~ I ~ Feather in the Wind ~ I ~

~ Jasper ~

~ Historical (fan) fiction ~

~ Chapter 2 ~

1845. After a forced agreement with Europeans, 15-year-old Piper is betrothed to Jason Grace, son of the one who has caused much harm to her people. Yet she doesn't know that and it doesn't help the vast rumors of forced marriages with the lightly colored she had heard of. But yet she never thought that she would fall for him, despite the knowledge that he might leave.

~ Fall for Her ~

~ Jason ~

Jason had promised himself to stay on guard duty last night but sleep overtook him. He didn't want to leave the girl unattended. Sure she seems like a tough cookie, but she doesn't know him or his people. Close interaction hasn't taken place. Besides he didn't trust James. He is known to take advantage of slaves and Native American girls.

Jason stretched, not wanting to get up.

Yet a scream made him jolt up.

"Wha—?" Jason said to himself.

He scanned his surroundings and saw that the girl wasn't near him. His father was sound asleep. James was gone too.

Jason quickly assumed the worst and grabbed his rifle lying nearby. He heard another scream and ran in that direction. Running frantically in panic, his sight became blinded. He couldn't see anything abnormal.

Then he heard a grunt followed by a muffled scream.

As he came closer, he heard a familiar voice, "Relax, savage. Relax. This is going to be fast and quick, if you work with me. Relax."

The voice sounded as if it were trying to convince someone. Or seduce.

Then another language was spoken negatively.

"Nice savage."

A scream in fear was let out.

The girl. Jason thought. He quickly ran faster and jumped in on James.

There was a millisecond in which Jason took in the image before him. James stood atop the girl. The one who his father wanted to be Jason's wife. She had tears streaming down her cheeks and was panicking. Her top was lifted and stretched. Her animal skin skirt was raised too high. The following millisecond was quick and out of the ordinary. Jason sent a shot straight through James' back. He fell on the girl's side and she quickly scrambled to Jason's side.

James was moving still.

The girl was crying, fearful and scared. Jason then took her into his hold. He put a hand on her neck and hid her sight in her shirt. She seemed to get the message and buried her face in his shirt. She waited for his shot.

Boom!

James stopped trying and shut his eyes.

Jason helped the girl back to the campsite but on the way, she was crying to much she couldn't handle it anymore. She fell on the ground and Jason fell with her.

"Hey, look at me. Right at me." Jason said, as kindly as possible.

The girl didn't stop.

"I fancy this agreement as much as you do."

The girl quieted down but didn't look up.

"I'll protect you."

Then the girl looked up. He almost gave out a breath. Her eyes were beautiful despite the tears. They didn't seem to decide on a color. A kaleidoscope. Her hair was in a choppy fly-away braid down her back. A small feather decorated her hair.

Her clothing was tattered. He made a mental note to accommodate her with new clothes.

"You might not understand what I am saying but I'll protect you. Whether we like or not, we are getting married and it's my duty to protect you from harm. I'll not cause it." He told her.

He waited for her response. Another tear slipped out of her beautiful eyes. Jason subconsciously wiped it off gently. She seemed hesitant as to respond. She opened and closed her mouth.

"How can I trust you?" she spoke in her language. Great how was he going to communicate with her?

"I'm sorry. I don't understand." Jason said calmly.

She took a deep breath and seemed to regret something. "How can I trust you?"

"You speak English?"

"Yes. I learned a bit at a young age. During the movement of the Trail of Tears and after. My sister taught me what caught on."

"Well, you are a bright girl then. What's your name?"

"Your people called me Piper."

"Well, Piper, to answer your question, I am not like my father. We differ greatly in the way we see the world. You can trust me in the sense that no harm will come your way." Jason said. He stood up. "I don't believe sovereignty is the key to success. I'll treat as my rightful partner."

He offered her his hand and she took it. He could feel her warming up to his words.

Seeing her tattered clothes, he took his coat and placed it over her shoulders. It was big enough that it reached the hem of her skirt.

"Let's go." Jason told her.

Once they arrived to the campsite, General Grace looked at them. He gave an amused/disappointed look.

"Jason, I'd expect more patience from you. You haven't even been wedded." General Zeus said.

"Don't think wrongly of me, Father. Choose your men carefully. I don't want them near my future wife. Your former lieutenant suffered consequences." Jason said, coldly.

General Zeus blinked, "You killed one of my men?"

Jason rolled his eyes.

"Are you sure you are not proud to be my son? You become more like me each day." General Zeus said amused.

