Chapter 33: And So It Begins

Uncas stepped as quietly as he could over the sodden forest floor, each step he took more mud ridden than the one before. His moccasins squished and sloshined as he went. Since they left the farm nearly a week ago, they had been constantly plagued by one vicious rainfall after the next. Thunder, lightning and wind had all had their way with them. Their wicked fingers pushed and pulled at them, forcing them to retreat into caves too small to hold them and beneath trees, whose canopies had far too many holes to adequately protect them. Though the rain was just a mist now, having lost its splendor as the long day wore on and for the first time in days Uncas was able to see the soft silvery outline of the moon peeking out from behind the clouds. He paused in his step, water dripping from his soaked clothing and saturated hair. He tilted his eyes upward, watching as the misty clouds slowly parted their way across the moon. It was just what he needed at that moment, to see a clear and beautiful future in front of him. And that is what the moonlight was for him right then, hope.

"You alright, little brother?" Nathaniel asked, staring up at him from his seated position on the forest floor.

Uncas softly smiled, hesitant to pull his eyes away from the sky and said, "I'm fine. Just taking in the night." Nathaniel grunted in response and nodded his head, shifting his eyes back to his surroundings. His response made Uncas chuckle and finally yank his eyes away from the sky and spy a moss covered spot beside Nathaniel, which he promptly lowered himself into as he took his position of second watch. "Go on," he said, nudging Nathaniel with his shoulder. "Go off to sleep."

"Not yet. This is the first time it hasn't been raining in days. I'm gonna sit for a bit and enjoy the dryness…in the air anyway. My ass is still soaked," Nathaniel huffed.

Uncas chuckled, "My whole body is soaked. I'm envious it's just your ass." He raised his eyes to the large spanned out pine tree overtop them. The tree's long arms acting as best a canopy as much as possible from the bothersome rain. It was a perfect spot to perch while keeping watch. "I used to love the rain. Lightning. Thunder. Wind. All of it. But this journey has had me cursing it," Uncas said, squeezing the excess water from his hair.

"Well…by tomorrow we'll be surrounded by a warm fire and a dry bed," Nathaniel said, giving Uncas the side eye before continuing. "Will you be sharing that bed with anyone in particular?" His eyebrows raised in question.

Uncas shifted his eyes towards Nathaniel, though did not meet his eyes. This was the first time his brother had actually said even the smallest thing regarding Aegel to him after that first night at the cabin. That brutal night. Uncas's nostrils flared ever so slightly at the memory and he shifted his eyes back towards the moon as recollection flooded him once more….

Hours had passed since Nathaniel stormed out of the cabin with little Elijah in tow. Supper had ended in awkward silence and with everyone retreating into their own sleeping space. Pru and Martin had taken Ash into their room, shutting the door tightly behind them. Aegel and Kasa had taken their father's room. Then after settling him into Martin's old room, since Martin and Sampson switched rooms after Ash was born to give the growing family more space, Chingachgook and Sampson made their way up to the loft to get some much needed sleep themselves.

Uncas laid on his belly atop Martin's old bed. His long feet peeking out of the bed covers as they dangled just slightly over the bottom edge of the bed, impatiently curling his toes. While the air in the room was cool, Uncas felt a blaze burning inside of him as he laid awake in the silence dwelling on the events of the day. And what a day it had been. He buried his face in the pillow and replayed every moment of it in his mind. Waking up to the sound of his sister making love, horrible. Seeing fear and pain in Aegel's eyes as she sought him out for safety, horrible. Racing back to his sister and nephews, horrible. Killing a man, horrible. And then Nathaniel. Uncas sighed as he replayed his brother's venomous words towards Aegel. It was torture hearing Nathaniel's voice so filled with disdain for someone he cared so dearly for. And for the first time in his life Uncas felt torn. His soul split between the brother he loved with all his heart and the girl he had become consumed with feelings for. It was the worst he had ever felt in his life, being paralyzed between two people he cared for and sensing that he, in that moment, had to make some sort of a choice between them. It had been horrifying. And while he did try to deter Nathaniel in his panic he could not choose outright between them and instead called out to Pru for help. Which thankfully she did and with exactly the right words to calm him, at least temporarily.

Uncas shifted his face to the side of the pillow and began plucking at its insides. One by one, feathers floated carelessly to the floor as though the room was trapped in its own snowstorm. That is until he heard the soft creek of the bedroom door and shifted his eyes towards the noise. Where the dim orange and yellow tinted light of the hearth shown in from the hallway.

"You still up?"

Uncas blinked his eyes against the soft assault of light that crept its way into the room and slowly stuck his hand out from beneath the sheets, summoning Nathaniel over with a silent wave of his palm.

