Since when did FF dot Net become so damn complicated?! It used to be you could go through, edit your chapters, and repost them like nothing had happened but OOOOOOH NO they aren't that simple anymore! Yeesh! So sorry guys for the second reposting of chapter two, and now, chapter three, because in order to correct what happened (chapter two getting deleted instead of replaced, thus rendering chapter three as chapter two and I was unable to put it back where it should have been gaaaaaaaaaah - I hate technology) I had to repost it. I apologize!
Anyway, yes! Special thanks to Tessa (aka SunRise19) for her AMAZING help on this chapter! It could not have been written without her and her amazing idea bunnies! Thank you thank you thank you! (-holds up applause sign-)
I apologize for the wait for this chapter, especially considering how short it is. It shouldn't take long for the next chapter to appear! Inspiration has struck! However, please be aware that I leave for Arkansas on Thursday, and I won't be back until August 8th. And whilst I will have my computer with me while I'm gone, it's doubtful that I will have the time, energy and internet to post any new chapters, so please bear with me. The next chapter will be longer, and worth the wait, I promise!
CHAPTER SONG: "Fire and Fury" by Skillet (This is seriously this story's song. Not kidding. Go listen to it while you read this. Go go go!)
Disclaimer: I own nothing, just a cat named Meeko, but I'm pretty sure he owns me, not the other way around...
Shadows Cast
A Pocahontas fanfiction
By doodlegirll
.:Dedicated to Kayla:.
...oOo...
The carriage pulled quietly into the drive of John Rolfe's estate, stopping in front of the pathway that led to the front door. Rolfe opened the carriage door and stepped down onto the pavement, before offering his hand to Pocahontas, who gratefully accepted it. Rolfe paid the driver, and thanked him, before he once again wrapped his arm around Pocahontas, gently guiding her towards the house.
Mrs. Jenkins met them at the door, Uttamatomakkin not far behind, having opted to stay behind and dine on Mrs. Jenkins' tea sandwiches. She smiled merrily at the pair as they walked inside and closed the door behind them, but upon seeing Pocahontas's red rimmed eyes and smudged makeup, her smile fell.
"Oh, my dear!" She said, reaching out and taking Pocahontas's hands in her own, squeezing them lovingly. "What happened?"
Pocahontas shook her head, unable to open her mouth to speak. Fresh tears began to make their way down her face, and she took her hands from Mrs. Jenkins', covering her face with them.
Mrs. Jenkins looked from the distraught princess to Rolfe, who was leaning against the doorframe, his hand on his forehead.
"It was a disaster." He said quietly. "An absolute disaster."
"What happened, Johnny?" The elderly housekeeper implored. "It was all going so well when you left here earlier! What went wrong?"
She looked back at Pocahontas, who had sunk to her knees on the floor, the flamboyant skirts of her dress pooling around her as she continued to cry into her hands. Uttamatomakkin had crouched down next to her, protectively, and his usually stoic face held some semblance of concern at the corners of his eyes, and his usually well set frown had softened.
Rolfe sighed.
"It was going well until dinner, when guards burst in with…" He glanced at Pocahontas. "With a man they had found sneaking around the hallways."
Mrs. Jenkins nodded, and urged him to go on.
"It was John Smith. John Smith, of all people!" He shook his head and threw up his hands.
Mrs. Jenkins gasped. "But he's dead!"
"Apparently not." Rolfe said.
"We have to help him!" All eyes turned to Pocahontas, who had stood, her hand on Uttamatomakkin's arm for stability. She walked forward, looking up at Rolfe, her eyes hard with determination. "Please, we must help him!"
Rolfe stuttered for a moment before he gave an exasperated sigh, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.
"I just don't understand," he said after a moment. "Why you've reacted the way you have. How do you even know the man?! Why is he worth throwing away everything you've worked for thus far?!"
Pocahontas looked away.
"Because I love him." She said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. She turned her head back to face him. "I always have."
Rolfe's eyes widened, clearly startled by Pocahontas's outright declaration. For a few moments, he simply stared at her, into her bright brown eyes that burned with fire and fury, alive and willing.
He nodded, slowly, as realization dawned on his face. "Ah."
Pocahontas looked away.
"I'm sorry." She said softly. "I never meant to hurt you."
Rolfe, despite the growing pain in the center of his chest, gently reached out and turned her face towards him.
Normally, Pocahontas would have flinched at such a direct touch from someone she hardly knew. However, given the circumstances she leaned her cheek against his warm hand. Unknowingly seeking the comfort that it brought his steady hand slowly calming her nerves.
"I never meant to hurt you," she repeated blinking back more tears.
"I know," John Rolfe whispered despite the lump that was growing in his throat. "How did this come about?"
A forlorn sigh left her lips as Mrs. Jenkins guided them in to the sitting room where she retold the story of how she and John Smith had met. She told them the tall tale, not bothering to leave out the personal details of who Kocoum was, and how he had exactly gotten killed.
"When my father released him," Pocahontas continued accepting the cup of tea that the housekeeper handed her, "I remember feeling so relieved. I remember feeling so, so happy and sure that John and I had nearly done the impossible. We had stopped a war! Then Ratcliffe… John must have seen him aim his gun at my father because the next thing I knew he was on the ground, bleeding out."
"What was Ratcliffe's reaction?" Rolfe inquired.
"He blamed him for stepping in his way. Although, he did looked shocked for a fleeting moment, before the others revolted against him and took him away."
John Rolfe slowly nodded, "I see."
"I am amazed he had the courtesy to look surprised," Mrs. Jenkins snapped, her usually sweet demeanor failing for a brief moment. "That man has always had such a nasty disposition."
Though Mrs. Jenkins' words were meant to be in agreement, they merely caused a shiver of dread to move through Pocahontas's body.
"We have to do something," She said trying to dispel the unpleasant images out of her mind of what could possibly be happening to her John in the Tower.
"If only we could find a way for the King to listen to you," Rolfe mused quietly. "But I'm afraid he'll hear nothing of it until after John Smith has been…"
A sharp rap came on the heavy door, quite suddenly, urgent and loud. Immediately, everyone in the room tensed as the knock came again while Pocahontas's eyes, full of a mixture of fear and determination looked towards the direction of the sound.
John Rolfe very slowly stood to his feet at the rapping continued, and walked towards the door, where he placed his hand on the knob.
Apprehension filled the air for the few short seconds it took for him to swiftly yank open the door and face the intruder outside. Pocahontas felt her heart begin to beat wildly once more, and she was terrified for a moment that it would be guards waiting outside, preparing to take her away to the Tower herself, where she was sure she could do nothing in the way of helping John.
All of these fears were laid to rest, however, when a young man stepped through the door, clad in a similar fashion as John had been at the palace when he had been captured. In his hands he clutched a battered green cap, balling it into his fists as he stood before them.
While it had been nearly a year since she had last seen him, and his face now donned the beginnings of a neat goatee, the weight on Pocahontas's shoulders suddenly became much lighter, and she couldn't stop the wild smile as she, too, stood to greet the familiar stranger.
"Thomas!"
The next chapter will take us to John Smith and his stay in the Tower...stay tuned!