Chapter 9: Where The Heart Is
October 1745
Sampson sat nestled comfortably in his newly crafted rocking chair. He rubbed his thumbs along the soft, perfectly smoothed Oak, gently dragging his nails through the slightly sunken swirling design that decorated its surface. He had spent several hot and sweaty summer weeks in his old carpenters shed instructing the boys on how to create such a sturdy and intricately designed masterpiece, guiding them both as a group as well as individually throughout the process. Over two months had passed since his lessons first began and just this evening, the night before they were all going leave for the Delaware camp, the three boys had proudly ushered him outside to bestow on him their jointly crafted masterpiece. Sampson had been awestruck by the boys efforts, running his hands along the rocking chair's smoothly carved edges and squatting down beside it as he examined the curved base, rocking it lightly back and forth. Smiling widely to himself, he stood up and yanked all three boys into his embrace, praising them for a job well done and mumbling how the students had become the masters. After which he promptly sat in his new chair, elevated his feet up on the porch rails and burrowed himself deep into the soft wood. Where he planned to remain for the duration of the evening.
Even now, hours later and in spite of the brisk evening air, Sampson still sat swaying back and forth atop his cabin's rustic porch. He pulled tighter to the woolen blanket that Pru had donned around his shoulders before all four of the children went running off into the glade to start their annual farewell bonfire. Tomorrow the Mohicans would depart once more for the Delaware camp, leaving him and a forlorn Martin alone for the winter season. This separation was hard on his son he knew. Martin would often become very somber in the days just after the boys left, quietly sulking around the cabin as he made his way through his daily chores and taking little to no joy in their after supper discussions or the books that they would alternate reading to pass the time. Though last year had been the worst, with his son receding even further and longer into his self imposed solitude. A stark loneliness he knew had to do with the absence of a very sweet, very resilient young girl. A girl who had unknowingly resurfaced the artist Martin once was before his mother's passing. A girl that had brought about his son's desire to play music again for the first time since Lydia's death many years ago.
Sampson sighed as the melody drifted off of Martin's violin and into his ears. The sweet sound encompassing all of his senses and momentarily jaunting him back in time…
"Martin, come sit in my lap," Lydia had sweetly said, beckoning Martin towards her with a slight wiggle of her fingers.
Sampson lifted his eyes up from the book of sonnets he was reading and watched as Martin shuffled happily across the creaking wooden floor, plopping himself unceremoniously into his mother's lap.
"Do you see this darling?" Lydia asked, taking Martin's hand in hers and gently moving the pads of his tiny fingers along the smooth wooden surface of her immaculately maintained violin. She peered down at her son, smiling at the wonderment in his green eyes , this being the first time she had ever allowed him to touch her precious instrument. She cupped his little chin with her left hand and drew his face upwards towards hers and said, "Would you like to learn my sweet boy?"
Martin smiled widely, the white of his partially toothless mouth incandescent against the orange flames of the hearth and reaching up with his left hand, encircled his mother's wrist with his fingers and happily declared, "Yes Mama!"
Lydia leaned down and rubbed her long thin nose against Martin's short stout one and said, "Then we shall begin."
Lydia gently adjusted Martin in her lap and reached for the violin and its accompanying bow. She slid the chin rest between Martin's neck and shoulder and placing her hand atop his own began guiding the bow beneath his tiny palms and across the violin's taut strings. A series of excited giggles had come tumbling out of Martin's lips at the scratchy cadence he was producing and Lydia had immediately lifted her gaze to meet her husband's eyes. An expression so perfectly balanced with pride and delight beaming across her beautiful face that Sampson had suddenly rose from his seat, crouching before her and with Martin's little form smushed in-between their bodies, took both of her cheeks in his palms and kissed her with every ounce of love he had inside himself. For she was the most magnificent woman he had ever known and she was all his for however long God allowed.