Nathaniel wandered into the darkened room, silently weaving through the furniture on memory before quietly sitting down in the rocking chair closest to Uncas. He shifted a sleeping Elijah up higher on his chest and leaned back, hoping not to wake the toddler.

"Still holding onto him?" Uncas asked as he fiddled gently with Elijah's chubby foot.

Nathaniel's lips curled and his left eyebrow shot up, "You know they sleep naked behind closered doors…and I have no intention of seeing that. So I'll spare my eyes and just keep him with me tonight."

Uncas chuckled, even in what he anticipated being a serious moment, Nathaniel could always make him laugh.

"How do you feel?" Nathaniel questioned when Uncas winced slightly through his laughter.

"Do you mean physically or emotionally?" Uncas asked and waited for any sign that Nathaniel would broach the subject on his own and when he did not, continued with, "The herbs Sampson gave me have been helping with the pain. It's much less than when I first woke up. Now if only my head and my heart could feel the same." There, now Nathaniel can not avoid it, Uncas thought.

Nathaniel knew coming in the room that this conversation not only would happen but needed to. And it was much better that they talk about it privately then with prying eyes upon them. Aegel and Kasa's eyes, that is, since their family he knew would leave them in peace to talk about whatever needed to be aired out. Nathaniel sucked in a deep breath and decided to get straight to the point. "I love you little brother. And I know you care deeply for this girl but her actions…leading those warriors to our sister and nephews…," Nathaniel raked his right hand through his hair in frustration. "…I can not forgive her. Not yet anyway."

Uncas sighed in frustration. Nathaniel was stubborn. Always had been, always will be. He had hoped Pru's words would have laid deeper trenches in his mind, but once Nathaniel decided on a way of thinking it was hard for him to shake it. Then something occurred to him. Something Pru had not brought up and would never bring up in front of anyone that was not family. Uncas raised himself up slightly and said, "What if it had been Tanda? What if she was the one who came to the cornfield scared and needed help? Would you have reacted the same way towards her as you did Aegel, someone who I care for?"

Nathaniel had already thought this over in his mind. Stubborn he may be, he was not without rational thought. And the answer was no. He would not have reacted the same way if it were Tanda but that is because the moment everything was settled and everyone was safe, Tanda would have gone into great detail about what occurred. Hell, she probably would have rushed to save Pru and the boys right alongside them, refusing to take no for an answer no matter how unskilled of a fighter she may have been. She would have demanded to help in any way possible, cook supper, clean linens, address wounds, and take care of the boys. She would have done all of it. Tanda was strong. What she would not have done was cower on the sofa wrapped in her mother's arms while the entire household scurried around to take care of each other.

Nathaniel stared back into Uncas's dark and desperate brown eyes. Uncas's heart was pure as gold, still relatively untainted by the ugliness of the world and he did not want to trample that pureness so treading very carefully said, "Tanda and Aegel are different creatures. Their spirits are unique to who they are and because of this so would be their actions."

Uncas furrowed his brows in confusion, "You didn't answer my question."

"Yes, little brother, I did. Get some rest. Your body needs it to heal." Nathaniel rose from the rocking chair and cupped Elijah in both his arms, leaned down and kissed Uncas on top of his head. Before he disappeared from the bedroom completely, ending their conversation.

Even with the passage of a years time, Nathaniel's cryptic words had annoyingly lingered within him. And every so often Uncas would toy with them in his head, twisting them this way or that so he might make perfect sense out of them. As it was right now he had plenty of his own to make sense of. Nathaniel's question while made in jest was undoubtedly a serious one. What would happen when they reached the camp? Would Aegel accept their relationship as it had been or would she desire more? Would what they already have blossom further into love? Love. What of love? Uncas pinched tightly to the bridge of his nose. One tiny conversation with his brother and his head was pounding with questions. He dropped his arm to his side and shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe…," Uncas vaguely replied, resigned to the fact that he had absolutely no idea what would happen when they reached the Delaware camp.

Nathaniel snorted at his brother's vague response and climbed to his feet. "Well, if I were you, I'd figure that out before you get to the camp tomorrow. Because one way or another, you are leaving a trail of broken hearts wherever you go," he said, nudging Uncas with his knee before making his way to a dry spot and plopping down to sleep.

Uncas glanced away from Nathaniel back up towards the sky, catching one last glimpse of the silvery moon before it's light was muted once more by clouds. Hoping and praying that with the new day's dawn, the sun would shine down upon them and with it somehow all of his questions would be miraculously answered.


Uncas squatted shirtless at the edge of a small creek, cupping handfuls of water and splashing them in his face and armpits relishing in the coolness of the water as it dribbled down his skin. While this was refreshing, he longed for an actual bath. The rains of the past week had successfully kept his stench at bay, they had also caked his lower limbs and clothing with mud. If he knew his father did not have plans to leave almost immediately, he would lay flat on his back in the creek and let the water's gentle current wash away his filth. Though sighed knowing that was not going to happen. He raised his eyes to the cloudless blue sky, happy at least that the sun was finally out in all its glory and aimlessly reached for his previously tossed shirt to find the spot empty.

