Chapter 4 Blue Feather's Request

Pocahontas returned to their teepee several moments later, setting down her basket of fresh vegetables and moving quickly toward where their meat was stored, smiling at them both when she saw them where they lay pressed close against each other.

"I am sorry I am late, husband. Blue Feather wished to speak with me. John, will you help me?"

John nodded, removing himself from Kocoum's arms reluctantly to go to her side as she found her biggest cooking pot, beginning to fill it with deer meat and various spices.

"I am sure I can think of something to do while we wait for supper," Kocoum teased her as she then filled the pot with water and went to set it over the warm open fire outside their teepee.

"Yes, husband," she replied with another smile as she returned to John, instructing him to wash and prepare vegetables for the pot. "Careful, John," she cautioned as she handed him a stone knife. "The knives are quite sharp. I do not want your fingers cut, but the vegetables."

"Yes, Pocahontas," he replied with respectful agreement, his long blonde hair falling over his eyes attractively as he lowered his head to watch the knife closely as he cut up the vegetables.

"What did Blue Feather wish to speak to you about, Pocahontas?" Kocoum inquired, watching his wives from where he reclined on the bed of animal furs.

"He wishes to speak with John," she replied quietly as she too began to cut up vegetables. "He is curious about him. If they can get along well enough, and John is amiable, he is considering teaching John his craft."

"That is indeed an honor, if Sunshine wishes to learn," Kocoum stated, his deep voice clearly proud on his two-spirit wife's behalf. "John?"

"Yes, Kocoum?"

"I would like it very much if you would consider learning from Blue Feather if he agrees to teach you. He is very skilled at what he does. He has never considered teaching those skills to another two-spirit before."

"What skills, husband?" John asked, glancing up at him curiously with bright blue eyes.

"His beaded moccasins and jewelry are much sought after among the many tribes. They are truly an art form. If he were to choose to train you in his methods, you would have a sure way to be able to trade for things that you might want. And you would gain much respect in the eyes of the tribes."

"Then of course I will meet with him and do my best for us. Our family," John promised, smiling at him briefly before turning his attention back to the vegetables. "I would also like to learn to make those beautiful blankets that Shining Fish creates when I have the time. If he will consider teaching me, of course."

"I see no reason why he would not consent to it," Pocahontas said to him kindly. "Shining Fish really cares for you. If you were not both two-spirits, I would not hesitate to say that he loves you. But two-spirits lying together is forbidden. It is like lying with a sibling. It would not be right."

"Really?" John asked her in surprise. "Oh yes, you did tell me that. It is odd. Well I know that he does not love me. Not like that. But even if he did.. I love Kocoum. Shining Fish is kind and beautiful, but I could never love him as anything more then a sweet, gentle brother and friend."

"Odd?" Pocahontas repeated, glancing over at him in clear confusion. "How so?"

"Well.. you are both probably tired of hearing my comparisons, but in England there is no such law. Most likely because it is so repressed in polite society. So when you do find another man that is like you.. Well, you take what you can get, and more often then not you never see the man again after your moment of lust, or comfort. It would be dangerous to do otherwise."

"It is.. not that we object to hearing your stories, John," Pocahontas explained to him gently. "But.. all your memories of England seem to be bitter, painful ones. We do not want you to hurt, John. Maybe it would be for the best if you tried to forget about where you came to us from?"

Kocoum nodded in agreement with his first wife.

"Forget about England?" John blinked at the suggestion, shaking his head quickly. "But I do not want to forget about England."

"You do not?" Kocoum asked his two-spirit wife, his usually stern brow furrowing with surprise. "Why do you wish to remember such a terrible place? You told me that you left as soon as you were able, and rarely went back."

"Yes, I did. It is true that many of my memories from England are not my best ones, Kocoum. But I did love my family. I still do. And if I forget all my bad memories, how would I know to appreciate the good ones? I very much love my new life here, but I would not have my new life if I had not had my old life there. I am glad that it is over now, yes, but it still had a purpose."

Kocoum stared at him with his dark eyes in silence for several moments before speaking in his rumbling, shiver-inducing voice. "Your inner beauty is astounding, Sunshine. Such strength can be rare to be found."

"Thank you, Kocoum," John replied with a smile in his direction. "It makes me feel good inside to hear that from you. And, as I said, England was not all bad. My family did love me. Mostly my brother and sister. She's married now. Had several babes the last time that I saw her and her husband."

"And your brother?" Pocahontas asked as they now tossed all the vegetables into the pot when she retrieved it, then hung it back outside to cook longer before they would eat it together for supper.

