I appreciate reviews and I'm so glad to have seen Wayward-Owl writing again. She may not see this but good vibes going that way.
Thanks Team.
When Colonel Munro took a step away from them, his face, though stern still managed to convey the softness of a father's worry and love.
"Why did you disobey me, girls?" He asked desperately, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of Alice's arms, "Why are you here?"
"Well...I...uhm..." Marie tried while Alice's words got stuck in her throat, "Help?"
She looked at Duncan who looked just as confused as Munro turned his stony gaze to the major.
"You gave me instructions to bring them to you, Colonel, as soon as they arrived!"
"Did you not get my letter, Hayward?" Munro demanded.
"What letter?" Hayward frowned. He glanced at Marie but she shrugged at a loss.
"There was no such letter, Sir," He continued.
Munro shook his head,
"I sent it with confidence in the hands of one of my Mohawk Scouts! Mmm...ma...something," He scrunched up his eyes trying to remember, pinching the ridge of his nose.
"Magua?" Marie stepped forward with her eyes narrowed.
"Yes!" Munro cried, gesturing madly at her before turning back to Hayward, "Why did he not get it to you, I wonder..."
"He's been trying to kill me and yours since the day we left," Hayward said bluntly, "And he's not a Mohawk. He's..."
He stalled, glancing back at the Frontiersmen who stood quietly at the back,
"What did you say he was?"
"Huron," Nathaniel answered, rubbing grit from his face, "He's got something against you, it seems. Wants your children dead."
Munro straightened in dismay, eyes wide, skin paling,
"That two-faced swine! You," He pointed at Hayward, "You swear to me you never left my children!"
"Yes, Sir," Hayward answered, squaring up to the shorter man, "I saw them arrive and I haven't left them since. They've been acting a bit odd but I put that down to the trauma of the new world."
Munro sighed, dropping his finger and turning back to his children,
"I suppose I should thank you then."
Hayward bowed his head.
"The call for reinforcements never reached Webb..." Munro continued sullenly.
Hayward went silent a moment,
"No."
"Damn," the Colonel cursed, "Damn, damn."
He walked back to his desk, a little heavier of shoulder, leaning over his battle plans,
"I suppose you didn't get here alone," He offered up instead, his eyes peering over Marie and Alice's shoulder, "To whom do I owe more of my thanks?"
"Nathaniel," he answered steadily, pointing at himself first before moving down the line, "My brother, Uncas and my father, Chingachgook."
"I'm indebted to you. What can I offer as thanks?"
"We'll need some ammunition, if that'll be alright? A bed for the night. We'll be on our way in the morning."
"Of course," Munro conceded.
"And food," Uncas added, glancing at his brother irritably.
"Yes, Sir." Munro glanced back down at his plans, and to no one in particular, he said,
"Albany's a long way. Montcalm would have us hanged by then."
"If you're referring to Webb, he's not in Albany," Hayward corrected, fervour anew, "He marched a garrison to Fort Edward two days ago!"
Munro jerked his head up,
"For certain?"
Hayward nodded only once and sharply.
"We need a runner to get the message there," He stated boldly, "A fast one. If we can get the message to him, he could have his men here within a day!"
"There are a couple of men here who can make the run. Good, fast men, all we'd need to do is spot for them. Make sure they make the clearing safely," Nathaniel offered. Munro was quick to take the opportunity,
"Pick your man, Sir. They leave tonight. Report them to me within the hour!"
"As you wish." Nathaniel cast Marie a glance with half a raised eyebrow. When Alice caught Marie's eye, her friend had gone pale. A sickly clamminess that took over her dark skin, a cold sweat evident above her brow.
Alice watched Uncas' retreating back before mouthing,
"Are you alright?"
Marie shook her head vigorously.
"Girls," Munro grabbed their attention, hesitating upon seeing Marie's face, "Cora, are you quite well, Lass?"
Marie couldn't speak but nodded meekly, portraying her best 'everything is fine' smile, small though it was.
Munro looked at her sceptically before drawing them both in,
"I'm glad you're safe, my girls, safe and sound," He whispered softly before putting them at arms length, "Go now, I've important business to discuss with Major Hayward."