"No I am not and it's not something I am proud of like you. Now, let's move on. We don't want to arrive at dawn to Virginia."

And that they did. They rode on horseback and in their small wagon of rations provided by Piper's tribe, she rode.

They arrived to Virginia that same night. While General Grace prepared his declaration of the encounter with the Cherokee for tomorrow, Jason showed Piper where she will be staying before the wedding. Jason stated to her that she has to be converted in Christianity before marrying. That will take place tomorrow.

"I will tell the maid to come and help you choose clothing and prepare you for bed." Jason told her.

Jason stepped out of her room and went to find Esperanza. Esperanza is a Cherokee Indian. She was captured by the Spanish. She became baptized as Esperanza by a Spanish settler and sent here. She has cared for the Grace siblings since Dylan was one years old, Jason about to arrive. Since she is Cherokee, maybe Piper will find comfort in the woman.

"Oh my boy, you have come home. How was your trip?" she asked, motherly.

"Father's usual. He got me a wife." Jason told her.

"A wife… How so?"

"He thinks that I need to be wed to a Native American to gain profit. Profit he will gain. She is from your tribe, Esperanza."

"What? Cherokee?" Esperanza's eyes twinkled.

"Can I ask you a favor? She seems to only trust me as far as one-day-known-notice goes. I have a feeling she might find comfort in you. She is the chief's daughter. Besides an uncomfortable encounter with James can't be good. Can you help her find clothes and get her accommodated?" Jason asked.

"You and your kind heart. Of course I will."

And with that Jason left to his room. He stepped inside and slipped out of his boots. He threw them over his head and fell on the bed.

All night he couldn't get the call of sleep. He couldn't get the sight of Piper's arms around her father. When she agreed to his father terms. The sight of her scared face when being attacked by James. The tears in her eyes when she spoke to him.

He didn't want to have her as wife because of legal issues. She was maybe betrothed to another man within her tribe.

Now his manly side steps out of the blue.

Piper is beautiful like many Natives. But she stands out with her eyes. He has never seen a Native with ever-changing eyes. Her skin was a sweet tan color. Her hair framed her face nicely. She was tall, average height. Her figure is perfect. She is perfect.

Then a knock came from the door.

"Enter." Jason said.

In entered his younger sister, Reyna.

"Dear brother, I cannot sleep. Would tell me a story?"

Reyna stood in her night gown, holding a teddy bear, rubbing her eyes. She looked just like their mother, who passed away in childbirth. Her brown hair, fierce yet soft brown eyes, and taut facial features, she could passed as their mother's look-a-like. From the four siblings, she looks most like her. Dylan, Jason, and Thalia look more like their father.

"Why don't you ask Thalia?" Jason asked, patting the space aside from him.

"She won't answer the door and has told me to go away." Reyna pouted her seven year old mouth.

"Alright, I'll tell you a story." Jason said.

He put an arm around his sister and settled a blanket over her.

"There was once a girl living in a tribe up north. She had her eyes pretty and hair uniquely cut. She was a princess within her people. She cared greatly for her people and would do anything for them."

"Can she have a purple dress?" Reyna asked.

"How about a purple feather?" Jason offered.

"Okay…" Reyna said slowly.

"Well one day, a man comes and asks her hand in marriage. She refuses and the man doesn't give up."

"Why?"

"She doesn't want to leave her people."

"But she will be loved by the man."

"But she doesn't know that. She thinks men like him are mean and cruel."

"He asked for her hand."

Jason smiled and his sister. "It seems this is entertaining you instead of sleeping you away."

"Oh please Jason finish the story…" she yawned.

"See… I'll rock you asleep with a song." Jason said.

"No Jason, don't sing. It's will give me nightmares. I'll just go to my room." Reyna said stepping out of his hold. "Goodnight."

Jason chuckled as she closed the door.

~ I ~

The next morning, he heads down to breakfast. Esperanza is setting the table for the family. Little by little the family steps into the room.

"Good morning Brother." Jason's older sister, Thalia greeted with Reyna behind her.

"Morning." Reyna said.

They sat at the table and Jason wondered were Piper was. Esperanza noticed.

"She is still getting ready, my boy." She told him. "But for your security, I'll check on her."

After Esperanza left, General Zeus entered the room. One of the slaves served breakfast.

"So, my lovely, oh adored, very cared for second oldest brother," Thalia smirked, "where is that pretty wife of yours you brought? Hopefully you didn't do anything inappropriate yet."

"Oh caring and beautiful sister, I beg you to be nice. I am in no mood for you sarcastic comments. I still can't get passed the idea that she is here for a stupid agreement." Jason confessed.