"Looking for this?" Aegel giggled from behind him as she dangled his shirt from her fingertips.

"That would be what I'm looking for," Uncas said, his lips curling into a smile as he eyed her up and down. With the rain gone and the sun's rare appearance, Aegel had stripped away the numerous extra layers she had been wearing in favor of bare legs and arms that extended endlessly out from her body. She was nibbling on her lower lip, and while Uncas knew it to be a nervous habit, he always found it utterly adorable whenever she did it. "Why are you nervous?" He drawled in a deep husky voice as he stood up to his full height and slowly slinked towards her.

Aegel eyes went wide and quickly she spun on her heels and took off running, zigging and zagging through the forest's tall trees. Until she felt Uncas grip onto her waist, circling her around to face him.

"Got you!" He playfully exclaimed, pulling his shirt from her grasp.

"Barely…," Aegel whispered.

Uncas shifted his eyes around the forest, smiling widely when he realized they were still blissfully alone and began to back Aegel up into a tree with his body. They had barely had even one moment alone since the journey began and he was determined to savor it. "I've missed you," he breathed into her face.

Aegel reached up and placed both palms on Uncas's smooth chest. "Hmmm…me too," she said, dragging her fingertips down his abdomen.

Uncas melted into her touch and pressed his body flush against her, squeezing her between himself and the tree. His breathing shifted and he snaked his palms under her blouse, caressing her hips and belly with his thumbs. "I wish we were alone," his hot breath encasing her face with each tantalizing word.

Aegel smiled and tilted her head back against the tree. Nearly two weeks of travel and this was the first time they had any semblance of privacy. There had been no sweet looks. No lost moments in each other's arms. And most of all, no conversation. Her grand idea of using this time to get the bottom of what exactly their relationship was, had quickly vanished. The journey had immediately started off badly with the endless pounding of rain, combined with her mother's overprotectiveness and Uncas being the man that he was. She had not anticipated how focused he would be during their travels. The sweet young man she knew had become muted by the warrior that had laid dormant inside him this past year on the farm. She watched as his eyes constantly scanned their surroundings, always alert to potential dangers. How he held his rifle firm yet loose as though at any moment he could use the rifle as a multi faceted weapon. Uncas was a warrior that his ancestors would have been proud of. And while Aegel understood his raw intent on keeping them safe, she desired nothing more than the carefree moments they had lived on the farm. Days where it could be only him and her for hours on end. She stifled her angst and tilted her head further back, peering up at him from beneath her long dark lashes and breathed into his face, "What are you thinking of right now?"

"How happy I am to be with you…away from the prying eyes of our family," he whispered, tilting his head down towards her.

Aegel rose onto her tiptoes and slid her arms around his neck, whispering back in challenge, "Show me then…"

Uncas's lips curled up into a playful smile just before he pressed them against hers. Weeks had passed since he last kissed her and it showed immediately in his hunger for her. What he wanted to be a slow, sensual kiss became quickly overtaken by his body's eagerness. He did not even understand where this feeling inside him was coming from, only that it was there and it begged at him for more of her. He parted her lips with his tongue and greedily entered her mouth. Their tongues frantically danced inside their mouths as their grip on each other's body tightened. The little moans that seeped out from Aegel's lips only fueled his reaction to her. Without even realizing he was doing it, Uncas slid his hands further up her top, grazing her skin with his calloused fingers until he gently caressed her small breasts in his palms. They moaned together as he touched and toyed at her nipples. And the more her excitement filled body wiggled against him, the harder his manhood became.

Ever since their encounter in the woods his physical reactions to her had magnified, even if his mind did not always agree with it. Any time they brushed up against each other or he stared at her for too long his body reacted. He could not understand it. His blood boiled and his groin pulsed. Uncas thought it completely unnatural and yet he was powerless to stop it. This physical nuisance combined with the varying thoughts that seemed to constantly zigzag through his mind, was almost too much too handle. Uncas pinched his eyes tightly shut and paused his body's hungry assault on her. He sucked in a deep cleansing breath, desperate to regain control of himself, and began to slowly angle himself away from her when his name suddenly echoed in his ears.

"Uncas!"

Uncas' eyes widened to the familiar voice and hastily he yanked his hand out from Aegel's top. Though there was not much he could do about correcting the state of his penis, so he remained pressed up against her warm body as he was in no way in the mood for any of any of his brother's commentary."Yea?" He answered as casually as possible.

"We're leaving. Pull your shit together and let's go."

"Yea. One second and we'll be right behind you," Uncas said over his shoulder.