Marie made to move but Alice thought it best to say something,
"Are you alright?"
Her 'father' smiled warmly,
"I'll be fine girl and so will you, now go. Go on, go on."
Alice nodded agreeably before turning away to follow Marie out, well aware that Major Hayward was watching them – Marie – leave.
Once the door was shut, Marie turned instantly, putting her ear to the door. Alice's shoulders dropped,
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"Shsh," Marie replied irritably, "Listen."
Alice looked around carefully before reluctantly putting her ear to the door.
Hayward and Munro spoke a time on battle plans. Then they moved on to Magua and their adventures. Where the letter had gone. Who Magua was.
It appeared that Magua was enslaved at the hand of this father of theirs. Marie looked disgusted. He'd been done for drinking, sent to the Mohawks and forced to forget all that he was and that was the last Munro had heard of him.
"That explains the drink then..." Alice said thoughtfully.
"He was a slave!" Marie whispered angrily, "This country and slavery! You know Columbus Day is shit, right?"
"Marie, please!" Alice raised her hand to calm her fiery friend turned sister, "You don't have the right!"
"Enslaved. As a half-cast woman, I have many rights and opinions, thank you."
Alice gave up,
"What are we doing, Marie? What are you waiting to hear?"
"Whether there was a brief period where Hayward was not with us allowing this situation to occur."
"What do you mean?"
Marie let out a growl,
"Alice, shut up and listen!"
Alice scowled but did as she was bid. It finally came to light that Hayward had not left them the whole time. Marie, through each enlightenment, paled further. Until the final straw lead to Hayward revealing his affections for Cora/Marie and asking Munro for his blessing.
"If it please you, Sir," Duncan was saying carefully.
"Well it does!" Munro said with a hint of surprise, "But my Cora's not...well she's not..."
"She's half cast, Sir, I know but-"
"Why, Major?"
"I couldn't say, Sir," Hayward answered flatly sounding like he knew full well why but found the question awkward.
"Well, you're a good man, Hayward. Ask her, I don't suppose she'd take well to being told what she is to do. But," He sighed, "If the girl says no, ask her sister when the time is right. I know she has a fondness for you and it would suit me greatly to have you in my family."
Marie had wide, fearful eyes that broke into surprise at the revelation of Alice's supposed affections for Hayward. She locked her eyes on Alice who felt conflicted.
"What?" Marie asked, puzzled but Alice only shook her head, suddenly exhausted,
"I don't know."
Conflict. How was she going to deal with saying 'no' to Duncan and feign indifference towards Uncas when the time came around? If that was the way it was supposed to be, Alice felt she'd done the work of the woman she was supposed to be incorrectly.
She had heard enough. Pulling herself away from the door, she grabbed Marie's arm and dragged her away. She came easily, pealing from the frame like a page from a book.
She didn't let go of her friend's arm until they made it to the outside where the people danced in an orange light cast by a bonfire in a wide open space. Around it, broken people and families sat listening to a lonely fiddler.
Alice turned to Marie,
"We're not running, are we...?"
Marie swallowed, looked around and then shook her head nervously,
"No, it doesn't seem like we can."
"Explain what the hell you were doing there? Why are we stuck in this life? Where are the real people?" she demanded desperately.
"There's no one but us, Alice..." Marie told her softly, "That's what I wanted to make sure of. Duncan's been with us the whole time, you heard him."
"Impossible."
"There hasn't been a chance for a slip to happen! Wherever, whatever, we're stuck with these lives because they were actually ours."
"That's insane!" Alice put her hands on either side of her head as if containing combustion, "That's insane, we can't stay here!"
"Where do you propose we go then?" Marie asked calmly.
Alice shook her head,
"Anywhere," grabbing Marie's arms, "Stick to the plan. Run!"
"Run where? Home? Where's that?" Marie sighed and eased herself out of Alice's terrified grip, "Look; it's a strange hand we've been dealt but that's what we've got. We'll have to just play this thing out till the end, I suppose."
"Or until you remember what the hell kind of instructions you read with regards to this mess."
"Or that, yeah," Marie shrugged carelessly.
Alice felt her shoulders sag. She'd never felt so lost,
"What am I supposed to do with Duncan?"
