The night was quiet as Chief Powhaton lay awake in his longhouse. What a day it had been. So close he had come to losing his life, only to be pulled from death's clutches at the last moment by the last person he ever thought possible. A white man. Not just any man, but the one that he had every intention of executing if his daughter had not stepped in and bravely saved him life. An action, he now saw the reason for. An action that saved his very life, only to put another's in danger.
Somewhere in the distance an owl hooted, usually a sound that brought comfort to the chief's soul. Tonight, however, his mind was much to full to think about comfort. His mind was on her daughter and how close she was to losing yet another person that she loved. Powhaton sighed. How small she was when the fever had consumed her mother. Too small to understand what really happened, only to comprehend that the mother she loved and adored as no one else was gone forever.
How his heart had ached as he had watched her seven-year-old face finally gain understanding of what he was saying. She didn't cry, at least not in front of him. No, somehow she had gained the understanding the to weep was a form of weakness. No, she had not cried. Only a look of horror had flashed briefly across her features before she became silent and only nodded that she understood. She had then turned away to find Meeko to play, but later on he heard her inside of her small hut, crying her eyes out. That simple actions had caused his heart to break further and he felt a tear escape his eye. Through his daughter, he finally allowed himself to grieve for his wife, his beloved, his best friend.
Powhaton shifted in an attempt to regain some comfort. How he hoped the man survived. He couldn't bear to see her in pain once more, to lose another loved one. Yes, he understood it was a different love. Not the love of a mother to a child, but the love of a man to a woman. He knew his daughter had not loved Kokoum, however he knew that the warrior would provide for and protect his child, his only daughter. He also knew another thing. He knew his daughter would probably decline his proposal. She was certainly her mother's daughter. A free spirit through and through. He had seen the way his Pocahontas looked at John when he had been released. The way she had clung to him as if her very life depended on it. She was in love with him.
But there had been another connection as well. He saw the horror on her face when John had taken the bullet for him. It was the same look he had seen when he told her that her mother was gone. How she was trying to be strong, but on the inside was already grieving. When he was in the hut with Kekada, he could hear her sobbing the same way he had when she was small. How he prayed to the spirits for mercy on the young man's soul. For if there was none, he feared, life as everyone had known it before, would cease to exist.
….0000….
John was running
The young captain glanced around frantically, knowing he had to reached his destination as quickly as possible. His feet seemed propelled by an unknown force, driving him in the right direction to wherever he was needed. He didn't know where or for certain why he was going where he was. All he did know was that someone needed was in need of his help.
The man picked up speed as he continued on his journey. In the distance, he saw Thomas waving frantically in his direction. "John!" he shouted. "John! Hurry!" John came to a stop in front of the younger man. "What is it, Thomas?" he asked. "What in the world is the matter?" Thomas pointed to the east. "It's Pocahontas!" he said, alarm laced into his voice. "She in trouble! You have to hurry." John's eyes widened. "Where is she, Thomas? Come, man. Speak!"
Thomas took a much-needed breath. "I'm not exactly sure. All I know is that Ratcliffe tricked her somehow and he is out to be rid of her tribe, starting with herself. You have to hurry, John. If you don't, then-." His voice became soft. "Then I'm afraid that all we have worked for has been for nothing." John needed to hear no more. With a final thanks to his friend, then captain once again took off in hot pursuit
The wind seemed to be helping John in his quest to save his beloved as it whipped through his hair as he ran. 'Hang on, Pocahontas. I'm coming' he thought. After running for several more moments, he finally stopped. This wasn't right. This was where Pocahontas had shown him her world. The cliff that overlooked the waterfall that she loved with a passion. The waterfall where they had both sat conversing for several hours during one of their visits. In only their short time of accquantence, this place already held several precious memories for him.
"John?" The sound of Pocahontas calling him name snapped his out of his haze. "John? Are you alright? What in the world are you staring at?" He looked up to see his love regarding him with a quizzical gaze. Where had she come from. It was almost as if she had just appeared. "John?" His name came once more. "John, look at me." He did as she commanded. "What is wrong with you. You look as though you've seen a ghost." He shook himself back to reality.
"Pocahontas, where did you- How did you-?" He stuttered. "What's going on? I thought you needed me?" She laughed. "Well of course I need you, John. I always need you. I love you. We always need the ones we love" John shook his head. "No, no. Not that. I thought you were in danger." She laughed again. "Danger? John, why in heaven's name would you think that I am in any danger?" John became flustered. "I don't know. Thomas was there and he said Ratcliffe had tricked you somehow. I only followed my heart in coming after you."
She smiled at him lovingly and placed a gentle hand alongside his cheek. "John, it's very sweet of you to come running for the sole reason you believe me to be in danger, but I promise you, I am fine. No one tricked has tricked me, I haven't even seen anyone today. I only found a note from Nakoma asking me to meet her here. As you can see, my love. I'm absolutely fine." John frowned. "Then why would Thomas tell me otherwise?" Pocahontas shrugged. "Once again, John, I don't know. I haven't even seen Thomas. He's the one with the red-hair, I believe, correct." he nodded. "Yes. that's correct. I find this very odd. Why would he tell he something that serious if it's not true?"