Sampson brushed away the solitary tear that slipped from his right eye at the memory and focused his attention once more on his son. Martin was standing to the left of the fire, his posture perfect as he drew the bow along the strings, over and over again in a rapid melody worthy of the savage dancing that Nathaniel, Uncas and Pru were engaged in. He watched as Pru sashayed wildly between them. The measure of the music imposing on her soul the need flutter around in giddy spheres as her skirts continued twirling higher and higher above the ground with each new movement. She had latched onto Nathaniel and Uncas's hands, forcing them to join her as she spun them in unrestrained circle along the perimeter of the fire's stoney border. Round and round they went until finally, the brothers broke free of her grasp and fell barreling backwards into the soft grass. Pru flung her head back in a fit of giggles and glided herself over towards Martin. Her unguarded movements telling a story to anyone who wished to know it. Sampson watched bemused as Pru casually placed her palm on Martin's belly, just above his trousers and dragged it slowly around to his back. Where she fisted his shirt in both of her palms and laid her forehead atop his right shoulder. Pru rolled her head sideways, her cheek resting against the sculpted curve of his shoulder. She turned her eyes to the side, staring at Martin's face and meeting his own sideways glance with her eyes. His son's gaze having never left Pru, not for even the smallest of moments. Sampson chuckled softly to himself as he silently observed them and thought to himself... just a boy, a girl and the melody that lingered between them.
November 1745
"I have just begun
A long journey that will run
The length and width of summer time
And the cool fall air will guide me home
Yeah, the cool fall air will blow me home
You'll be miles away
I want to go but I want to stay
The music's begin me to roam
But your love can guide me home
Yeah, your love can guide me home
Starry nights and summer sun
I think you just might be the one
With this mountain pass keeps runnin' on
And I wonder if your love can guide me home
Oh yeah, I wonder if your love can guide me home
I have just begun
A long journey that will run
The length and width of summer time
And the cool fall air will blow me home
Yeah, your love can guide me home
Oh yeah, I wonder if your love can guide me home"
-Long Journey
Written by: Sarah Jarosz
(For Nathaniel)
Nathaniel laid outstretched on his back with his left arm tucked behind his head and his feet crossed at the ankles. His naked body pillowing Tanda's long, lean form as she lay draped almost completely on top of him. He traced his thumb up and down her exposed spine and listened as she softy giggled at the tickling sensation his thumb left in its path. The morning sun was just beginning to peek its way through the deep blue of twilight. Its' golden yellow rays stretching down and softly caressing the cool uncovered skin of the two lovers laying calm in its wake.
"Stop it Hawkeye!" Tanda playfully quipped as she wiggled her body further on top of his own. "I'm ticklish there!"
"I know. Why do you think I keep doing it, eventually you will be completely on top of me again," He said with a wicked grin. Then not wanting to wait any longer, suddenly removed his arm from behind his head, gripped her gently by the hips and glided her slowly across his waist until she was seated comfortably atop him. "Ahhh, see isn't this better," He said dragging his thumbs along the honeyed colored skin around her belly.
"Hmmm," Tanda unconsciously hummed as she let her eyes fall shut at the feel of his warm palms sliding along her cool skin.
"Feel good?"
"You know it does," She cooed through a wide wistful smile.
Nathaniel smirked up at her in return, pleased with himself that he had gotten his way and continued to drift his fingers further up her abdomen to the sweet curve of her breasts. He chuckled when he felt her body constrict as she took a sharp inhale, a direct result of his sensitive touch upon her flesh. The sweet sound only encouraging him further as he gently rolled her erect nipples between his thumb and forefinger, watching as her delicate features contorted from a state of peacefulness to one of pleasure. Nathaniel bit down on his lower lip as he became assaulted with the now familiar tingle of desire growing in his groin with each soft caress of her lithe body. She's beautiful, he thought as watched her lips part against the sensitivity of his calloused touch. She's beautiful and she's mine. When her breathing shifted to shorter raspier breaths and her hips begin involuntarily rocking back and forth atop him, Nathaniel pulled himself up into a seated position and took her face between his palms, kissing her with a wild hunger that he felt deep in his belly and his heart.