"I've got to deal with him first so don't you worry," Marie snapped irritably, gazing into the heat of the fire, enticed by the warmth, "Say 'no'. Like me."
"And Uncas?"
Marie turned a raised eyebrow to her,
"What about him?"
"Well..." I kind of like him...a lot, "His death and Chingachgook."
"We'll get there. You can have it your way and try to rescue him," she smiled, a thin lipped, broken grin, "In the meantime, I'll be with Nathaniel."
Alice felt a jolt of surprise,
"Say again? I thought-"
"Oh, Alice, we're stuck with these lives aren't we? Might as well fall in love."
Alice watched Marie walk away, drift even, into the light like a ghost. Lost in the sounds of the night. She was so graceful, Alice gawked, it was no wonder Marie attracted all kinds of men. She had fire but she had an exuberant amount of grace.
But freedom came in the form of misfortune, it seemed. Their situation was most definitely a mess but now there was nothing getting in the way of her accepting her growing closeness towards the young Mohican Chief.
If Marie had gone off to seek comfort in the white Frontiersman then she could seek her own comfort, no?
Uncas. Her heart jumped into her mouth. Uncas, Uncas, Uncas.
She looked around. But where to find him? Where to start?
Just as she turned around, the man himself followed by Nathaniel, was marching towards her with his musket in hand. His jaw was set and a furrowed brow made him look fierce. Suddenly Alice felt small and intimidated. She wished to be simultaneously missed and noticed.
She got the latter as Uncas locked eyes with her,
"Miss Alice," He greeted, the furrow easing slightly.
"Miss," Nathaniel smiled pausing in front of Alice where Uncas made to keep going. As a result, he stopped too.
"Your sister, where can I find her?"
Alice felt a shy grin creep over face,
"Not sure but she's looking for you too. Give it time."
Nathaniel seemed pleased by the news. Saying no more, he left her.
Uncas winked at her without a smile but his voice was soft when he spoke,
"Wait there, Alice..." He took a step before hesitating, "Please."
Alice looked at him, holding his gaze and for a brief moment she thought she saw his eyebrows contort ever so slightly – a hint of worry.
"I'll be here," she consented, crossing her hands at her waist. Uncas did no more to show pleasure or the lack thereof. He left her standing in the half light with nothing to do. She wondered how long she was supposed to wait. What she must look like simply standing alone in nobody's company. Far off, the fiddlers kept playing. She closed her eyes to the gentle tune, imagining another life. She wondered whether, were time to be a loop, if there'd always be a part of her that would be there waiting on Uncas' request.
He returned soon enough, drawing her out of the thought. He said nothing but the shadow that enveloped the otherwise dim red that was the fire on the other side of her eyelids.
Opening them, he was very close and she instinctively took a step away in surprise. So as not to offend, Alice gasped, apologised and then took a step forward again. Then she felt stupid. No longer able to fix it, she couldn't very well take a step back again. That would be ridiculous.
But Uncas opened up to her, appearing not to have noticed. She practically stepped into his arms. She lost faith in her confidence and her eyes dropped.
"Cosy..." She muttered sheepishly.
"My brother says we'll be leaving in the morning."
His voice was quiet, still unquestionably strong but quiet. Alice felt her heart sink to the pit of her stomach like a deflated balloon. The unexpected pain forced her to look up without being able to hide it,
"Well...where?"
"I don't know. Delaware, I guess. But he loves your sister. So maybe he won't," he said hopefully. The perceived hope was genuine as his expression slowly swayed from its usual stoicism.
She smiled, the sullen feeling relieved a while,
"I think she...likes him, at the very least."
Uncas laughed; a full, throaty laugh that moved his shoulders. She'd never seen him smile with a full set of teeth before. As it turned out, he didn't have perfect teeth as she had expected. They were a bit crooked in some areas, the incisors were a bit too pointed and placed a bit higher into his gums than the rest of his teeth.
When he laughed, his lips pulled back quite dramatically to reveal all of this to her. It was an endearing, carefree smile that was infectious.
Her own smile was slightly crooked too, in its own way but she took great pride in the well-fare of her teeth. She'd endured braces as a child and she had no intention of enduring them again. So hers were pretty close to perfect. But she, like Uncas, hadn't had a chance to show it off in light of recent events.
