Chapter 34:

Three weeks later…

"Uncas?"

Uncas paused in his tracks at the sound of his father's voice. The sun was just barely up and he, Nathaniel and Chaska were all about to hunt. In the weeks that had passed since their arrival at the camp, Uncas had spent very little time with his brother and friend. His priorities, instead, focussed solely on Aegel. In fact, his weeks had passed with very little interaction with Nathaniel and Chaska at all. And it was not until this very morning that he saw Nathaniel packing up to leave that he was overcome with a sense that he just needed to spend time with his brother and silently reached out to touch his arm before he got up to leave. Nathaniel had turned his head towards him and smiled, nothing more and quickly Uncas gathered his things to join him. Though no longer.

Uncas pinched his eyes shut and stiffened his shoulders.

"Track us," Nathaniel said, nudging him towards their father with his shoulder.

"Right," Uncas responded, then spun on his heels to the soft sound of Nathaniel and Chaska's footsteps growing dimmer in his ears. "Yes father?"

"Come. Walk with me," Chingachgook said, turning away from Uncas and heading in the direction of the river.

The walk to the river had been silent. A time for both men to collect themselves and their thoughts for the impending conversation that Uncas knew was coming the moment his father said his name back at the camp. He rolled over his thoughts in his head, quietly toying with many different responses to the various questions he thought his father might ask him as their impending discussion loomed. It was not until he heard the wild rush of the river tickle his ears that he pulled himself away from his own mind and focused on the scene around him.

Uncas's eyes widened and his heart settled, something about the freeness in which nature thrived always brought him to a pause. He drifted his eyes over top of the flowing river, watching as the water's white foamy edges roughly smacked up against the steely curves of the rocks that Mother Nature had laid haphazardly in its path. He stared mesmerized as the river took flight, a wave of tiny bubbles filling the air before crashing back down along the rock turning the grey slate to black. Then finally slinking downward and merging once more with the rushing river. Uncas turned his head to the right. His eyes roaming the unsettled current to where the spray of the waterfall jostled the water below. It was breathtaking and with the sun rising just above the treeline, Uncas knew why his father had chosen this particular spot as it was meant to remind him somewhat of home.

"Uncas," Chingachgook calmly began. "It is time for us to discuss your future. Yours and Aegel's." He extended a hand towards the moss covered ground and immediately both men sat beside the river, Uncas, albeit slightly reluctantly. Chingachgook raised his eyebrows at this, curious why his young son would still, after a year and so many weeks, willingly want to avoid the conversation that at this point simply must be had. "Are you alright son?" Chingachgook asked, taking in the nervous expression on his son's face.

Uncas raised his eyes away from the dirt and up to his father's. "I'm fine, father."

Chingachgook eyebrows arched high into his hairline, shocked by his son's blatant lie. "Why would you lie to me? Since you were a child, your emotions have been as much a part of your face as your nose. I know you are overwhelmed. Speak openly."

Uncas softly smiled. His father had not pestered him once about his relationship with Aegel. Not during the year they spent on the farm or since they have been back at the Delaware camp. At first he wondered if it was because he was letting his love bloom being that Aegel was a Delaware girl, but then later realized it was because he was allowing Uncas to make his own choices and not interfere the way he had with Pru and Martin. A decision on his father's part that he greatly respected. Uncas sighed and deciding to be open with his father began, "These past few weeks have not been easy. It would seem I don't really understand women at all. Other than Pru that is," he said, running his hand through his long, silky hair. "Aegel…she's …she's struggling here. The other girls are mean to her. They don't try to help her or even speak to her. Only Dyani comes to include her. And I'm thankful for that. But even Dyani, with all of her good intentions, Aegel looks at with a contemptuous eye. It's ridiculous. And I've done all I can do to make her feel secure in my feelings but it is not enough."

"Hmmm…," Chingachgook began, "Kasa says you have not told her you love her. Is this true?"