His heart. Nathaniel knew with complete certainty that his heart, warm and beating rapidly in his chest, was undeniably hers. He knew that she had stolen it right out from within the carefully guarded curves of his rib cage. He stared down into her now gaping and flickering gold eyes, her lashes fluttering slowly, seductively as she gripped tighter to his bare back, pulling him flush against her cool skin.
"Hawkeye..."
Nathaniel slid his right hand from her face, shifting it around her neck and under her long raven hair, until he cupped the base of her head in his palm. Cradling her in his hand. He brushed the tip of his nose gently against her own and whispered into her mouth, "I love you, Tanda,"
Tanda's body stilled at his words, as though she was a young doe caught in a hunters snare, utterly unable to protect herself. She glided her right hand around his back, tracing the newly defined muscles along his abdomen and chest and positioned the pads of her fingers under his chin, dipping his head further down towards her. She had spent an entire summer season dwelling on her feelings for him, dwelling on their first intimate experience, the first time for both of them and questioning over and over again if she had made the right choice to let her heart lead her to Hawkeye. As the oldest of four sisters, Tanda knew she had a responsibility to her family to wed a strong, capable warrior. Someone who would be present and provide a satisfactory life for her and her family. A satisfactory life, she thought. Is that what she wanted from her husband...a satisfactory life? Hawkeye was nothing like the warriors her mother steered her towards. No, Hawkeye was different. He was far from satisfactory, instead he was extraordinary. Wild and fierce like his namesake. He soared, wings spread, high above their world, beautiful and majestic in the sky and standing out to everyone who met him. Tanda sighed to herself as she peered up into his sparkling blue eyes. Eyes that spoke silently to her of his loyalty and devotion. Eyes that told her a story of what their unconventional future could be. Eyes that were right now, staring deep into the depths of her soul calmly awaiting her acknowledgement of his words. Tanda entwined her fingers with the tips of his long, wavy dark hair. No, Hawkeye was nothing like the boys her mother wanted for her. He was far more precious, far more important and she cared for him far more than anyone she had meet in her young seventeen years.
She peered up, her lower lip just barely grazing along the soft skin of his upper lip. His hot breath flooding her face and making her sigh. Tanda tilted her head back further into his palm and drank in his woodland smell. Her eyes falling briefly as he filled her senses and as she fluttered them open once more said, "I love you now...as I have loved you always. No matter where you are in this world..." Tanda dropped her hand from his chin and rested it upon his chest, where the heart is and continued with, "I am with you in here, just as you are within me…always."
Nathaniel tilted her head towards him and enveloped her mouth with his own, their tongues dancing together in a rhythm inherently theirs. A soft moan escaped her lips as she shifted atop him, giving him the access to her body that they both craved. As their bodies swayed together, between the raspy breaths and gentle caresses, he watched her. Eyes wide open and staring into the endless abyss that was her soul, forever joining with his own. As in this moment and every one after it, she was everything.
Pru ground the berries rhythmically into the wooden bowl. Twisting and turning her wrist over and over again as she peered through the sides of her eyes at the perfectly still wigwam flap. Tanda was over an hour late to their lesson, an occurrence that has never once happened in the past and Pru could not help but wonder if her brother was the reason for her absence. Sighing softly to herself, she focused her eyes on the spot of dirt that was illuminated by the sun seeping in through the top of the wigwam and watched as it continued to slowly move, ticking down the days clock.
After watching for some time as the sun crept further and further away from its original spot, Pru hesitantly glanced up at the nentpike, trying to gauge her reaction to Tanda's absence. Where was she? The thought nervously lingered in her mind as she observed the nentpike's open annoyance over Tanda's absence. When her mother hears of this she will scold her, Pru knew and this time hopefully not publicly. It had only been less than a week since Pru witnessed Tanda's mother slap her across her cheek when Tanda had openly refused to entertain the advances of a well respected Delaware warrior. They had been standing partially in between wigwams, when their muffled argument grew to the point of Tanda's mother striking her. Pru and Chaska had both seen the violent altercation and somehow Pru knew that Enola's anger with Tanda had something to do with Nathaniel and she simply could not stop the nauseous feeling that accompanied it.