Uncas could do with braces, though.
"Would..." Alice started, swaying slightly, "Would you like walk here and there with me?"
He shook his head. She frowned,
"Shall we sit?"
He shook his head, his smile having waned.
"No? OK."
He took her hands,
"My father has not stopped telling me how he recognises you from somewhere. Like a dream. He says he worries for me now more than ever. More than my brother," his seriousness slackened and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips, "I think you scare him."
Alice swallowed, she'd forgotten time's warped sense of humour. Suddenly Uncas was precious and the thought that perhaps she needed to distance herself from him crossed her mind.
Your death is coming!
She jumped into him. As if he were expecting it, his arms circled around her waist easily and his lips met hers even more so. It was damn near perfect until his incredibly sharp incisors did catch on her lower lip when he moved to kiss her more deeply.
She winced and pulled away,
"Ow!" said she dismayed, "What have you got in your mouth; knives?"
He didn't let go of her but he was confused. Gently, gently, she grinned. He imitated her and brought his face closer again, closer, closer still until the passion came pouring out in waves.
888888
Alice lay awake on her feather bed in the small, box of a room her father provided them. How long had it been since Uncas had kissed her? A minute? An hour?
After what seemed like an eternity, the door eased open and closed and the floor creaked under the feet on the intruder. There was a gentle him being sung under their breath. One Alice recognised; Marie.
Alice sat up and stalled. Marie's face was cast in shadow but she was glowing.
"Evening," she whispered in a slight dip of a curtsey.
Alice narrowed her eyes,
"Evening..."
"What?"
"Why don't you tell me?"
Marie's smile faded instantly and she became irritable,
"I kissed him and you kissed Uncas. Yeah, I know," she told Alice with mirth, "Uncas told Nathaniel so you're just as guilty as me."
Alice recoiled. She wasn't ashamed but she didn't want that information to be public knowledge just yet. Perhaps, given the times, she didn't want it at all.
"Oh..."
Seeing Alice's meek response, Marie came to sit by her side and gently rubbed her back,
"We've got other things to worry about, chicken. Nathaniel has told me that Duncan and he had a disagreement with regards to some chaos happening on the Frontier. That war party of ours isn't the only one. Men are demanding to go home to protect their families," she told Alice quietly, as if for of speaking too loud might bring about more trouble, "They're leaving tonight. Nathaniel's showing them the way."
Alice shook her head, puzzled,
"But Uncas never-"
"I don't think he knows, Alice. If word gets out, those men and Nathaniel will get done for treason and for being deserters."
"Oh."
Marie nodded,
"Oh..." Then she took a breath and her smile came back, "Other than that, I had a brilliant evening amidst this crap."
Alice lay down again and exhaled loudly. Her heart aflame, her worries twice as heavy. She wondered whether God was real and proceeded to wonder about what the fuck he was doing.
"Alice?"
Alice didn't bother to answer. She closed her eyes and turned away in an effort to pretend to sleep.
She felt Marie linger a moment more before getting up, humming a tune that lulled Alice into a dreamless sleep. Still very much aware of her surroundings.
She woke abruptly when Duncan burst in, speaking fast and frantically,
"Cora, I really must –"
"Shshsh," Marie silenced him almost instantly, her tremulous hum replaced by annoyance.
Alice then proceeded to get up, catching Duncan's guilty eye,
"Alice, oh, I'm sorry..."
"Alice!" Marie pleaded, undoubtedly aware of what she now faced but Alice was tired on too many levels,
"Speak to him," she glanced back, "Cora."
She then looked to Duncan as she moved past him,
"I'm not an invalid school girl, I'll be alright."
She closed the door behind her perhaps a little too forcefully only to grow curious and peep through the keyhole.
Marie was staring disbelievingly at the door. 'Help!' written all over her face. Slowly her eyes moved from the door to the object of her uncertainty. Then Duncan moved to the side and blocked her view.
She left then. Dragging her weary feet down the hall and rounding a corner only to walk straight into Chingachgook.
"Ghost," He said, clutching her forearms, "Ghost Child."