The sound of almost silent footsteps outside of her hut was what awoke Pocahontas the next day. Slowly opening her eyes, she squinted against the bright sunlight that shone in through the top of her hut. The native stretched and smothered a large yawn before rising to see what was happening outside. As she pulled herself to her feet, she replayed the events of the previous night in her mind. Tokum had been irate with her, but despite her feelings, she really could not blame him for his actions. She knew she shouldn't have kissed John, even if she thought no one watching. Despite her deep love for him, she was engaged to another man and she had been raised to respect and honor promises of any kind. She had broken her promise to John by agreeing to marry Tokum and she knew that she must now live with the consequences of her choice.
When she reached the entrance to her hut, she untied the leather flap that held it together and peered out to see who was there. When no one came into view, Pocahontas stepped outside and walked around to the back, thinking they might have gone that way. When the results were the same, she shrugged and went back inside. When she did, she was startled by Nakoma, who was standing in the center of the hut, grinning at her.
"Nakoma." Pocahontas gasped. "Don't do that to me again. You scared the life out of me!." Nakoma grinned back. "Obviously not all of it, since you're still alive and talking to me." At the look she received from her friend, her smile faded and replaced by a solemn look that matched Pocahontas's. "Sorry" she muttered. Pocahontas attempted a small smile and turned away. Nakoma could tell something had happened, but she didn't no what. When she posed the question to her friend, Pocahontas lost it. For the next hour, she poured out her heart to Nakoma and told her everything. Her time with John in the forest, the kiss, Tokum's confrontation. Nakoma listened with wide-eyes at what her friend said and did all she could to comfort the young women.
When Pocahontas was done, she smiled through a tear-stained face at her best friend. Nakoma sat across from her, mouth agape at what she had heard. After a few moments, she broke the silence. "Oh my word, Pocahontas," she started slowly. "I don't know what to say except I hope somehow this all works out for you." Pocahontas nodded in agreement. "So do I Nakoma. My heart says it will, but my mind knows it will take an absolute miracle." Nakoma nodded solemnly and then rose to her feet. "Come," she said. "We're going to be late." Pocahontas looked at her in confusion. "Late for what?" she asked. Nakoma turned and gave her an exasperated sigh. "Don't tell me you forgot." Receiving raised eyebrows from her friend, Nakoma shook her head. "The meeting?" she said. "Remember? What we do every month with Thomas to help keep peace?" Pocahontas placed a hand to her forehead and shook her head. "Of course," she said. "How could I have forgot. I suppose with everything that's been going on, I haven't been myself. I don't think I've cried this much in my entire life." She said through a wry smile. Nakoma just smiled and patted her friend's hand before joining her at the door the door of her hut.
The sun was bright when the girls stepped outside, and they basked in it's warmth for a few moment before they began their journey to Jamestown. They had not gone far when they saw Tokum approaching. "Ladies.." he said with a courtly nod of his head. "Where are you headed off to this morning." Nakoma was about o answer when Pocahontas cut in. "To Jamestown. Our meeting with Thomas is this morning. I told you about them before. It's part of our strategy to keep peace between our people. You more than welcome to join us if you like." She knew that he would probably refuse and tried to hide her hope that he would. Tokum considered the offer before answering. "I think I will, Pocahontas. Thank you." Pocahontas was vastly surprised by his answer, but kept herself in check and only nodded. Tokum took the lead and the two friends followed, exchanging a worried look as they walked.
Both knew that Thomas would not be there alone. Both knew that John would be there as well. Both knew that it would be a very tense situation and both knew that two minds would not be on the meeting and the things being discussed. Those two minds would be dwelling of the sorrow of not being able to build a future together after being through so much already. They would be thinking of each other and nothing else.
They had been walking for about fifteen minutes when something caught Pocahontas's eye. It was not something she was familiar with, so she departed from the group to get a closer look. When she got closer, she was amazed at what she saw. In a small puddle of water lay a very strange looking object. The spark that she had seen had come from the sun reflecting off what looked like a tiny clear stone. The stone was set in a peculiar substance which she had no idea what it could be. The one thing she knew was that no one in her village had ever had something like it.
