~ I ~ Feather in the Wind ~ I ~

~ Jasper ~

~ Historical (fan) fiction ~

~ Chapter 4 ~

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.

~ More Than That ~

~ Jason ~

The sun's rays boring through the frosted windows dared Jason to wake up. Yet he didn't want to because he knew that meant letting go Piper. He didn't want to do that. He wanted to stay with her forever like this.

So instead of waking up, he held on to her. He wrapped his arms securely around her waist and laid his head on the back of her neck.

But lying behind her, he got thinking.

Here he was cozying up to her warmth and he felt guilty. Guilty because marrying her, he didn't respect his beliefs. He hated using women in payment for land. Most men in town have done that; married Native American women for their own profit (gaining land, owning land, receiving land, etc.).

Sure Jason had done the same thing with Piper but it's not like he had much choice. Like most men with controlling fathers, he didn't have a say. His father gave him an idea of what he was going to do but not the whole deal. Marrying wasn't in that plan.

"Son, will you come with me?" The general had said. He wore his usual uniform that consisted of an ebony black suit and matching pants with all his medals of recognition pinned to his right. His stern look never failed to appear. He had come back from his meeting, considering a rolled up document was under his arm.

Jason looked up from his current task of feeding his horse, Tempest, and turned to his father. "Sure father."

Jason took his precautions. His father had that tone of voice that made his uneasy. It was in his commanding voice.

"I have another task to do on behalf of the government. I would like you to come with me. I have asked Dylan to come with me but you how your brother is… He said no. He has no interest in our family's well doing." The general began.

"So you come to me…?"

"Oh, Son! Don't start with your pangs of jealousy."

"No, I—"

His father raised his hand and Jason restrained from rolling his eyes.

"I have come to you because this benefits you more than it does to Dylan. Dylan is already settled to his own land."

"Land? Father, I don't want land. I am still thinking of what I need to do in life and with my political activism."

"You know I don't approve of that. Stop with your Native American protests. It will only end you up in a government facility." His father threatened.

"Father, with all due respect, they need a voice and I can happily give it to them. They need to be heard and not many of us are doing anything to help them. Talking in simple words here: they were in this land first. We came and took it. Enough said." Jason pointed out, like many times before.

The general surrendered. "I will not waste one more breath in entering reason into your head. You are coming of age to own land. It would please me to see if you would settle in with a wife."

"I'm eighteen. That doesn't mean I am in need to marry." Jason stated matter-of-factly.

"My son, I am not going to stick much longer. I know I am not going to see Thalia wedded and she is just one year younger than you. Reyna, my dear Reyna, much less. I'm am not going to last forever."

"Father, what does this topic have to do with anything?"

"Come with me on this task and you will soon know."

Jason had no wish to be part of his father's tasks. The general was an esteemed man by many but to Jason he was just a man who can pull many strings to get what he wants with end results being harsh to others.

The general saw hesitation clear in his son's eyes. "Please."

Jason complied and now here he was; breaking his only belief for others' well being.

Jason, in the back of his mind, always thought that he would marry a Native with his work and such but he never thought it would happen this way.

He would want to do this right with Piper. Last night was wonderful but it should have never happened. He knew Piper had agreed to the deal for the sake of her people's homes. She seemed to be that type of person; the one that would do absolutely anything for others they cared for. Now Piper was forced to love him, forget about her people, and live in a dominant place where she is no where near appreciated. Jason didn't want that for her. Besides, she is just a child. No more than fifteen, he estimated. Sure, Jason might be three years older than her but maybe she was engaged to another man we she aged more. Or she loved some else…

Jason shut his eyes and nuzzled more closely to her.

He can't do this to her. A new idea has occurred to him.

'It might sound childish but maybe we could start again as friends. Forget we ever had a wedding and last night. She might agree to the idea. Begin new. Or maybe skip the friend part and just court around.'

As Jason warmed up to the idea, Piper turned around and faced Jason but continued sleeping.