"Jason, the land you will gain will be profitable for you. You will reach success like your older brother, Dylan. Be grateful." The general said, scornfully.

"That maybe so but it still doesn't change that fact she is forced to be my wife and that you will profit from the land." Jason said, picking at his food.

"There is no other way you'll get wife, Brother." Thalia stated.

"Thalia!" Jason yelled.

Reyna laughed.

"Alright settle down…" the general ordered.

Soon a gasp from Reyna brought attention to the family.

"What is it?" Jason asked. Reyna open-mouthed pointed behind Jason. He turned around and saw that Esperanza had helped Piper alright. There she stood, as radiant as ever in a beige dress with a green embroidery at the hem. A silk ribbon tied at her rib cage. A tail laid behind her. Her hair was let out of it's braid and into choppy layers. They were imperfections noticeable in an ordinary woman but Piper was not an ordinary woman. She had kept her feather obscured in her hair.

Jason stood up and struck out his hand for Piper. He quickly recovered from shock and presented Piper to his sisters.

"Thalia, Reyna, this is Piper. My… wife to… be." Jason stuttered.

Thalia stood up and walked to Piper. Then she did something out of her personality. She hugged Piper and welcomed her into the family. Reyna, studied her first then said that maybe Piper could borrow some of her hair ribbons.

Piper sat beside Jason and they ate.

General Grace spoke to her about the day's arrangements. "I am sure Jason has mentioned that you will be settled into Christianity to wed. That will be today. You will be baptized as Piper officially and then be wed the next day. This land and house will yours Jason as discussed and Thalia and Reyna will stay with you while I attend matters in England."

They all nodded and soon finished. Reyna had her home teacher to study with. Piper and Jason had to go to the church. General Grace and Thalia will be the witnesses as well as Jason for Piper's conversion.

They went to the town church and the priest welcomed Piper as a new member.

He performed the ceremony and Piper obeyed to every thing the priest asked. Soon, Piper was officially a Christian.

After the ceremony, the priest spoke to Jason and Piper. "I wish to be the one to unite you both. I am no witch, for it's forbidden. but I sense you two will become one."

Jason frowned at the priest's words but thanked him.

They left the church.

Thalia then said, "Well, Piper is going to marry you so she will need a wedding dress. Father do you permit us to head into dressmaker shop and order a dress?"

The general nodded, "Sure go. We have matters to discuss anyway."

Thalia smirked and practically dragged Piper to the dressmaker's shop.

"What is that we need to discuss, Father?" Jason asked.

"I'll make this quick. Don't fall for the girl. Make her yours as much as you want but don't fall for her." The general said, quickly as if tense. "Walk with me."

"What?" Jason nodded as he didn't understand.

"You well know your mother was of Iroquois decent. She was beautiful and I fell for her. Don't do that. Just don't. It will only result in pain when you let her go."

"Let her go? What are you speaking of?"

"They always leave. Your mother died. Many others died too or left for their tribes. If you want to not feel the pain of that, leave her first in two years time. Bear a child with her but don't fall for her. Let her go before she does of you." The general said pained.

Jason was shocked he was seeing his father in this state. He always saw the general and not father. That is why they differ in thought. Jason stays Jason while his father changes from General Grace to father to man.

Now 'father' was talking.

"You don't know how much I regret putting you into this but I had to. I just had to." The general said, "Well son, say farewell to your sisters for me. I depart this afternoon for Europe. I will not attend your wedding. Goodbye my son."

And with that the general walked to the docks.

Jason still thought of his father's words. Fall for her. And the way he told him. As if the world depended on him falling for Piper.

He doesn't know if he is falling for her. When will he know? He knows he feels attracted to her but falling for her. When?

With that thought he walked to Grace Manor.

A/N: Ermagerd! I was so shocked that in less than an hour I got amazing response. Thank you. And I decided to update quickly for you guys.

Pokemonchen: Ikr! Actually it's 8 now… Yeah but to think that other authors handle 20plus is a real shocker.

By the way check out my story cover. It's my favorite of all. It looks so professional even I made it with Paint…

So anyway, I forgot to mention that this story will be M for near future chapters. This chapter may not really count as it only made reference to rape. Near future chappies will include lemonade. I want to keep this story much stuck to facts as I can. The rapes and forced marriages for profit of land were true…

I edited these chapters but some mistakes may be present. Sorry about that. I just fatigued…

REVIEW PLEASE!

~BeautiWind -heart-

PS – Chaptesr 3-4 are written; all you have to do is review. I told you I am planning my stories more now… hehe