"Right…," Nathaniel drawled in the disdained laced tone he sometimes used where Aegel was concerned. He shook his head back and forth, then spun on his heels and disappeared from sight.

Uncas looked down at Aegel and immediately chuckled to himself. She had completely molded herself into his body, doing her best to vanish completely from his brother's sight. "He's gone," Uncas said, giving her a kiss on top of her head and bending down to retrieve his cast aside shirt.

"We'll that was embarrassing," Aegel said, wiping her hands up and down along her face.

"Nah, it was only Nathaniel. And he only really saw my back, not what my hands or body was doing," he finished with a wink.

Aegel giggled and adjusted her top. "How long until we reach the camp?"

"A few hours at most," Uncas said as he flung his shirt over his body.

"Uncas…," Aegel began. "I've been wanting to talk to you this whole trip, but with the weather and…"

Uncas paused his movements, taking in the sudden shift in her expression and demeanor. "Are you alright?" He asked, gently placing his palm on the side of her face and caressing her cheek with his thumb.

Aegel gulped and covered his palm with her own. "I…I..ummm…,"

"Let's go, Uncas," Nathaniel interrupted once more, reappearing at the top of the little hill behind them. "Father is waiting."

Uncas did not move to acknowledge Nathaniel, instead he deepened his gaze into Aegel's dark eyes. There was something there, lingering. Something familiar to him. "Are you alright?"

"Now, Uncas."

Aegel looked past Uncas to Nathaniel. His impatient stance reminded her once again of his dislike for her and quickly she shifted her eyes back to Uncas. "I'm fine. We can talk when we get to the camp later today."

"Never mind him. Are you sure?" Uncas asked with furrowed brows. The more he narrowed his eyes at her the more her inner thoughts seeped out from behind her smile. He too had hoped to talk to her about what this new chapter in their relationship meant and he too had had no opportunity to do so. Though, if he was being honest with himself, even now with his body pressed up against hers, he still did not know for certain what his feelings were made of. He adored her. Always wanted to kiss and touch her, which was evident right now, and she was without a doubt important to him, but what did it all truly mean?

Aegel patted his palm on her cheek and mustered up a sweet smile. "I'm sure."

Uncas drew his thumb across her cheek, "Aegel…," he began, though was quickly interrupted by the soft voice of his father.

"Uncas…Aegel, it's time to move on."

Uncas dropped his palm from her cheek and turned towards his father, meeting his eyes and replied, "Yes father. We are coming now." Then gripped onto Aegel small hand and the two began silently walking back towards their family. A combination of Nathaniel and Martin's words suddenly resounding louder in his mind with each new step he took.


The sun was in its evening decent when they finally reached the Delaware camp. Streams of soft orange weaved its way between the forest's barren trees, illuminating the path into the village through the otherwise darkened forest. Uncas slowly spun in one last cautionary circle before he narrowed his eyes and peered forward, watching as his father took his first few steps into the camp. It was only then that he was able to finally breathe a sigh of relief that their journey had come to an end.

He strolled into the village last, nearly smacking into Aegel's stiff back. Uncas shifted his eyes around the camp, seeing that many villagers were out meandering around the communal pot of food. All of their heads turned in their direction. His father had already guided Kasa over towards a few elders in a way of greeting them and Nathaniel had wasted no time making himself comfortable. He strode right up to Chaska, swiped their old friend's bowl from his grasp and began eating sloppily with his fingers. Chaska immediately yanked the bowl from Nathaniel's palms and tossed it out into the trees, making Nathaniel burst into laughter and embrace his old friend. Uncas chuckled and placed his palm on Aegel's back as he turned around to face her. "What's the matter?" He asked, taking in her stunned face. "You know Nathaniel's a pig!"

Aegel absently reached up and touched Uncas's arm, "Oh no…it's not that. It's just…there's so many people here. I'm not sure I was prepared for how large this village was."

Uncas smiled widely, "You'll be fine. Welcome to our home…away from home." He softly added. Then gently ran his thumb up and down her spine as he moved her forward towards Nathaniel and Chaska. "Aegel, this is Chaska. Brave warrior and close friend," he said when they reached him and Nathaniel.

Chaska smiled softly and handed her a bowl in greeting.

Aegel smiled shyly and took the bowl from his hand. She had heard much of Chaska. The man he was, the warrior he was and one night over the summer a drunken Uncas even told her of Chaska's painful love of Pru. She felt as though she already knew him without knowing him. Though even with that, his lack of speech a deep knowing stare unsettled her.

Uncas nudged her with his shoulder and said, "Pay no mind to him…he's quiet." Then picked up a bowl and began scooping his own portion of corn mush into it. "Here…," he said, motioning with his head. "Let's have a seat and eat."

"My mother?" Aegel asked hesitantly.