Uncas hung his head low and shamefully shrugged his shoulders. "It's true."

"Head up, Uncas. Why is that?"

Uncas lifted his head. "Because I can't seem to find that moment. That all encompassing moment that screams I love you. Martin had one. And though I can't talk to Nathaniel about it, I'm sure he did too. Otherwise he would not still grieve Tanda the way that he does. But for me, I can't seem to find it no matter how hard I look."

Chingachgook calmly stared at his son as he rifled through his leather pouch, aimlessly fingering its contents until satisfaction twinkled in his eyes. He pulled out his pipe, stuffed it and struck a flame with a nearby rock. Large grey puffs of smoke billowed out from the pipe, momentarily obscuring Uncas's face from his own. He had been worried for Uncas. Quietly observing his interactions with Aegel, not just these past few weeks but the past year as well. While they were at the farm, things seemed like they were progressing well between them. Slow and steady and away from prying eyes. But here. Here is where the true challenge would begin. It's easy to love someone when the environment around you is calm and stable. When there are few people to intervene in the matters of your heart. The farm was very different from the environment they now found themselves in. Here he had watched as many young girls tried to sway Uncas to their favor, always his son would smile and try to avoid their physical closeness and politely excuse himself from their presence. Always remaining sweet and gentle. And while he never actually told any of them no or declared Aegel as his woman, his actions always left that to be implied. For Aegel's part, Chingachgook watched as her once youthful and sweet demeanor seemed to age and deteriorate as though she had witnessed first hand the heartbreak of battle. And perhaps she had, to some degree, witnessed her own sort of battle. When first she reconnected with Uncas she was lighter, funnier and more open with her emotions. And while he did not know the innermost thoughts or conversations had between them, it was clear that as time went on she was becoming more and more fragile.

"Do you love her?" Chingachgook asked, deciding it was best to be straight forward.

"I…I…I think I do. Yes…yes I do," Uncas stammered out.

"Hmmm…," Chingachgook drawled as he took a deep inhale of his pipe. "You seem unsure. Kasa has asked me for a commitment of marriage. How do you feel about that?"

Uncas's eyes widened, bigger and brighter than those of a frightened doe. "I'm not ready for marriage and family yet, father. I know it is your wish for me, but I'm not ready yet. I don't want to disappoint you. How can I raise a child when I'm still trying to figure out what my own path is meant to be?"

"Martin is raising two children and he's not yet twenty. Nathaniel, too, would have raised his child still as a young man."

"I know both to be true. Martin was born to be a husband and father. It's so natural for him. So much so I will not be surprised if he and Pru have a dozen babies," Uncas said with a soft chuckle. "And Nathaniel, he knows who he is, understands himself completely. He knew that he was a wanderer. A man of nature. And Tanda never asked him to change. Never wanted him to be different. Only when Nathaniel realized he could not live separate from her any longer did he come to the decision that he wanted to marry her. And that was before he had any knowledge about the baby. But he came to that decision on his own." Uncas lowered his voice and added. "I feel like I'm being forced into a life that I'm not ready to live. Forced by both you and Aegel."

Chingachgook sucked in another deep puff of smoke, filling his lungs to capacity as he dwelled on his son's last comment. He had no control over Aegel's behavior or emotions. But his, he did. Chingachgook reached out with his pointer finger and traced the outline of Uncas' forlorn face, clearly seeing the toll the last few weeks had had on his son etched into his youthful features. Then as the smoke left his lungs reached out and stroked Uncas' cheek. "I will not force you to make a choice that you are not prepared to make. I love you son and wish only for your happiness. Whenever and however it may come." Chingachgook dropped his hand from Uncas's face, pausing before he issued one last bit of advice. "I will tell you to tread carefully with Aegel. She is young and she is inexperienced in life and love. Do not unconsciously lead her down a path that you do not wish to travel down yourself. If you do, you will certainly injure both of you. And I know in your heart, however well intentioned, that is not what you want."