"Oh, but it' s very true." A voice snarled from behind. The couple spun to see Ratcliffe behind them, an evil grin spread across his thin lips, rifle cocked and ready. "I suppose the boy was quick enough to catch on, though it seems even he is to late. I have both of you right where I want you." He gave an evil laugh as the couple clung tightly to one another, real fear in both their eyes. The governor continued to laugh hysterically for several moments and John knew he had his possibly only chance.
He leapt toward the man with a strength he didn't know he possessed. However, the governor was surprisingly quicker. Before John could seize the rifle, Ratcliffe fired a shot in the air, startling Pocahontas. John watched in horror as the woman he loved stumbled back over the cliff. However, she did not fall, but it was almost as bad. She held on only by one hand, the dirt beneath it crumbling quickly around her. If he couldn't get to her, she would fall to her doom.
"John!" she called out to him. "John! help me!" It was all he needed to hear. Forgetting about the large man behind him, John immediately went to her aide. He reached the edge of the cliff and held out his hand. "Pocahontas, take me hand. Oh my word." he gasped. Gone was the sky blue water of the river at the bottom of the falls. In it's place stood thousands of jagged rocks, surly causing death if one should fall. Pocahontas gripped his hand for dear life and John began to pull her to safety, her lightweight making the task simple. "Hang on, my love." John panted as he pulled. "You're almost there."
A sharp pain to the back of his head caused him to break concentration and he lurch forward. Pocahontas screamed as she was lowered further down the cliff. John muttered a quick apology, quickly rubbed his head with his free hand and began his second attempt to pull her to safety. "Isn't this sweet." Ratcliffe snarled. he was standing almost directly in front of John now. "Smith trying to save his beloved savage." John gritted his teeth at the comment, pushing aside the temptation to push the man off the cliff himself.
Ratcliffe gave another evil laugh. "Let her go , Smith. She's not worth it." John glared up at him. "She's worth ten times more than you ever will be." he hissed. The smile left the governor's face. "How dare you! Well' it looks like I'll have to get rid of you both." he aimed the rifle at the couple's entwined fingers. "Say good-bye to your precious savage, Smith." he smiled as he pulled the trigger. the gun exploded and John felt a sharp pain slash through his hand. he instinctively pulled back, accidentally letting go of Pocahontas' hand. John watched in horror as she fell toward the stones below, her arms still reached out to him. His eyes went wide as tears began to fill them. "NO!" he shouted over Ratcliffe's maniac laughter. "Pocahontas, no!-"
John awoke in a cold sweat, trying to sit straight up. He had barley raised his head, however when a pain shot through his side. The man winced and gritted his teeth against it. Oh, yes. He had forgotten about the wound. He lay his head back downand tried to take in his surroundings. Where am I. This was not his tent at Jamestown. he still lay on the ground, but this was much bigger than his small tent. Sunlight streamed through the small hole on the top. When did his tent have a hole in the top? he had to get that fixed. What were all these new sounds and smell? And when-when did his chest become so heavy?
John glanced down for the first time to see a mass of black hair and a dark hand. What was Pocahontas doing here? She lay against him, snuggled quite comfortably at his side, her head resting on the good side of his chest. She shifted slightly and John couldn't help but smile. He was alive. Thank the Lord, he was alive. The man couldn't remember any of the previous nights events, save the act of taking the bullet for her father. the last thing he remembered was her face, the look of horror of possibly losing him. how he couldn't wait for her to awaken.
His wish was not long delayed in coming true. The moment the sunlight hit the young woman's eyelids, she squinted against it, not wanting to awaken. However, the events of the previous night played through her mind and her eyes shot open and she sat up with a start. What was she still doing here? She hadn't meant to stay long, only for a moment. How lucky she was no one had discovered her. Surely she would have been in trouble. "It's nice to see you awakeIn the morning sun, you look absolutely radiant." the voice coming from behind her caused her to take in a sharp breath. He was alive. She turned to see John smiling at her. "John." she breathed his name as she leaned down once more to wrap him in her arms without hurting him. "What a relief it is to me that you are alive."
He smirked at her expression. "I've been in worse pain, my dear. Can't think of any right now." he shrugged as he let the sentence hang. She smiled back as she gently leaned down to brush his lips with hers. "I was so afraid I had lost you." she whispered against his mouth. "Well, you didn't" he said as he captured her lips once more. "And you won't if I have anything to say about it." She pulled back and looked into his deep blue eyes. "I know. But, John, what if you don't have a say. What if tomorrow never comes for us?" The captain sighed. "Then I only hope I have shown you in every way how much you mean to me and how much I love you."
She nodded and brought her forehead to rest against his. "I never have doubted your love for me and I never will. I can promise you that." John stifled a yawn. "Thank you, my love. I'm sorry, but I seem to be tired still despite the twelve hours nap I just had." He smiled wryly. Pocahontas even managed a small smile. "You've lost an excessive amount of blood. It's no wonder you're tired." she rose to leave. "I'll let you sleep. Just promise me you'll come back." John nodded. "If it's in my power to do so, then I promise. I love you, Pocahontas." he said. Pocahontas smiled. "And I you." Her heart fluttered at hearing those words for the first time only hoping and praying that it was not the last