Chapter Five- Nighttime Visit

Pocahontas sat up. She must have cried herself to sleep. But she was awake now. All she could think about was John in a dark, lonely, cold cell. And how he was going to die. He had assured he was fine, but Pocahontas couldn't be sure. She got up and ran to Kekata's.

"Kekata! Kekata, I need your help!" Pocahontas called.

"Pocahontas! Is everything alright?" Kekata asked, coming out of his hut.

"I'm fine, but do you have anything for a broken rib?" Pocahontas asked.

"Yes, I have some herbal cream for broken bones and aches. Why do you need it?" Kekata asked.

"It's for John, Kekata. He broke at least one rib today when some guards came to arrest him for treason." Pocahontas said in a hurry.

"Your father told me what happened. I'm very sorry, Pocahontas." Kekata said, handing her the herbal cream.

"I'm sorry, too, Kekata." Pocahontas said. "I'm sorry, too." She thanked him for the cream and ran off towards the Jamestown settlement.

…oOo…

"John? John, where are you?" Pocahontas called in a desperate whisper. John opened his eyes. He hadn't been sleeping. How could he? It was cold and the floor was hard. He had finally leaned up against the wall and closed his eyes.

"John? John, please answer me!" Pocahontas whispered again. John got up carefully so as to not hurt his broken ribs and went to the window.

"Over here, Pocahontas." He whispered. He looked out at another layer of fresh snow as the full moon cast an eerie glow across it. Pocahontas turned and sighed with relief. She ran to the window.

"John! John, are you alright?" She asked, clasping his hand in hers.

"Well, the guards broke another rib and threatened to give me a few lashings if I struggled or escaped, but I guess I'm doing fine now." He said, smiling. Pocahontas handed him the herbal cream Kekata had given her from her shoulder bag.

"Put that over the spots where your broken ribs are. It should help with the pain." She said. John nodded.

"Thank you." He said.

"John, are you really, really alright?" Pocahontas asked.

"I'm fine, Pocahontas. Really. I'm not afraid to die. I hope you know that."

"I do know that, John, but I just can't believe it's ending like this. I can't let them hang you, John. I can't. I couldn't bear to watch you die in front of me, especially by hanging." Pocahontas said as her eyes brimmed with tears. John gently wiped them away.

"Then don't come. Don't come here on my execution day. In all honesty, Pocahontas, I hadn't expected you to show up when your father tried to kill me. I didn't think you'd come. And I certainly had no idea you would do what you did."

"I hadn't planned on coming, either, John. I hadn't planned on saving you, but I did what my heart told me to do. And it told me to save you. And that's what I did." Pocahontas said.

"I'm glad you did, Pocahontas. I'm glad you did." John said. Suddenly, he heard the guard approaching.

"Pocahontas, go!" He said.

"But John…" Pocahontas started.

"Go!" John said, squeezing her hand. Pocahontas squeezed it back and took off running for home.