"She'll be awhile. She's gone with father to sit with the elders. Come. Sit," Uncas encouraged with a small pat of log he was propped up on.

"Everyone is staring," she said, looking around.

"You're a new face. And a pretty one at that. They're interested," Uncas said with a shrug.

Chaska casually eyed Nathaniel. While his quiet nature often kept his lips sealed, so did it allow is eyes to study and understand. And he knew his mental assumptions were correct the moment his eyes met Nathaniel's. There was certainly more to be told of this story and no doubt in his mind that one of them would tell it.

Aegel shuffled over and settled down beside him, resting her tired head on his shoulder. "Where will we sleep?" She said with a yawn.

"There…," he said, motioning towards the back left side of the camp. "…is where we will construct your wigwam." Then pointed closer towards the middle. "That's ours. If the camp doesn't move, Chaska keeps up with it for us."

"We won't be beside each other?"

"Well no, but we are close. And tonight you and Kasa can take ours and we'll stay with Chaska," Uncas said, his eyes shifting quickly from her to Chaska, whom he had not cleared that with. Though it was quickly agreed upon with a nod of confirmation.

"And with that…let's head to your wigwam. I'm tired and already I'm seeing the eyes of several scorned lovers falling down upon me," Nathaniel whispered more Uncas and Chaska.

"Yes…I can see that friend," Chaska said with a chuckle and added, "Just be certain not to take any food from them. It would be impossible to tell if it's poisoned."

"Ha…ha…ha," Nathaniel drawled before picking up his weapons off the ground and leading them towards their wigwams.

"Let's go." Uncas said, springing to his feet and bumping immediately into the body that was not there a moment ago. "Ooooh! Sorry!"

"No need to be sorry, Uncas. I just came to say hello. It's been a long time since I saw you last," a sickeningly sweet voice echoed through Aegel's ears, forcing her to twist around Uncas' long lean body to peer at the owner's face. Then bit down hard on her lip in annoyance when Aegel saw how beautiful the young girl was.

"Ummmm," Uncas stuttered. "It's good to see you Kaydee," he said, stepping back and right into Aegel's body now up and off the log. Immediately he reached down and took ahold of Aegel's hand, pulling her out from behind him and said, "This is Aegel. She used to live here with us when she was little and has finally returned home." He finished with a smile.

Aegel smiled brighter the moment Uncas grabbed onto her hand. "Hello," she said. She had initially felt self conscious when Kaydee approached Uncas. The girls mannerisms towards him were unmistakable the way she softly batted her long lashed doe eyes and with each breath seemingly inched closer and closer into his body's space. Clearly this girl was quietly putting her affections out into the air for Uncas to see. It was literally her fear brought to reality as Aegel nervously scanned the village silently taking tally of all the young girls staring at Uncas as though he was prime meat for the taking. Though as soon as she felt his warm palm engulf hers, her heart settled somewhat in her chest. And while he did not introduce her as his woman, his affectionate gesture did not go unnoticed. Aegel rolled her shoulders back, widened her smile and added, "Uncas has told me so much about the village and people here. It'll be a great place to start a new life." And very nonchalantly squeezed Uncas' hand and gently tapped his belly with her other.

"How nice," Kaydee happily replied. Though her reciprocating smile did not reach her eyes.

Uncas gnashes his teeth together, sensing that this interaction was not going well and quickly said, "We should go to our wigwams and get settled. It was a long and muddy journey here." And still holding Aegel's hand, turned and started to walk away.

"See you tomorrow Uncas," Kaydee called out to him in her sing-song voice.

"See you tomorrow…," Uncas responded, not turning around.

Aegel eyed him carefully from the side as they quickly strolled away, doing her best to gauge his facial expression. Clearly this Kaydee liked him and clearly he understood that. And while he did not really entertain Kaydee or her affections, neither did he put a firm stop to them. Aegel nibbled on her lip as she continued to gaze up at him. Then quickly became frustrated when she found him to be completely unreadable. "Here we are." Uncas' deep voice sounded in her ears, shaking her from her reverie.

"Is this yours or Chaska's?"

"Well…it's yours until we are able to construct one for you," he said with a smile, holding back the flap so she could enter before him. "Here…sit, let me get a fire started for you."

Aegel dropped down atop of a cozy deer hid and watched as Uncas expertly arranged and lit a fire in the center of the wigwam. His crouched form tightening all of the muscles in his exposed skin, momentarily distracting her as a few orange embers drifted up into the air and into her lap. "Ouch!" She yelped, quickly wiping them off her bare thighs.

"Are you alright?" Uncas questioned, spinning on his heels and examining her skin for any burns. "I'm sorry…I should have warned you to move further back. Sometimes they take on a life of their own." Uncas ran his thumbs across the spot where the embers landed. "Are you sure you're alright?" A deep concern laced within his voice.

