A week ago

Alice lays on the furs, touching the braid on her hair. She still remembers Uncas' fingers gently touching her long mane as he braided it, while they were hidden in that cave. It seems so long ago...

At least, at the Huron village, she has been given her own wigwam. It's always guarded by one or two warriors who take turns outside, but none of them, not even Magua, have made any attempt to touch her or hurt her in any way. In fact, the Huron chief has been ignoring her, since they arrived at the camp, a few days ago. She just hopes it keeps that way until Uncas finds her.

Alice is sure he will come for her. He promised it, right before jumping through the waterfall and she knows he is a man who keeps his promises. And there is something more... I'm sure he loves me in the same way I love him. They have not confessed their feelings towards each other yet. They simply didn't have time with all the madness around them, but their eyes and gestures spoke volumes between them.

She smiles remembering all the times Uncas showed with his actions how much he cared for her. And she is sure he knows about her feelings towards him as well. And their last moments together behind the waterfall...the way he enveloped her in his arms as if he wanted to protect her from all the perils in the world. They even shared a timid and sweet kiss. Their first kiss. And my first kiss as well... I would not have wanted it with any other man.

Since she was taken captive by the Huron, her only comfort has been dreaming about the life she will share with Uncas, after he rescues her. She is aware it will be a completely different life than what she is used to, but she will be cherished and loved by a wonderful man. And she will be with her beloved sister as well. One would have to be blind not to see the love between her and Uncas' adoptive brother and it's evident she will stay by his side.

There was a moment when she feared for her sister's life. When she was given to Magua and Cora was condemned to die in the flames, she got panicked but, while she was being dragged out of the village, she heard Duncan bargained for Cora's life and she caught a glimpse of her sister, leaving the place with Nathaniel, so she knows she is safe with him now. However, though she didn't see Duncan dying, she knows he didn't survive and the thought is too hard to bear it. He always was like an older brother to her and losing him, right after losing her father, breaks her heart in a way she can't describe. I only hope I don't have to lose someone else.

She discards that thought as soon as it comes to her mind, trying to focus on something positive. After all, that was what she promised to Uncas. That she would survive until he finds her. And to make it, she can't let her mind to betray her.

I'm sure he will confess his feelings towards me as soon as we are together again. Then, I will be able to confess my feelings as well and eventually he will ask for my hand in marriage... Alice keeps on dreaming on the simple but beautiful life they will share together, until a thought crosses her mind. Arthur. She had met him as soon as she arrived at Albany and shortly after he asked her permission to court her. Pleased by the British officer's gentle manners, she had accepted and they shared some walks around the town, getting to know each other better. Then, she had to leave in order to go to the fort, telling him that afterwards she was going to return to England. She was really pleased when he told her that he was going to return to England in a few months, so they could keep on with their courtship.

But all of that was before Uncas. Now everything has changed. It's incredible how for all this time, I've never thought of Arthur once. But how she could have think of him, when she had met a man like Uncas? No suitor could compete with him in any way. As soon as all of this madness ends, I will write a letter to Arthur, informing him that our courtship is over. Despite the affection she feels for the British officer,she knows for sure where her heart belongs to and it is in this land, by Uncas' side. She simply can't imagine a future without him.

And then there is his father. Will he fully accept me as his daughter-in-law? As his only blood son's wife? As the mother of his grandchildren? She has no time to think about it, when a noise at the wigwam's entry, makes her get up immediately.

Magua is there.

Alice freezes in place, trying to show herself confident in front of him but she doubts she manages to hide the trembling of her body every time she sees him.

He approaches her slowly, a calm expression on his face. When he is next to her, he grabs a lock of her blonde hair, examining it between his fingers. Alice lows her eyes, unable to keep his gaze. His dark soul can be seen through his eyes. Enjoying her discomfort, he runs a finger over her cheek and down her neck, as she tries to get away from him, distress reflected on her face.

The thought of that monster who killed her father, touching her in that repulsive way, makes her nauseous, but she has to hold on. She promised Uncas to survive, no matter what happened.

"You know, Munro's child..." Magua says calmly in English. "Since that old chief gave you to me as a war trophy, I've been thinking about how you could be of any use to me" he slides his fingers down her necklace. "I'm not interested in a wife or children. I had all of that once and it was taken away from me by your father. I don't want my blood to be mixed with the blood of the man who killed my family...no matter how pretty you are..." he adds with a cruel smirk, as his hand travels to her waist. Alice can't help the repulsion reflected all over her face at the feeling of the Huron's hand touching her body. Satisfied with her reaction, Magua finally releases her.

"But then I realized…" he keeps on, getting away from her. "I still can take revenge on him. I can break you, just like he broke me a lot of years ago" Hearing those words, Alice looks at him in the eye, not sure about his intentions. Looking intently at her, Magua keeps on. "And I'm not talking about killing you. That would be too easy. I'm talking about something worse. I'm going to hit you where it hurts and I can assure you that you won't be able to get up again, no matter how hard you might try it".

A wave of hate crosses Alice's body, hearing that monster talking with such cruelty. She is tired of being afraid of him, someone who wants to punsih her for something she has no fault at all.