Pocahontas picked it up and walked back over to where Tokum and Nakoma stood. Both looked at her with strange expressions on their faces but Pocahontas didn't seem to notice. "Look what I found." she said, holding out the object. "Do you know what it is?" Nakoma took it from her and examined it before shrugging and passing it on to Tokum. After examining it closely, he shrugged and handed it back to her. "I've never seen anything like it," he said. "I don't think it belongs to anyone in our village." Pocahontas glanced over at Nakoma, who nodded in agreement with Tokum. "Maybe it belongs to someone in Jamestown." she suggested. "We can ask Thomas about it after the meeting." Pocahontas considered the idea and agreed. She placed it in the small pouch that she carried and continued to follow the two to Jamestown where the meeting would take place.
..........At Jamestown........
John sat at Thomas's kitchen table, trying to eat his breakfast. The other two men had long finished and were now preparing for the meeting. John restlessly stirred his coffee with a small spoon. Thomas had told him about the monthly meetings to keep peace. All knew that it would most likely stay peaceful, but the meetings were a precaution anyway. One he thought was a wise idea.
John rose from the table and went to deposit off his plates into the nearby sink. Clanking them down, his gaze happened to drift to the small window above it and the sight he saw made his heart break. Three people were approaching the cabin. he recognized Pocahontas and Nakoma, both looking miserable. The third person was a man about his age. John had no idea of who it could be until the realization hit him that this was most likely the fiancé of the woman he loved, his name, he couldn't recall.
A sensation that he had never known before rushed through John's body and he felt he needed to make a quick break for the nearest door. Still not all to familiar with the layout of Thomas's house, John frantically searched the room for the nearest exit. He zeroed in on the door and ran for it. Just before he got there, he heard the handle turn and stopped dead in his tracks. A sense of defeat washed over him and he stepped back so the trio could enter.
When they did, John saw that something was wrong. Pocahontas looked terrible. The spark seemed to be gone from her eyes and instead of the smile that usually lit up a room, there was only a solemn face. This was not the woman he had fallen in love with and it broke his heart to see her like this. Behind her came Nakoma and the a stone-faced man that John deduced must be her fiancé. Upon seeing John, Pocahontas gave him a small smile and a soft "Wingapo" before turning to look for Thomas. Nakoma nodded to him and gave him what he thought was a smile of encouragement. The man merely glanced at him with cold eyes. They seem to bore right through him in an accusatory way and it sent shivers down his spine.
Luckily, Thomas hurried into the kitchen, followed by Eric close behind, apologizing for the delay. He invited everyone to have a seat while he went to get the food. Before Pocahontas could sit down, Tokum pulled to the side. "I forgot to tell you this morning." he said. "Your father was called away at the last minute for a conference with an ally. He won't be able to announce our engagement for another few days." Pocahontas nodded, then returned to the table to take a seat next to Nakoma. See raised her gaze, only to find herself staring straight into John's azure eyes. She could see the love and pain shining from them at the same time. Her heart broke when she saw him and she had to stop herself from spilling the tears that threatened to come.
When Thomas returned, introductions began for the people didn't all know one another. When Pocahontas introduced John to Tokum, the tension was evident to ll the room. John held out his hand, but Tokum just stared. Pocahontas spoke quickly to him in her native language and Tokum stiffly accepted his handshake. The meeting went on as normal, despite the fact that two of the people present kept staring at one another with longing in their eyes. After it was over, John left the room before Pocahontas could get to him. She looked around to see that the man called Eric had gone after John and Tokum was conversing with Nakoma.
Pocahontas saw Thomas clearing the table of the supplies and remembered that she had wanted to speak with him. She slowly made her way over to where he stood. "Wingapo Thomas" she said. "May I speak with you for a moment?" Thomas turned to face her. "Hey, Pocahontas." he said. "Sure, what's up". He set the supplies on the table to give her his full attention. Pocahontas reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out the ring. "We found this on the way here and no one knew what it was. We figured you might be able to tell us." Thomas stared at the small solitaire in her hand, mouth agape. "Pocahontas, where did you get that?" She looked at him in exasperation. "I found it on the way. It was in a small puddle about an eighth of a mile from here. Do you know what it is?" Thomas began to back away from her. "I c-cant.." he stammered. "I-I p-promised him." Pocahontas followed him. "Thomas what's going?" she demanded. "Promised who. I'm not leaving until you tell me what is going on." With a defeated sigh, Thomas complied. "It's an engagement ring, Pocahontas. Your engagement ring."