Aegel gently grabbed ahold of Uncas' palms, keeping his retracting fingers against her thighs and stared up into his dark brown eyes. She desperately wanted to question him about the young, beautiful girl though thought better of it. He had lived here on and off his entire life, of course he would be familiar with these people and not just the village girls but everyone. It would be utterly unfair for her to challenge his relationships with any of them, regardless of the inner turmoil she felt when that girl batted her long, thick eyelashes at him. And especially since the two of them had yet to speak about what their own relationship even was. Then unconsciously began to nibbled lightly on her lower lip.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?" Aegel asked with a frown.

"Don't nibble on your lip like that," Uncas breathed, inching closer towards her. "You look like a beautiful, curious doe trotting through the forest. Completely innocent of the hunter that moves around her…," he dropped his deep voice into a whisper and continued, "…and I love it."

Aegel's breath caught in her throat. His silky black hair was long, loose and cascading down his arms. She could feel his fingers creep ever so slowly up her bare thigh until the soft pad of his thumb pressed lightly against her moist folds. "Uncas…,"

"Yes?"

"Don't stop…," Aegel moaned as she suddenly felt his fingers sliding inside of her.

Uncas squatted over top of her and gently guided her body backwards to the ground. He watched as her beautiful face contorted in pleasure, smiling to himself knowing it was all from his touch. He gripped tighter to her body, cupping her sex in his palm as he slowly lowered himself atop her. His body was so firm it hurt and without even realizing what he was doing, began rubbing himself against her inner thigh.

Aegel wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him closer to her and arched her hips up into his palm. She could feel herself becoming more and more desperate for relief. Though when she felt him rubbing against her, suddenly shifted his hand away and yanked her skirt up higher around her waist. She needed to feel the raw heat from his body and while she knew somewhere in the back of her mind that he did not want to have sex, she was powerless against her body's desires.

Uncas, too, felt his world spinning as his logical mind and body's desires blurred together. He pressed himself against her. His hips moving in a thrusting motion towards her center. The only thing standing in between their mutual euphoria was the painstaking fabric of his loincloth. He leaned further down and caught her lips with his and furiously began kissing her as his hands roamed free along her body. This feeling was utterly intoxicating. He continued to press his body into hers, moaning louder when he suddenly felt the tip of his penis glide along the wet folds of her body. He was so close, so close his body was shaking. One small push and he would be inside her. One small push and he would end his body's suffering. His heart was pounding and his mid was fuzzy when he felt Aegel moving herself up and down along him. The sound of her soft pleasurable groans filled his ears. "Uncas..." He stared down at her, completely lost in the beautiful features of her face as she scooted her body vigorously up and down him. Finally he paused, allowing her to use his body how she wanted for fear that he would be unable to control himself and would thrust himself inside her. He gritted his teeth when she climaxed beneath him and quickly reached between them, gripping his penis in his palm and began rapidly moving his hand desperate for his own relief.

Beneath him Aegel slowly fluttered her eyelids open as she steadied her breath. Uncas was still atop her, with one elbow wedged into the dirt while his hand worked fast along his body. Aegel nibbled on her lip and placed both her palms against his chest, pushing him over onto his back.

"What are you…," Uncas began but quickly swallowed his words when her mouth enveloped his shaft. His eyes rolled back into his head and his fingers plunged into the dirt. Not in his wildest dreams would he have ever thought of her mouth stroking him like this. It was gloriously wet and warm, and the suction made his hips involuntarily pivot upwards. With each new lick or swirl of her tongue, Uncas moaned deeper and deeper. "Aeg…," he tried to warn her when he felt his body tighten. Though before he could even fully say her name, his pleasure erupted into her mouth.

Aegel immediately jerked her head backwards, small dribbles of his seed spilling down her chin and neck. She had no idea what to do with what was in her mouth so puckering her lips slightly, swallowed the tiny portion down.

Uncas yanked his fingers from the Earth and pulled her down atop his chest. "Where…how…did you learn to do that?" He breathlessly questioned as he affectionately stroked her raven hair.

Aegel nibbled her lower lip against his chest as the education of this bold act was pushed to the forefront of her mind…

Aegel strolled through the forest, her basket hooked in the crook of her arm humming softly to herself as she searched for wild berries. Pru had taught her how to make blackberry pie a month earlier and she wanted to surprise her with one of her own after supper tonight. She wandered throughout the various bushes plucking only the best berries from their vines, when she heard strange noises coming from just around the purple tinted thistle bushes. At first she paused, fearful of what it might be. Though, her curiosity got the better of her and slowly she crept around the bushes and peered out. Her eyes immediately widened and quickly she dropped down, hiding herself behind the forest's summery foliage. She clutched at her chest with one hand and covered her mouth with the other as shock flooded her veins. Carefully, Aegel moved her hand away from chest and parted a small patch of vines and guiltily peered through the hole.