Uncas stared into his father's dark eyes, letting his words resonate within him. He was relieved that his father understood him now and that he was no longer going to be forced to marry. It was a hard concession for his father to make, Uncas knew with him desiring nothing more than to have his bloodline carried on, and no doubt he partially had Pru and Martin to thank for it. He was proud of his father for seeing through the wreckage of the past and being able, no matter his own wishes, to choose a different path for the future. Uncas made a mental note to squeeze Pru and Martin a little harder for a little longer when he returned to them. Though it was his father's last words of caution that had him suddenly lurch his body forward into Chingachgook warm sturdy arms, desperately seeking comfort for a situation he did not know how to handle.

Chingachgook wrapped his arms around Uncas's broad back, swirling a large, calming circle with his palm around it and whispered into his ear, "You will find the right path, son. No matter how rocky the terrain might seem, I promise you…you will find the right path."

Slowly, Nathaniel lowered his rifle, narrowing his eyes and peering through the swirling grey smoke that clouded his vision, to see the buck he had just shot keeled over on its side in the last of autumn's green grass. He shifted his body to the left, clapping eyes with Chaska and nudging his head in the direction of the fallen buck. Then both men straightened from their crouched positions and began to walk towards the dead animal.

"Good shot," Chaska praised. "Your aim is still the best I've ever seen."

"I'm sure there's better… somewhere," Nathaniel drawled with one eyebrow raised in jest as he examined the wound in the buck's neck.

"Always modest," Chaska laughed as he crouched down beside the animal and began chanting a prayer in Delaware.

Nathaniel ran his fingers along the buck's coarse fur, "I am…aren't I," he said with a slight chuckle. Then raised himself up and glanced around, instantly spying Aegel bent over a small bush picking, what he assumed to be berries, in the distance. She must have heard the shot and seen that it was them, otherwise she would have fled.

"You would never have to speak a word of disgust to her, since your face gives away everything you are feeling," Chaska said, standing up beside him.

"I won't apologize for how I feel," Nathaniel snapped back.

"Nor should you, but she is young. Time and experience have yet to change her. She might surprise you, if you let her."

Nathaniel sucked in a deep breath and turned his head towards Chaska, "I know you are saying this for Uncas and I can respect that. Pru and Martin both tried the same tactics. But this girl has no sense of family or loyalty. And I understand it's not her fault. Her father died and her mother scooped her up and disappeared with her to a much, much smaller community. But she is who she is now and I don't want to see my little brother hurt by the silly heart of a silly girl." He shifted his gaze back towards Aegel. Nathaniel knew the world was filled with women like her, but never would he have thought that Uncas would end up with one of them. He had always expected him to be someone close in nature. A watcher of the world and the people in it. Someone calm but who's blood ran fiercely within their veins. The very thought of this imaginary someone only seemed to piss Nathaniel off more and he began to solemnly shake his head. "He's with her everyday. Always sneaking off to do whatever it is they're doing. I was shocked to my core this morning when he remembered who I was."

"He missed you. And you know exactly what they're doing and why they're doing it. He's in love," Chaska said and quickly raised his hand to stop Nathaniel from saying whatever was on his tongue, then continued, "I know you don't believe it's love and maybe it's not. But he thinks it is. And until he decides otherwise you have to bear whatever choices he makes…because you love him."

Nathaniel glared at his old friend, always bothered when he spouted out words of wisdom. "I hate when you do that."

"Do what?" Chaska said with a knowing smile.

"No. I definitely will not give you the satisfaction of saying it. Now let's get this buck back to the village."