"He is dead," John answered her softly, his blue eyes dark now, clearly sad, wounded over such an immense loss to his heart. "He was like me. He was suddenly discovered by the authorities, the law, with the man he loved. Rather then submit to the law and allow them to be jailed and tortured, or killed for their love, he killed his lover and then himself. Slit their throats with a blade. I can only surmise that they had discussed just such an occurrence many times before and had decided on this course of action. I was only a young boy at the time. I can never forget that day we all got the news. I should not, either. I have to live for them now, not just for myself. I believe they would be proud of me for making it to somewhere that I can be safe and happy while still being free to be who I am."

"Thomas!" John called out to the other man where he stood on the opposite bank of the river from him. "Thomas, I am here! I am sorry I am late!"

He bounded over to his best friend, jumping across the smooth, gray rocks gracefully and with the ease of much practice, much like Pocahontas had the day they had met, beaming widely with rose-flushed cheeks while panting slightly.

"John?" Thomas gasped, looking back at him, curiously studying the windblown strands of his long, loose and free blonde hair and his shining blue eyes. "You look.. good. Really good."

"Yes, well.. I am finally happy, Thomas. Happy and safe. That must be what you are seeing."

"I suppose so."

"Are you ready to meet my tribe? The Chief said that it was alright for you to visit."

"The.. Chief?"

"Yes. Chieftain Powhatan. He is the leader of the village."

"Alright. I am ready. I want to meet these people that you love."

"I know that you will love them, too, Thomas. They are too good and kind not to. Who do you want to meet first?"

"Your husband, of course. I want to know the man who stole my friend's heart."

"Very well. Kocoum it is, then."

John led Thomas back across the water, then through the trees, along the path that led to the camp and back to his home. He scratched lightly on the fabric of the teepee to alert them to his presence, then pushed the flap back and entered, followed by Thomas.

Kocoum relaxed back upon their bed of furs when he saw that it was John. Pocahontas sat at his side, the couple clearly enjoying each other's company while she mended their clothes. Kocoum was to head out soon to catch fish or hunt for their supper since they had shared what was left of the stew amongst others in their tribe after having their fill the night before.

"Kocoum. Pocahontas. This is Thomas. He wished to meet you both."

"Be welcome, friend of my Sunshine," Kocoum replied in a low greeting.

"He says hello," John translated for him.

"Yes?"

"Well, pretty much, yes."

"John," Thomas said sternly, his usual bright eyes serious. "What did he say?"

John's cheeks turned pink at the question, flushing as he answered his friend. "He said, 'Be welcome, friend of my Sunshine.' It is what he calls me. Because of my hair."

"Oh. That is so sweet, John. I like it. Tell him I said thank you."

"I do, too. I will tell him what you said."

John glanced at Kocoum with another smile as he stood up to get ready to go out for their supper of fish or game.

"He says, 'Thank you,' Kocoum."

"Any friend of my two-spirit is a friend of mine," Kocoum said simply.

Then he kissed Pocahontas lightly on her smooth cheek before coming toward John, pulling him close with one dark-skinned, muscular arm while Thomas watched them with wide and curious eyes. John instinctively relaxed against his husband, unresisting as Kocoum took firm hold of his chin with a warm hand, drawing his face close to his and kissing him. Kocoum took John's soft lips with his, claiming him once again and leaving him with the reminder of their new, but none the less deep bond as his other hand stroked his golden-haired head tenderly before he released him and left the teepee.

John's white complexion flushed a dark red color and he cleared his throat quietly as he looked between Pocahontas and Thomas, his bright blue eyes staying on his best friend's face, panting slightly before he got his breathing under control.

"Well.. Shall we go and visit the two-spirits now?"

"Of course," Thomas agreed, nodding and asking worriedly, "Did I offend him?"

"No, Thomas," John assured him as the two men exited the teepee together after bidding Pocahontas farewell with nods. "Kocoum is.. complicated. He loves me, he does. But he is the strong, silent type. He does not speak much to those outside our teepee. I get the feeling that he has talked more to me these past three months then he has in a long time."

John led Thomas to the part of the camp where the two-spirit's teepees stood in a small circle. Echoing Thunder with his black hair and eyes sat upon the ground speaking with his friend, Falling Rain, who also had black hair, though his eyes were the deep blue of the river. Growling Bear sat near them, though somewhat apart, his dark brown hair gleaming in the sunlight and his eyes shining with amusement as he laughed with Swift Rabbit, his intended two-spirit wife, who also had brown hair, though lighter, and hazel eyes.

Shining Fish, with his midnight black hair and sea green eyes, sat at the entrance to his own teepee with his legs crossed and a dark blue half-finished blanket in his lap, humming softly to himself contentedly while adding more twinkling stars to his creation with some dyed silver thread.