A completely naked Pru was straddled atop a completely naked Martin. Her long body angled so low she was almost flush against him as she dipped first her right breast then her left into his mouth, moaning loudly as he suckled each individual nipple. Aegel pinched tighter to her lips as her eyes followed the length of Martin's arm to where his hand disappeared between Pru's thighs. She had wanted to turn away, to scurry off in the opposite direction and dismiss all that she had seen from her mind. Though she could not. It was wrong to watch, to see this extremely private moment, but no matter how much she wished to move, Aegel found herself utterly enthralled and her eyes continued their silent invasion.

Pru moaned louder and louder as Martin's fingers caressed her insides. Until suddenly she pulled her breasts away from him and began kissing down his sweaty chest to his thighs then to his… Aegel's eyes nearly popped loose from her face as Pru proceeded to take Martin's manhood into her mouth. Licking and sucking in such a way that had Martin's hips began bucking up into her mouth while raspy moans filtered out from his lips. He gripped her head, twirling her hair between his fingers and said, "Pru…Pru…" Though when she failed to answer, shifted his hands to her shoulders and pulled her up and away from his penis. He guided her back atop him and drawled, "My body is yours…do with it what you want." Pru smiled widely and immediately fixed herself, gently sliding her body down around him. Martin reached up to her with both of his palms open and Pru interlocked their fingers as she very slowly began swaying back and forth atop him. Martin moaned and squirmed beneath her, whispering words of love as he did so. Pru behaved similarly as she brought their hands to her body, placing his palms open against her skin and moving them all along her flesh. Martin pinched and caressed her, drawing more and more tantalizing moans from her lips. Until the leisurely motion of her hips became too overwhelming and he sat up, gripping fiercely to her hair matted back. "Pru…," he growled, practically begging for more. Pru giggled at his desire and trailed her fingers up his satiny skin, weaved them into his dirty blonde locks and tugged. Martin's head flew backwards with a loud, desperate roar of pleasure and Pru began kissing his chin, neck and shoulders. Her tongue danced wildly across his skin. Then, before Aegel could even blink an eye, watched as Martin gripped onto her and flipped their position, laying her carefully down along her back. He paused only for a second while Pru acclimated, allowing her arms and legs to find comfort encasing his body. Then once she had settled began ferociously thrusting into her. Pru's grip tightened on his shoulders, her nails pressing deeper into his skin as she hungrily met him thrust for thrust.

Aegel could not believe what she was seeing. Was this how people had sex? With such vigor? Again she wanted to look away and again she found herself paralyzed by what was occurring in front of her.

Martin lowered himself more, digging his elbows into the dirt and though the act had transformed for tender and sweet into almost animalistic, Martin gripped onto Pru's shoulders and softly began kissing her. Both of their eyes remained wide open, before, during and after their intense climax. And even after the deed was done, Martin still lay atop her, kissing at her neck and collarbone. Utterly beautiful and pure. It was many moments later when Martin finally drifted off of her and dragged his forefinger across her sweaty belly in the sign of a cross.

"Always…after every single time," Pru said with a giggle.

Martin looked up at her, "I always pray that our love making ends with another baby. And that you both be healthy."

Pru traced the line of his face with her fingertips and whispered, "I have many reasons to be thankful to God, but you Martin Blackwood…you are my number one reason." And she pulled his mouth up to hers, kissing him passionately once more before they both broke apart and lazily began to dress.

Aegel finally turned her head away, doing what she could to secure their last moments in privacy. She waited several minutes, listening as they teased one another as they dressed. Until finally she looked back and watched as Martin braided Pru's long dark mane, kissing both of her shoulders when he finished. Then wrapped his arm around her and slowly they began to walk back towards the farm.

For the first time since she hid herself, Aegel breathed a loud sigh of relief. Relief that it was over. Relief that she had gone undetected and relief that when her time came with Uncas, she would know exactly what to do.

"Ummmm…," she mumbled. There was no way she could ever tell Uncas that she had watched his sister and her husband make love. She was certain he would see it the way she herself saw it, as a betrayal. An intimate moment blatantly stolen from a husband and wife with her own eyes. And so instead decided on something simple. "Girls talk," she innocently responded. Then slinked her body up his and rested her chin on his chest. "Uncas…," she softly began.

"Aegel…," he softly countered.

Aegel giggled and continued, "We never were able to have that talk. And now that we're here…well…I…I'm nervous about the other girls and how they'll view us."