"You will never break me, no matter how hard you might try it" Alice says calmly, with all the confidence she can show, looking directly at his eyes.

Magua smirks again. "We will see".

Going to the wigwam's entry, he says something in his language to the warrior who was guarding her and he gets into the wigwam as well. He holds something in his hand. Something horrible.

A scalp.

A scalp with long black hair. And a braid similar to the one on her hair. To the one on Uncas' hair. And a red feather. Identical to the one Uncas wore. Tied in an identical way...

No...no, no it can't be his...Alice tries to keep calm but her nerves are beginning to betray her.

"Do you think your beloved Mohican warrior would come to save you?" Magua says, enjoying the moment. "Well, he tried it when we left that village. He was brave but my men were better. They came yesterday and brought me this gift…".

Alice can't believe what she is hearing. Part of her wants to keep on believing that Uncas is alive and somehow this is only a Magua's trick. However, the hairstyle is so similar to his…and the possibility that he could die trying to save her was always there…though she wasn't willing to consider it. Oh God, what if it's true? What if he is dead?

"I've been thinking that I should give you this gift. Maybe you would like to keep it as a last memory of your love" Magua says, as the other warrior places the scalp on the ground in front of her.

Looking horrified at what she is starting to believe more and more that is Uncas' scalp, Alice's soul fills with rage and she throws herself furiously against Magua.

"You evil!" she pounds at his chest with all her might, right before her wrists are grabbed easily by the Huron chief, preventing her from attack hi.

"Are you still thinking that I can't break you? he says, enjoying how the fierceness she showed in her eyes seconds ago is turning into terror. "Do you think you can get up after this?" As if he wanted to prove his words, he shoves her unceremoniously to the ground and turns to leave with the warrior, who is laughing at the scene.

Breathing heavily from fear and sored from the fall, Alice still finds the strength to get up and runs to Magua once again. Now that she believes that Uncas is dead, she doesn't matter what the Huron might do to her. "You bastard, I'm going to kill you!" she says, fiercely grabbing his neck and hair from behind.

Totally furious, Magua manages to free himself from her grip and turning around, he backhands her, throwing her to the ground again. "You white whore! Do you want to play? Lets play".

Unable to keep on fighting, Alice feels her hair being grabbed roughly by Magua as he dragged her. She screams of pain and grabs his wrist with both her hands, trying to free herself but he is much stronger than her.

"Magua" the scene is interrupted by another warrior, who arrives at the wigwam. He says something to the Huron chief in their language and Magua releases Alice with a reluctant expression. The girl remains on the ground touching her sore cheek and hair. What was I thinking? I can't fight him. He is a warrior and I'm no more than a girl…Only Uncas could save me from him and now he is…he is… She looks again at the scalp on the ground and she feels how her soul breaks inside her. It has to be Uncas' scalp, it's the most logical explanation. There were too much Huron against three injured and tired Mohicans. It is not so strange that Uncas…and maybe his father and brother as well. But then…what about her sister? Maybe she is dead too.

Unable to bear more pain, Alice starts crying uncontrollably, oblivious to Magua's satisfied expression.

"We were having so much fun but I have things to do" the Huron says, right before turning to his men and adding in English for Alice to understand. "Take her to my wigwam. I don't want her as my wife but it doesn't mean I don't want to spend a night with her. She is a beauty after all".

Hearing that, Alice stops crying and looks at Magua with terror reflected in her eyes. "No…no… please, no…NO! Both warriors grab her by the arms, forcing her to get up and dragging her out of the wigwam. She fights with the little strength she still has, trying to free herself from their grip. "No, let me go, please!" When she passes next to Magua, he hisses in her ear. "Tonight, we will have fun together. I like feisty women"

Realizing that all her efforts will be in vain and aware that Magua will take her against her will, no matter how she fights back, Alice stops her efforts to free herself and allows the warriors to drag her to Magua's wigwam, feeling totally helpless and crying loudly for the life she won't be able to share with Uncas anymore.

Magua smiles, watching the girl's despair, as she is dragged to his wigwam. He was sure she was going to fall into the trap. These English ladies don't know anything after all. It was so simple like taking one of the scalps from his collection, similar to the young Mohican's hair and imitate his hairstyle with a braid and a red feather. Magua was very good remembering small things and both times he had met the Mohicans, he picked on those details. He also noticed how the younger of the Mohicans cared for Munro's little daughter. It was clear as the day, taking into account the way he had protected her during the massacre, after leaving the fort. He had suspected the girl cares for the Mohican deeply as well and he didn't fail in his suspicious. He finally found a way to break her. He knows that the thought that her lover is dead will hurt her more than any beaten or torture. And watching his enemy's daughter suffering so much gives him a pleasant sensation that he can't describe with words. After all, his own children have also suffered a lot at Munro's hands.

But the truth is that the Mohicans are alive. He knew it when none of the men he left to fight them, arrived at the camp with the Mohicans' scalps, as he had ordered them. So the girl's savior could appear at any moment. But in that case, he will have a surprise for him. What will he think when he discovers that I have lain with his pretty girl? He will lose the interest on her after knowing that. What kind of warrior would want a girl who has been used by another man? He will leave without her for sure. And then, she will be broken again.