Blue Feather, who had long dark auburn hair and emerald green eyes, sat near his own teepee creating a beautiful pair of moccasins. The light breath of the wind stirred the three large blue jay tail feathers secured into his one small silky braid on the left side of his face with silver thread and decorated with small turquoise stones, clear stones and delicate looking shells of many varieties.

Shining Fish was the first one to look up at John's call, and he smiled at his friend, his gaze then moving to the man beside him. Shining Fish stared, his slender, smaller then average body suddenly filled with an unnatural stillness, his sea green eyes transfixed on the pale skinned, red haired man with an almost discomfiting intensity.

"Shining Fish," John began with a return smile. "This is-"

"Thomas.." the dark haired two-spirit breathed with wide eyes and quiet, panting breaths, appearing as though he had run several miles despite the fact that he had not moved even an inch. "This is Thomas."

"Yes, he is. But how did you know that?" John asked him in bewilderment. "I had not told you that he was coming here. I wanted it to be a surprise. Thomas is my best friend."

"I know because I have seen his face before," Shining Fish replied as he carefully set aside his blanket onto the one he'd been sitting on, standing up and beginning to walk closer to them. "Grandmother Willow gave me the gift of his image and his name in my dreams. It was many years ago now, it is true. When I came of age, but I still remember like it was yesterday."

"Grandmother.. Willow?" John inquired of him in confusion.

"Yes. She is like a grandmother to all of the people. She gives us advice. And sometimes, she tells us of possible futures."

"I.. I see. I think. But why did she share Thomas's image with you so many years before we even arrived here?"

"Because she told me that if I approached him in the right manner, and if I had help from the 'blue-eyed sunshine', that he could grow to love me. I did not know what she meant then. I do now."

"What?" John gasped, those blue eyes blinking rapidly as he looked at his two-spirit friend. "You expect me to.. to help you woo Thomas?"

"Oh, no, John," Shining Fish reassured him quickly. "I can do the wooing. I am perfectly capable of it. It is just.. Well, he can not understand me, right?"

"No, he can not. But I-"

"John?" Thomas interrupted him, his friend looking lost as they spoke to each other in words that he could not understand. "What is he saying to you? He seems a little.. emotional."

"Yes, he is. This is.. complicated. Let us sit with him while I explain, alright?"

John took Shining Fish by the hand, leading him back to his blanket with Thomas following after them with bewilderment obvious on his face, the three of them sitting down together. Shining Fish lifted his unfinished blanket back onto his lap, but he noticeably did not continue work on his creation, as his small, slender fingered hands were visibly shaking with his nerves.

"What is it, John?" Thomas asked again, glancing at Shining Fish, then back to John. "Why is he scared? It is not me.. is it?"

"It is you, but he is not scared," John explained with a brief smile. "He is nervous."

"Nervous? But why?"

"Because he is interested in you."

"Interested? Interested how?"

"He likes you, Thomas. He.. He wants you to be his husband."

"His.. husband? But we have never even met before today. And you know that I mean no offense by this. But I am not like you, John. You are a good man, and my friend, but I like women."

"You do not have to be like me to love him, Thomas. If you were, it would be forbidden. They call us two-spirits 'sisters', and consider it incest. Kocoum is not like me. He is not a two-spirit. He is a good man who loves me. The tribes care for their people. All of their people. The two-spirits get lonely, too, Thomas. They need husbands, and so husbands choose them. I have slowly come to understand that it is something of an honor to have a two-spirit sharing your teepee, your bed furs. I do not understand exactly why, but I am happy to be loved by such a strong, attractive warrior. If you are really not interested, I will tell him so gently. But you should at least consider getting to know him first."

"I will get to know him, John."

John told Shining Fish what Thomas had said, and the two-spirit's eyes lit up from within like the moon, luminous and eager for love. "Thank you, Thomas. I promise you will not regret it!"

"He says, 'thank you,' and he promises that you will not regret it," John translated for them. "Just take it slow and see how it progresses."

"Thank you, John. I will."

Pocahontas came to them then, her expression somehow excited and concerned at the same time as she looked at John.

"My father has called for you, John."

"He has?"

"Yes."

"But why? Is it important? I do not know why else he would call for me."

"I do not know. Father did not confide in me. But it is important. That much I do know."

"All right. I will go now. Thank you for coming with the message for me, Pocahontas."

"You are welcome, John."

"I will do my best to return soon, Thomas," John informed his friend. "Will you wait here for me?"

"Yes, John. I will."

"Thank you. I am sure that Shining Fish will be glad of your continued company, whether he can understand you or not," he teased him, laughing loudly and with obvious merriment when Thomas flushed to the roots of his strawberry colored hair once again as John left the other man, a slight smile curving Thomas's lips.