Uncas continued to gently drag his fingertips along her back. They had just experienced something entirely new and incredibly personal between them. Something that he had not known even existed. However he knew this conversation was coming and looking into Aegel's eyes saw the hidden pain her words housed there. He knew this was going to be difficult for her, having grown up in a much smaller community. He also knew that after Kaydee boldly appeared, not only would the Delaware girls keep pursuing him but that Aegel would suffer more and more because of it. Though worst of all, he knew he was still unable to give her a full commitment of marriage. His mind may be a haze of a million other things but this he knew to be true of himself. He was not ready to be a husband and father yet. And while he truly cared for Aegel, he felt saddened and slightly disgusted with himself that he was not able to say I love you to her yet. He had thought for certain that he would have before they reached the Delaware camp. Though with Martin's wise words roaming around in his head, he continued find himself painfully unable to pinpoint that one defining moment of love for him and until he could, it was not fair to say it simply to make her feel better. He sighed to himself as his thoughts sank even deeper and he began to wonder if it was even fair of him to be engaging in these sexual behaviors with her, no matter how badly his body craved them, without his assurance that he loved her. Uncas pinched his eyes shut, suddenly wondering what type of man he was becoming.

"Uncas?" Aegel questioned, gently tapping on his chest to get his attention as he seemed to be suddenly be lost in thought.

Uncas blinked away his thoughts and focused his eyes on hers. He shifted his hands, gripping her cheeks with both palms and said, "I don't want you to worry about the other girls. I can't control their behavior towards me, only my own towards them and you. I don't care and am not interested in them in even the slightest measurement. The only person I see when I open my eyes is you. Your beautiful hair, your dark round eyes, your pouty lips…," he whispered and trailed his right thumb overtop them. "I only want to rest in your arms and feel your warmth against me. Those girls mean nothing to me and never will. Please…please know that and always keep that knowledge in your mind when you see them. I am yours." He finished and tilted his head into the dirt, pulling her towards him for a kiss.

Aegel reciprocated his warm kiss, then buried her face in the nape of his neck. Her mind a blurred combination of his beautifully reassuring words and the burn of jealousy that dwelled around the edges of those same words. She pinched her eyes tightly shut to escape them and breathed in his scent, allowing his musky smell to over power all the rest as it dulled her mind and lulled her weak body deeper into the depths of sleep. Her last conscious thought before the darkness overtook her hazy mind was, tomorrow was another day...

"I see a bad moon rising.

I see trouble on the way.

I see earthquakes and lightning.

I see bad times today.

Don't go around tonight,

Well, it's bound to take your life,

There's a bad moon on the rise.

I hear hurricane a-blowin'.

I know the end is comin' soon.

I feel rivers overflowing'.

I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

Don't go around tonight,

Well, it's bound to take your life,

There's a bad moon on the rise.

Alright!

Hope you got your things together.

Hope you are quite prepared to die.

Looks like we're in for nasty weather.

One eye is taken for an eye.

Well, don't go around tonight,

Well, it's bound to take your life,

There's a bad moon on the rise.

Don't come around tonight,

Well, it's bound to take your life,

There's a bad moon on the rise.

- "Bad Moon Rising" by John Fogerty (For an unknowing Uncas)


Author's Note: Well, clearly hormones are raging in this chapter...which let's face it, at sixteen and fifteen years old...is completely natural! Even the back and forth and upside nature of their emotions is natural! Love and marriage at such a young age is big deal in any century and these two are no exception.

I wanted there to be more between the brother's in terms of the night that all hell broke loose, so I put the flashback in there to show more of what Nathaniel was feeling and why. His family is the most important thing to him in the world and the idea of losing any of them is unimaginable to him. But it was his views of Aegel and how she behaved after the whole ordeal that really set fire to his heart. He could eventually look past the idea that she had possibly led those Indians to the farm, since in all honesty, he would have hoped that if Tanda or Pru were ever in danger that they would seek him out. But he could look past Aegel's behavior after the fact. It disgusted him. He did not care that she was young or scared. In his mind, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going and she most certainly did not.

Aegel gets her first real taste of what the Delaware camp will be like and it leaves a bitter jealousy in her mouth. It's also revealed that she blatantly watched Pru and Martin make love. A big no no in my mind! I said in the previous chapter when she watched Pru and Martin kiss on the steps that she "guiltily" looks away from them. Well...now any time she sees them embrace (which is often...they're both so handsy) she is actually flashing back to when she watched them make love and damn if that girl doesn't feel guilty about it. I wonder how any of the others would feel if they ever found out?

And poor sweet Uncas is still searching within himself for all of the answers his heart desires...much will be revealed about that in the next chapter!

Things are about to go from zero to sixty so stay tuned!

As always...a huge thank you to everyone who viewed/reviewed this chapter! Especially, Hazel222, ELY72, BlueSaffire, MohawkWoman, AsterLaurel, BrynnaRaven your support is endless...thank you!

P.S. Fun Fact: Elijah Blackwood and my big brother both share the fabulous birthday of March 15th! Which is why I went nuts and posted today!

Thanks for reading :)