted in her sleep as the blanket touched her and Connor froze. She turned over on her back and exhaled gently through her nose as she settled into a more comfortable position. Connor waited until she stopped moving and slowly placed on the rest of the blanket, carefully covering her so she wouldn't be cold.
He would have to apologise in the morning.
Taking off his coat he made his way over to the chair and laid the assassin coat and weapons over it. Taking only the small hunting knife, he walked over to the bed and placed it underneath where he could reach it quickly if the need arose. Connor took his boots off and blew out the flame on the candle before carefully lying underneath the furs on the bed at the other side of the bed as not to disturb the sleeping woman.
He laid for a while in the dark staring into the blank space before drifting off to sleep.
Poor Connor, he's trying his best. Sorry if this chapter was a bit boring, i was trying to make the ceremony as accurate as i could without having it too long. Remember to leave some kudos and reviews if you liked it :)
Also (if anybody was curious) the inspiration for the wedding ceremony and outfits came from here: /social-sciences/A-Mohawk-Valentine-Sacred-Marriage and the food baskets and fur trade came from a book i found about Iroquois wedding ceremonies in the late 1700's)