Enola had been sending suitors Tanda's way on almost a weekly basis since she turned seventeen winters only a few short weeks ago. With her father recently deceased and several younger sisters to care for, once she believed Tanda to be of the appropriate age, her mother had suddenly become extremely eager to marry off her beautiful daughter and as soon as possible. In the hopes that in doing so, a young, equipped warrior would join their family and help take care of them all. It was common knowledge that Nathaniel did not suit the mold of ideal husband in her mother's mind. Mainly due to the fact that he was still very much involved with his own family, still obliged to be with them wherever they were. It was the one thing that held Enola, as well as most mother's at the Delaware camp, back from desiring him for their daughters. While at one point, several different mother and daughter duos had sought him out as a potential husband; the adoptive son of the mighty Chingachgook was viewed by many as a great warrior, exceptional tracker and shrewd tradesman, and when these things were considered Nathaniel was looked upon as quite the catch. Though, most mothers quickly pulled back from the idea of their daughters marrying him when it became clear that he had no intent of casting aside his wandering lifestyle and settling down with any of their daughters and there by that girls' family. Of course, even with that knowledge he still found himself actively pursued by the mother's young daughters. Almost all of whom tried to sway him using the art of attraction and almost all of whom he had had a small bit of fun with before deciding it best not to proceed, knowing in his heart that none of them made him feel anything other then some small sort of physical pleasure. Until Tanda and his carefully guarded emotions sent him reeling towards her like an arrow soaring effortlessly through the sky. The reality of their mutual affection leaving both Nathaniel and Tanda in an undesired state of limbo, and Enola in utter and complete frustration at her daughter's refusal to cast aside her feelings and simply do what she must.
Pru sniggered to herself remembering when Tanda's mother, in pure desperation she believed, had approached Chaska one evening while they were sitting together and asked him to take a walk with her. After seeing the disdainful sideways glance that Enola had given her, Chaska readily did as requested. Enola, after all, was an elder in the camp and he would not refuse an elder's request, regardless of where he thought the conversation was headed or how she had just glared at his friend. When Chaska returned after only a few minutes Pru had raised her eyebrows high into her forehead in question at him. Chaska knew that look well and so knew that she wanted to be told every detail of the conversation, yet he remained silent. Instead scooping mouthful after mouthful of corn mush between his lips in silent answer to her quizzical gaze. His muted, nonchalant response only fueling her curiosity more.
Pru was suddenly jostled from her reverie when the wigwam flap flew into the air and Tanda came scurrying inside, dropping to her knees beside her and quickly putting her head down as she blindly grabbed several herbs at random and began swiftly crunching them between her fingers. "Where have you been?" Pru whispered in English.
"Shh," Tanda whispered back, hoping to draw as little attention to her absence as possible.
Pru shook her head at her, whispering, "She already knows you weren't here all this time. The woman may be old but she's not infirm. Where were you? Or better yet...who were you with?" The silly smile that stretched across Tanda's lips was all the confirmation Pru needed to know that she had been with Nathaniel and promptly said, "Fancy my brother do you?"
Tanda glanced up at Pru from under her downcast eyes, her goofy grin transforming into a wickedly wry smile and said, "He is truly one of a kind."
Pru's mouth fell into a large O shape and she pointed at her friends mischievous grin and said, "You've been spending too much time with my brother!"
"Girls!"
Both Pru and Tanda turned their heads in unison towards the village healer. "Enough of your nonsense and focus." Stifling a giggle, both girls quickly diverted theirs eyes back to the task at hand.
