Chapter Twenty-four- King James

A month and a half later, Pocahontas was growing uneasy. The king had not agreed to see her yet, though Samuel Smith had tried everything in his power to persuade him to see her. On the day that Pocahontas, Nakoma, and Thomas were shot at, Samuel had run to see King James about seeing Pocahontas, knowing she had to leave for the New World as soon as possible with the papers to save his son.

"King James, I know that this is a very serious matter to ask to speak of because it is of short notice, but may I speak with you about the sentence of my son?" Samuel Smith asked the king casually.

"You know that what is done is done, Samuel." King James replied.

"That is not exactly what I meant, sir. The Powhatan Indians' princess has journeyed here to speak with you about it. Her name is Pocahontas." Samuel said, trying to reason with the stubborn king.

"What do you mean, 'has journeyed here to speak with me'?" King James asked.

"Sir, as you may recall, my son was sent back here wounded by a gun. He was shot by our very own Governor Ratcliffe, as my son reported. It was after he was saved from death by the Powhatan chief's daughter that he was shot. Chief Powhatan's daughter's name is Pocahontas." Samuel said.

"Ah, yes, I do recall Ratcliffe saying that she had saved him." The king said, not really have known that Pocahontas had saved John's life before he was shot. According to Ratcliffe, John had gone against his orders to shoot any Indian seen in the woods and he shot him as punishment when the others revolted and returned with a wounded John-and a chained and gagged Ratcliffe- to England.

"Pocahontas has journeyed to speak with you of reconsidering my son's punishment." Samuel went on.

"And why is that?" King James asked.

"She is a good friend of John's." Samuel said, not saying what was really true between John and Pocahontas, which was their love for one another.

"No, I will not speak with this Pocahontas about John Smith's sentence. What is done is done. Be gone." King James said, shooing Samuel away. Great. This was just great. He should have known James would say no. He was just like Samuel himself-stubborn.

"He will speak with me. He will." Pocahontas whispered to herself. "He will." Pocahontas went to find Peter…without Nakoma or Thomas or Wendy. She spotted Peter walking up the path.

"Peter! I need to talk to you."

...oOo...

"Be careful." Nakoma whispered, hugging Pocahontas. Pocahontas hugged her back.

"I will, Nakoma, I will. Don't worry about me.' Pocahontas assured her worried friend. Tonight she would meet King James.

"Pocahontas, come on." Peter whispered into the deep London night. She hugged Nakoma one last time and squeezed Wendy's hand as she silently slipped through the crack in the door. She followed Peter and Samuel's careful instructions as she ran through the dim halls to the throne room. There, she stuck her head in. King James and Queen Ann were sitting. Pocahontas sighed and showed herself fully.

You're doing this for John. Do it for John. She thought. King James looked up to see a woman dressed in Native American leggings and top with long fringed leggings and sleeves. On her feet were Native American moccasins.

"Pocahontas!" King James realized. Who else was it? No one.

"King James." Pocahontas said respectively.

"You are here to speak of John Smith's sentence." King James said. Pocahontas nodded.

"Yes, John is innocent, I swear. He did not commit treason, your majesty."

"Ah, but Ratcliffe assured me…" Pocahontas couldn't take it much longer. She stopped him mid-sentence.

"Ratcliffe was lying! Where ever he is now, he's lying!" She screamed and as soon as she did, she knew she had just done the wrong thing.

"Silence! I will not tolerate this savage behavior!" King James shouted.

"James…" Queen Ann said, trying to calm her husband. King James didn't hear her.

"It is not my people who are the savages! Not all of us are savages! It is people like you that are savages!" Pocahontas screamed, tears beginning to form. What would John think?

"SILENCE! I will not discuss John Smith's sentence with someone who does not even know manners!" King James spat and Pocahontas grew even angrier.

"LISTEN TO ME! I LOVE JOHN AND IF YOU DON'T SPEAK WITH ME ABOUT HIS SENTENCE, HE'LL DIE AND I EILL FOREVER HATE YOU!" Pocahontas screamed at the top of her lungs. She suddenly realized what she had said and she put her hand to her mouth. She had just given away her and John's secret. There was no hope for John now. Falling in love with an 'enemy' surly classifies as treason!

"What?!" King James screamed. Pocahontas shook her head, the tears beginning to fall.

"James, perhaps you could listen to her…" Queen Ann started to suggest, but King James cut her off.

"I will not speak of John Smith's sentence with you for your savage behavior. One savage is no different than all the others." King James said.

"But…" Pocahontas started, and Queen Ann could see she was crying. Queen Ann was a quiet woman compared to her loud husband and she knew what Pocahontas was feeling. She was feeling the heartbreak of losing the one you love most. Queen Ann knew that she would feel the same way if it was James instead of John.

"Silence!" King James screamed. Pocahontas shut her mouth and began to sob.

John is still going to die, perhaps sooner or more painful. Pocahontas thought. It was only when guard surrounded her did she stop crying. She looked up. Queen Ann had a face of pure horror on her face.

"Take her to the tower!" King James screamed.

"No! Let go of me! Please just talk to me!" Pocahontas begged.

"James…" Queen Ann began.

"Silence, Ann!" King James spat and Queen Ann grew angry.

"So this is how you treat someone who is just trying to save the one they love! I can't believe you, James! I honestly thought you would be a little more kind and compassionate!" And with that, Ann was gone. King James stood stunned. Never before had his wife spoken to him in such a way as that.

Pocahontas, meanwhile, was be shoved into a jail carriage.

"No! No!" She said, using all of her strength against the three men pushing her into the carriage. When they slammed the door and locked it, Pocahontas sat to think about what had just happened. She was going to The Tower. Suddenly, Pocahontas remembered what Thomas had told her and Nakoma when they had first arrived.

Be glad John wasn't sent there. If he was, there would be no hope what so ever for him.

Pocahontas began to sob. Now there's no hope what so ever for me, She thought. She would never see freedom again. She would never see Nakoma or Thomas or Peter or Wendy ever again. She would never see her father or village again. She would never again see her beloved homeland or Meeko, Percy, or Flit. She would never see Kelly, George or Carrie again. But worst of all, she would never see the one she loved most of all again. She would never again see John.

A/N- Uh oh, THE TOWER! NOT GOOD! And I don't think Mr. Kingie James was using the right tone with Queen Ann, my middle-namesake. What is Pocahontas going to do? None of her friends know where she is! Not even Peter! Help! Help! Help! Help! Over and out! -Robin