He smiled at the sight before him. He thought it was cute the way she breathed in her sleep. She breathed in through her nose and let out a small puff of air through her mouth. Her expression was no where near an angry one. They say that the way a person's face is at night is how they truly are. Her expression showed no anger or negative feelings. Jason didn't deserve her. She was just too sweet and kind for the life she is going to live in this town. The people here are too harsh and vain. They don't see Native Americans the way Jason does. Native Americans are like every other civilization; there are vain people and there are people with hearts of gold.

Jason sighed and appreciated his last moments with Piper as a wife and put an arm around her. He studied Piper's features; something he hadn't taken the time to do.

Her long hair was cut unevenly in choppy layers. When he had seen her for the first time, she had had tiny braids down the sides. Now her hair was messy and straight, untied from her wedding hairdo. Her feather was still hooked on a bundle of strands. Her slightly spread-apart lips were a light shade of pink. Her skin color was medium light but her tan from the sun made her seem darker. Her hands were curled together. She was tall for the average woman. Then again her father was tall…

She would have beautiful children… He thought. Then he smacked his brain mentally for such a thought and that maybe he would be half responsible for that to occur in a near future.

No! He thought after, I am not going to do that to her. I am not going to make her fall for me and give me children just for being my legal wife. She deserves more than that. If we are going to this we are going to do this right.

And that got him thinking. What if after this, she is to be waiting for a child of his. Oh hopefully she isn't. Not that he didn't want children; its just that he wanted to make things right with her. A child is not going to help in that matter.

Then Piper shifted and her eyes fluttered open.

"Good morning, Jason." She said, her voice muffled by her hands.

He smiled, "Good morning. How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine…" Piper said, her ever-changing eyes twinkling.

"Piper I want to propose something to you." he breathed out, not waiting a second to commence.

"What is it?" Piper sat up. He followed.

"First let me get this out of the way. Last night and the wedding were wonderful but I feel this is all too sudden and hurried to know where we stand. I have grown to care for you in these past two days. A lot. So much that I am scared to push things faster than they should be and in the end you'd end up hurt. And that is something I promised to not do to you, remember?" Jason said, finding difficulty in putting his thoughts into words without sounding too harsh.

Piper nodded. She had a confused expression and Jason already hated himself.

"Why don't we start over? We will still be married and all but to us, we can start by courting each other. Leave any activity for when we are both okay. Is that okay?"

~ I ~

Piper

What was he trying to say?

Many ideas and versions of his words ran through her mind a million miles per second. Was he not on the way they settled things last night? Or was he thinking of another woman he loved. After all, they were forced into this situation.

And what did he mean by activity?

"Um…" was all she said.

"It's not something you did, Piper. It's just…" he seemed to have a hard time preparing his words to come out of his mouth. "It just feels wrong. You don't have to love me. If we are going to love each other, I want it to be by nature not by legal agreements. I don't mean to sound harsh or rude. I just don't want to hurt you."

Piper blinked. She knew Jason was different from the other whites and the stories told by the elders in her tribe but this surprised her. Only one thought stood out from the others.

He wants to love me…

"Maybe after we both find love we could settle in and create something more." He reinforced.

Piper then did something without a moment's notice. She leaned over and placed a sweet kiss on his lips.

"I agree to that." Piper smiled.

Jason joined.

"Just one thing. By 'settle in and create something more' what do you mean to say?" Piper asked curiously.

Jason smiled sheepishly. "Well when the time is right we could… we could maybe… maybe have… children."

Piper chuckled at his uneasiness. "I would love that too. I have always wanted to have children."

"Then we could work on that soon enough." assured Jason.

~ I ~

Piper had decided to accompany Esperanza to the market place to get the groceries for the day.

Three weeks has passed since the wedding. Everybody has been welcoming in the family. Reyna took her time though. Piper could tell Reyna had a sibling crush on her brother. She was very protective. If Jason showed any sign of affection to Piper, Reyna would scowl and pout. But eventually she came around and let Piper use her hair ribbons. Thalia has been somewhat of a sister figure, along with Annabeth. They both guided Piper on what to do and where to go. Esperanza had been more comforting in the sense that she never let Piper forget where she came from.

"Darling, would you please get seven rolls of bread from the bakery while I go to flower shop?" Esperanza asked.

"Sure." Piper said and grabbed the basket Esperanza was offering her for the bread.

Piper headed to the bakery near by and entered.