Nathaniel and Chaska sat crosslegged in front of Chaska's wigwam, both cleaning their muskets and enjoying the relatively warm temperatures that Mother Nature had graced them with. The leaves had long ago transitioned from the vibrant red, bright orange or golden yellows of autumn to the incoming winter season's decaying and crunchy brown as they fell scattered from the trees above. The long, barren branches swaying ominously against the blue sky. Winter would arrive soon and with it frigid temperatures and surly snow. Though despite nature's natural transition bearing down upon them, this day particular the sun still felt mild upon their skin as it encouraged the two friends to partake in the sweetness of what could possibly be the last warm day of the season.
"Ugh!" Nathaniel yelped in frustration as his found yet another flaky reddish orange rust spot on his musket.
"What?" Chaska asked as he reached out and twirled the weapon in Nathaniel's hands. Then grimaced as he took sight of the ugly spot. "It appears that you will need a new musket soon my friend. This one might break in two just holding it with all of that rust covering it."
Nathaniel shrugged at Chaska's observation and merely said, "It's old. I think perhaps its best days are behind it."
"Perhaps," Chaska agreed and turning his attention to where he saw Pru and Tanda come out of the nentpike's wigwam. Both girls hands gripped tightly to one side of a large wooden bucket and watched as they headed down towards the stream.
"What are you looking at?" Nathaniel asked, his voice laced with a childlike excitement.
"What are you looking at?" Chaska countered, his eyes never leaving the two girls.
"Ha! Fair enough," Nathaniel began, then nudged Chaska with his elbow, diverting his friends attention back to him and asked, "Pru said Enola came to speak to you the other evening. Any interest in telling me what you two talked about, since I know you didn't tell Pru."
Chaska pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes in debate at his friend. "Just between me and you?" He asked as a type of disclaimer not to tell Pru.
Nathaniel hunched slightly forward, knowing that these few minutes with Enola just got a whole lot more interesting and said, "Just between me and you."
Chaska shifted his body to face Nathaniel and began, "She wanted to ask me if I had any interest in Tanda…if I would be interested in pursuing her."
"Really?" Nathaniel said amusingly.
"Really," Chaska answered matter of factly.
"Do you?"
Chaska closed his eyes and shook his head annoyingly back at him.
"Who do you have interest in?" Nathaniel pointedly asked. Chaska eyes slowly opened and met Nathaniel's wicked gaze. His friends resolute silence speaking volumes and suddenly he was overcome with regret for having asked the question in the first place. Looking into Chaska's lonely eyes he could see the tell tale signs of a boy completely smitten with a girl and he felt a terrible knot overwhelm his belly as he knew all too well where his little sister's heart laid. Far away, in a wooden cabin nestled sweetly in a glade. Nathaniel chewed on his lower lip in debate, silently deciding whether or not to put his friend out of his misery. Then shaking his head back and forth, came to the conclusion that it was not his story to tell, especially if Pru had hardly admitted it to herself and instead diverted his previous question with, "Did Enola say anything about me?"
Chaska suddenly burst out laughing, "I think it's safe to say she doesn't like you very much!" he continued chuckling and added, "And she will like you even less if she finds out that her daughter has been making love to you in forest every chance she gets."
Nathaniel raised his brows high into his hairline and immediately asked, "Did Pru tell you that?"
Chaska reached out and placed his palm on Nathaniel's shoulder, "Firstly, Pru would never divulge your secrets. Secondly friend, anyone with eyes can see it. You two aren't very subtle in the longing looks you give one another from across the camp." Nathaniel cringed at his sentimental sensibilities and dropped his head into his hand. Chaska smirked at his friends response and continued with, "What are your plans for Tanda?"