Chaska smirked as Nathaniel squatted down and began to shift the buck a top his shoulders then turned his eyes briefly back to Aegel, watching as she moved in and out from between the bushes. Young and beautiful she was for certain. Chaska could understand Uncas' attraction to her and why his young friend felt the need to always be by her side. There was an elegance to her movements, almost as though she was dancing slowly with each new piece of forest she passed by. And while it seemed to him that her gracefulness was entirely unintentional, he understood why the village girls kept their distance. Not only was she favored by Uncas, which made her a foe of sorts, but keeping her company would mean that all of the rest of the men in the village would be drawn to her and that did not bode well for young girls looking to find themselves a husband. He sympathized with both her and Uncas as it was clear their romance had a certain sting to it. And although he believed Nathaniel's contempt for her somewhat unjustified, Chaska knew his friend was not altogether wrong in his perception of her either. He too had watched her and in doing so saw more than just her beauty. Something else did linger in that girl. A helpless desperation that fed incorrectly could turn even the most docile of creatures rabid. He furrowed his brows, shaking off the sudden chill that crept into his spine as the thought filtered through him and right where he stood said a silent prayer. In the hopes that The Great Spirit would hear him and protect both the young lover's hearts.

"You alright?" Nathaniel asked.

"Yea," Chaska responded, having been knocked from his thoughts by Nathaniel's voice.

"Good. Let's go. He's fucking heavy!"

As Nathaniel wandered off, Chaska took one last look at Aegel and whispered, "Please Great Spirit…watch over them."

"You coming?" Nathaniel hollered.

At the sound of Nathaniel's gruff voice, Aegel turned her head in their direction. Chaska smiled softly and nodded his head at her. Then without waiting for a response, turned and began walking back to the village with a grumpy, weight bearing Nathaniel.

The sun had set long ago leaving in its wake a deep sapphire sky and scattered throughout it dozens of twinkling stars. So often throughout his life when he was feeling even the tiniest bit of turmoil Uncas would turn his head upwards towards the stars, allowing his dark eyes to search across the maze of evening's fantastical silvery lights in the hopes of being guided towards the best path. The right path. And usually his efforts worked. The wise spirits encased within the stars always seemed to lead his heart in the proper direction. Though, not tonight.

Uncas blinked his eyes and righted his head, focusing his weary eyes on Aegel's shadowy silhouette in the distance. He could not make out what it was she was doing, only that whatever it was, she was doing it alone. As she always seemed to be these days when he or her mother were not with her. He narrowed his eyes on her in thought. On the farm Pru had happily included her in every menial task she did and Aegel had always reciprocated with a warm, earnest smile as she followed Pru off to wherever that task led her. But here, at this camp, surrounded by these people, everything seemed different. Watching her in the shadows, he could not help but wonder if Aegel truly was so insecure in herself or their relationship that she found herself more comfortable in solitude to the company of others? Then immediately he shook his head back and forth in frustration. Of course she was insecure. It was his own doing or lack there of that forced such negativity and insecurities upon her. And for the thousandth time that day he pondered why he simply could not verbalize what he was certain was in his heart. Slowly and solemnly his eyes fell away from her, landing instead on a charred piece of wood that edged its way free from the fire. It laid in the dirt cracked, split apart and only partially still aflame from the evening's bonfire. Much like, Uncas thought, how he felt in the moment. He sighed deep in thought. Then shifted slightly in his seat when he felt a strange warmth radiate down his left side.

"Hello Uncas," Kaydee cooed into his ear. "Enjoying the night's warmth?"

Uncas arched an eyebrow at her choice of words and very casually slid as far away as he could without falling off the log he was perched on. Kaydee, along with several other young girls and their mother's, had been cornering him on and off for weeks. Between the material gifts he'd been given, the additional food and, most embarrassing, the song one painfully young girl sang to him and of which Nathaniel will never let him live down, Uncas had had his fill of female attention. The only thing he had been thankful for during the whole ordeal was that Aegel had not had to bore witness to it. The song at least. The other intrusions were done almost purposefully right in front of her face. Uncas' shoulders sagged at the thought. While he had not entertained even one single gesture, he could not imagine how hard it would have been had he had to watch men fall all over Aegel. "The fire is actually a bit overwhelming," he plainly stated.