The bakery was a small little shop that was always warm fragrant due to the baking. Bread was shown at the window on tin baking pans so people could see. The counter was the very end of the shop. Rows leaning against the walls were full bread leading up to it.

A group of three women were talking, grabbing loaves of bread into their baskets.

Piper walked passed them and went to where the bread was located. She grabbed the seven rolls Esperanza asked for and headed to the counter. The baker smiled at Piper and sold her the bread.

In the back of her mind, Piper was thankful for Thalia who had helped her in showing her how to dress. Piper with her very light-to-medium skin could almost pass as one of them.

As she walked to the door, she accidently overhead the three women talking.

"I bet she has a bun in the oven already." said one, lifting a bun to prove her point.

"I think so because a marriage so quick and sudden and with a savage… that can't be because of love." said another.

The last one chuckled, "Or maybe there was an agreement. A legal thing that has to be done or else. Maybe because of her people's land. The girl thinking she was protecting her people, married him. If only she knew that the government will take everything, agreement or no agreement."

They all agreed and then one said, "I still think she is pregnant. With Jason being an activist for those savages' rights, maybe they met and after a night of… yeah… well he had to comply to it. It doesn't surprise me that he married one of the ones he protects so much."

"What's her name? I recall thinking it was cute."

"Pamela, Petra, Patricia, Paula… Piper! Her name is Piper! Poor soul. I heard she is barely a child."

"I heard she is pretty too and that her eyes are like a translucent crystals."

"I still can't get over that fact that Jason could be such ladies' man. With his passed relationships, I was suspecting someone would pop up with child. It just had to come up. Remember that savage girl named Gwen? She also had a pretty name."

"Yes but then again we don't know if the child is expecting a child."

Piper understood most of that, at least the parts that mattered. And heard so much that she knew they were talking about Jason and her.

She quickly walked out of the shop and struggled to keep the tears from streaming down.

She needed to speak to Jason, quick. She managed to hide the tears from Esperanza when she handed her the bread. On the way back to the manor she could only replay the words from those women.

"The girl thinking she was protecting her people, married him. If only she knew that the government will take everything, agreement or no agreement."

How could have she been so stupid? She should've know it was too easy to be true. Her people would taken away from their homes yet once more and she would not be able to do anything.

And then the past relationships with all over the place children…? She should've seen it when Jason got what he wanted on their wedding night and then said to stop for a while.

They reached the manor and Piper asked a maid the whereabouts of Jason. She had said Jason was in his father's study. Without another word, she stormed in that direction. Esperanza tried to stop her from seeing Jason in the obvious state of anger Piper was in. She could do something she would regret.

"What is wrong with you, Feather in the Wind? What has gotten into you?" Esperanza wailed.

"I need to talk to him." Piper replied and pushed the study's doors.

"Piper?" Jason said, looking up from his current task. He set his quill down and looked at Piper standing at the door.

"You betrayed me." Piper stated, angrily.

"What?" Jason asked, standing up.

Piper dangerously calm turned around to close the door and walked to Jason.

"We agreed that with our marriage, my people would stay in our land. No one would take it." Piper said, clenching her fists behind her back.

"Yes that's right." Jason nodded. His expression was clear with inquiry.

"Then why is everyone saying the contrary?" Piper demanded, her nails sinking more into her palm.

"What? Who said that?" Jason said, keeping his calm.

"That doesn't matter! Is it true? Are my people going stay safe in their new land?" Piper demanded once more.

"Piper, an agreement is an agreement. No one can break it." Jason assured.

"It doesn't seem like that. It just seems too good to be true. You and your people are heartless and cruel and just take and take our source of living! It's not fair!" Piper spilled out.

"Piper—" Jason tried.

"No. Don't dare to try to reason with me! I should have seen it. Your people see us as an illness that has to be killed off. Your men marry us so you benefit and win land. I know I agreed to the agreement but I never agreed to be a price to pay. And if you got that idea then you are cruel… and selfish… and heartless… and… an—"

And Piper collapsed.

I edited this chappie and edited the other chapters. Enjoy.

~BeautiWind –heart-

PS - Off to update my other stories. I have kept you waiting long enough. And I got internet in my new home. YAY!