Nathaniel took a long breath, Chaska's question forcing his mind to drift back to a few nights ago when Tanda had told him what had happened between her and her mother. She had come to him agitated, every delicate feature in her face assaulted with anxiety. She was quiet at first, as he held her gently against his body. Long moments ticking endlessly by. When finally her silence began to torment him and he pleaded with her to speak, only then did she open up to him about the argument. He listened in silence, softly stroking her head and hair until she was finished. All the while, his anger churning deep inside of him. He knew that with the death of her father this past summer and Tanda now being considered a woman, Enola had begun aggressively pursuing potential husbands for her, much to Tanda and his own annoyance. He also knew her mother did not approve of their mutual affection and while the unreasonable side of him scoffed at her for it, the rational side understood her thinking. While Tanda excepted his unique lifestyle because she cared for him, her mother did not want her oldest daughter wasting her beauty or her youth on a man that had no intention of settling down and starting a family and life with her daughter. Being honest with himself, Nathaniel knew that he was a poor choice for a husband, regardless of his devotion to Tanda. What was he thinking, letting her love him because he loved her and selfishly expecting her to just be alright with him coming and going as he pleased. It just was not a fair thing to ask of someone, much less someone he loved. After fully hearing what happened between the wigwams, his initial reaction had been one of contempt for Enola, though upon reflection, Nathaniel knew that ultimately her reaction was right. With the exception of her striking Tanda. An event that Nathaniel would forever despised the woman for. Enola. He hated knowing that someone saw him for exactly what he was. A boy, selfishly torn between not wanting to settle down by sacrificing a lifestyle that he enjoyed and not wanting to give up the only person in his life that he has ever felt this type of love for.
Nathaniel's inner thoughts were broken when he gazed off into the forest and saw Tanda and Pru as they made their way back into the camp. A full bucket of water dangling between both of their thin arms and both girls giggling incessantly about this or that. He watched as they carefully waddled across the village, not wanting to spill so much as even one tiny drop of water. When they were almost to the nentpike's wigwam Pru caught his eyes, giving him a long overly exaggerated wink of her left eye and making him huff out a small but loud laugh. The obnoxious sound flowed from his lips catching the attention of his sweet lover. Tanda turned her head towards the familiar sound, her face instantly lighting up when she clapped eyes with him. Her broad smile growing ever wider across her cheeks as her gaze lingered on his gorgeous blue eyes. Nathaniel felt his insides melt at her stare and quickly succumbed to the goofy grin that inched its way across his lips as he watched her. Instinctively he pressed his hand atop his chest, just as she had done only hours ago when she told him she loved him and suddenly everything seemed clear. In one swift moment the selfish boy inside him evaporated and a honorable man stepped forward. Then as this new feeling of clarity overwhelmed him he excitedly declared, "I plan to make her mine."
Author's Note: Firstly, let me apologize to all of the Uncas fans for him not really having a place in this chapter! How I missed that little cutie! Don't worry though he'll be back in the next one ;)
I started out with Sampson and his reflection of his wife. MohawkWoman gave me some good and lasting advice when I started writing the prequel...that I should treat it as the other stories haven't been written yet so to keep with that rhythm, I wanted to show Martin's mother Lydia ( yes Lydia ;) ) introducing music into Martin's life on an artistic level, not just as a listener but as a performer. Especially since music plays a large part of who Martin is. I also wanted to show just how much Sampson loved and misses his wife, as he begins to watch his son embark on his own journey of love.
This chapter was mainly about the development of Nathaniel and Tanda's relationship. Their mutual declarations of love along with their insecurities. Tanda knows she is in love with Nathaniel and because she is so, excepts him and his lifestyle as they are. Which does not bode too well with her mother, who wants her oldest daughter to do what's right both for herself and for their family. And Nathaniel while initially happy with Tanda's expectance of who he is, beings after reflection, to fully understand his selfish notions of wanting his cake and eating too and how that way of thinking is harmful to Tanda. Leaving him at the end of the chapter to see the white light of clarity and say "I plan to make her mine." Guess you'll have to wait to see how that pans out!
I threw in a wee bit of Pru, along with a wee bit of Chaska and his growing feeling towards her. All will be revealed in time there ;)
Once more a shout out to BrynnaRaven for the song win! Ask and ye shall receive!
Thank you to everyone who viewed/reviewed this chapter! AsterLaurel, KuBu14, ELY72, BrynnaRaven, BlueSaffire, MohawkWoman, your continued support through chats, PM's and reviews truly is incredible and is absolutely what helps keep me moving along! Thank you friends!
Thanks for reading ;)