Magua smiles, knowing that finally he is taking revenge on Colonel Munro, the way he always wanted.

Back to the present

Alice looks terrified at the native man in front of her. He is tall and strong and seems young like her. She doesn't know the reasons why he killed her captors but she suspects he might be from an enemy tribe and he will take her as a hostage as well.

Since she woke up in that indian village, almost a week ago, she has been trying to discover what happened for her to end in such a horrible situation. Her last memory was that she was in Albany with her sister and they were about to leave to meet their father at Fort William Henry. But it seems something happened over the trip. Surely, they were attacked by some native tribe and she was taken as a hostage. But where are Cora and Duncan? Maybe they are safe with Father. Or maybe they didn't survive… She tries to avoid that thought, like she has been doing for the previous days. And why can't I remember anything? She has no memory about the ambush and she has no clue about what has happened to her since she was taken captive until she woke up in that camp. That thought worries her deeply. Did the warriors touch me? If any of them forced me, Arthur won't want to marry me anymore… And now she is alone with another red man. That doesn't make her feel at ease at all.

"Alice…what…what happened?" her thoughts are interrupted by the man's voice. "It's me…Uncas".

Why does he know my name? And why does he address me as if we were…friends? What kind of trick is this? Totally panicked, Alice sees the man approaching her and trying to do something really inappropriate. He tries to touch her again!

"Don't you dare to touch me!" In an attempt to defend herself, she scratches his chest, leaving a bloody mark on it. The man gets away from her confused and for some seconds she fears for his reaction. He will hit me for this…or maybe worse! However, he has a different reaction. He seems sad and hurt.

Uncas doesn't understand anything. She has no clue about who I am. It seems she has lost her memory somehow. What happened to her? But the worst part is that she seems totally afraid of him. It's understandable taking into account that she doesn't know him and probably is confused about the way she ended in this situation, but it doesn't make it less painful. He touches the mark of her nails on his chest. It's only a scratch, but the meaning behind it breaks his heart deeply. She doesn't trust me…and she doesn't love me.

Over the days they have been separated, he had dreamed a lot about the moment when he would have her in his arms again, he had made many plans about their future together…and now everything has changed. But it doesn't mean he won't take her with her sister. He promised Cora that he would bring her sister safe and sound and that is what he is going to do. Doesn't matter if she doesn't trust him. He can't leave her in the forest alone and unprotected.

"Alice…I mean, miss Munro" he addresses her in a formal way, trying to make her feel more at ease around him. "I know you don't remember me, but you have to trust me. Me and my family helped you and your sister on the trip to Fort William Henry. She is safe now and she is waiting for you. I promised her I would take you with her. I know you don't understand anything but I promise I will explain you everything along the way".

Surprised about the native's perfect English, Alice has no clue about the reasons why he knows her and her sister, but they are not good news. Maybe his tribe was the one who attacked them and took her and Cora as hostages. Then, she could be taken by another tribe and this man is only trying to retrieve her as a trophy. "I don't want to hear any of your explanations. I only want to know where my sister is and what have you done to her!".

Realizing that he won't be able to make Alice trust him, at least by now, he resolves to leave that place with her and try to explain her everything later. He hates the idea of forcing her to go with him against her will but it's the only way. They can't stay there any longer and he could never leave her alone.

"I'm sorry miss Munro, but we have to go" Hating himself for doing that, he grabs her by the arm and drags her along the path, his touch firm but gentle, so she can't escape from him but without hurting her at all.

"No, I dont want to go with you!" Alice screams terrified, as tears begin running down her cheeks.

Uncas' heart breaks again, watching her crying and knowing he is the cause of her despair. She has no idea that I could never hurt her in any way. She is safe with me.

Father, I'd wish you were here now. Surely, you would know what to do. I have no idea about how to handle this situation.

Author's note: I'm sorry it took me so long to post a new chapter, but my life has been quite complicated for the last two months. Good and bad things happened at the same time, things that made imposible for me to find time and energy to write. And my lack of inspiration didn't help either. But I'm back again! I'm not sure how often I will be able to post from now on, but I'll try to do it frequently.

I hope you are enjoying the story. I'm aware I told you that in this chapter you would know the reason why Alice lost her memory, but I thought it would be more interesting if I keep it for later and let you discover it throughout several chapters.

As you probably guess, the relationship between Alice and Uncas will be more difficult than ever because of the fact that she doesn't has an idea about who he is, so she finds herself alone with a native man who she believes he's kidnapping her. I hope you don't hate her for being mean to Uncas. As you can see, when she was at the Huron village, she was more confident and was sure of her feelings for Uncas. However, with the lost of her memory she is again the overprotected English lady that she was in Albany. If I were her, I would be terrified as well. And thought I've never considered her a racist person at all, at those times there were many prejudices about native people that were extremely difficult to ignore.

Thank you so much to all of you who left a review on the first chapter and to my silent readers as well. Thank you for always being there!