"Hmmm…perhaps a walk in the forest with the cooler air would set you right? I'd be happy to keep you company?" She said, scooting closer towards him.

Uncas wrinkled his brow and turned his head towards her, "Why are you playing this game Kaydee? I'm clearly with someone." His words are a tad more forceful than he intended.

Kaydee raised her left eyebrow in question. "Are you? Are you really? Because I have not seen nor heard of anything between you two that would suggest that your attachment is serious." Kaydee waved her arm in Aegel's direction in challenge. "Look at her, Uncas. Off in some corner by herself. Choosing to dwell in the shadows instead of joining the rest of us. Though not much good it would do her anyway had she chosen to be an active part of the village," Kaydee softly snickered. Then quickly changed her tone hoping Uncas had not heard her. "She is beautiful but what of beyond that? And if there is something beyond that then why, after all these weeks, have you not married her yet?" Kaydee eyed him seriously, watching as the firelight licked his cheeks. Then deciding it was now or never, added, "I will make you a good wife. I will care for you, care for our children. And with me, you are free to remain the man that you are, that you always have been…"

Uncas stared, mouth agape, at her for a moment. He was not sure if it was the warmth from the fire or the searing heat of Kaydee's words but Uncas felt his blood begin to slowly boil. He could feel his hands begin to twitch and his face turn down into a nasty scowl. Listening to Kaydee talk of her wifely virtue and Aegel's lack thereof was about as far as his temper had ever been pushed and he grew up with Nathaniel. Frustrated, Uncas hopped up onto his feet and stormed across the village. He could not bear to hear another word of Kaydee's judgement, nor was he going to sit there and justify his relationship to someone who very clearly wanted her own relationship with him. His usual light step has turned thunderous as he made his way towards Aegel. Enough was enough. He approached her from behind and gripped her hand roughly, making her yelp slightly in surprise. Then without acknowledging her shock, led her into the darkness of the forest.

"Uncas…what is this all about? What's going on?" Aegel's shock quickly turned to worry when he failed to answer her. Then abruptly she twisted her wrist free of his grasp and yanked her arm back. "Tell me right now what's going on?"

Uncas turned his body to face her. His hands were shaking and his emotions felt like a hurricane swirling all around him. He stood, mouth agape, staring at her while the earlier words of his father clashed with those of Nathaniel's, whose words danced in wild circles around Kaydee's. He pictured Aegel alone and sullen, wandering around the camp as she completed her daily duties, ostracized by her peers because she was associated with him. Uncas covered his face with his hands, as though somehow he could block it all out. But he couldn't and instead was suddenly assaulted by every emotion he had ever felt in his life. He yelled into his palms, frustrated by the man he was becoming.

"Uncas?" Aegel asked, taking a small step towards him.

Uncas dropped his hands from his face and rushed towards her. His lips catching hers before another word could fall from her tongue. He would show her. He would show her the depths of his feelings for her. He would put all the village girls and their mothers in their place. He would silence his brother and put his father's concerns to sleep. He would handle it all and he would handle it right now…

Author's Note: Hi everyone! I am so sorry for my extremely LONG pause between chapters! There is nothing else to say but LIFE! Thank you to everyone who reached out to me! It was wonderful to know that you all care and that you're all excited for the next update!

Uncas is at his wits end here, fighting his own demons and Aegel's as well. Though it would appear that Kaydee's words have finally pushed him over the edge and into a rather rash decision. I guess we'll have to see what he plans to do in the next chapter! I have big plans for the next few chapters before canon, some of which will include an additional small story line for our dear sweet Chaska! So hold onto your hats!

Thank you everyone who has viewed/reviewed and favorited this story! BlueSaffire, MohawkWoman, AsterLaurel, ELY72, BrynnaRaven your support is and always will be amazing!

Thank for reading ;)