A Binding of Souls Chapter 36: Inside Out, a last of the mohicans fanfic

Chapter 36: Inside Out

"Love hurts, love scars

Love wounds and mars

Any heart

Not tough or strong enough

To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain

Love is like cloud

Holds a lot of rain

Love hurts

Ohh, ooh love hurts

I'm young, I know, but even so

I know a thing or two

I learned from you

I really learned a lot, really learned a lot

Love is like a flame

It burns you when it's hot

Love hurts

Ooh, ooh love hurts

Some fools think of happiness

Blissfulness, togetherness

Some fools fool themselves, I guess

They're not foolin' me

I know it isn't true

Love is just a lie

Made to make you blue

Love hurts

Ooh, ooh love hurts

I know it isn't true

Love is just a lie

Made to make you blue

Love hurts

Ooh, ooh love hurts

Ooh, ooh..."

Love Hurts- By: Nazareth

Aegel's back was bone straight as she watched, wide eyed, as Dyani walked swiftly away from her, as though the closer she was the more tainted her spirit would become. Her last words still ringing in her head. What had she done? How could she have lost her composure so completely? Why would she say those private…personal moments to those girls? This was not at all how she thought this was going to unfold. Ever since they arrived in the village she had felt like she was on a downward spiral. The girls had swarmed Uncas upon his return, each one fawning over him in their own way. It had been crushing to watch, even though she had pretended not to see the majority of it for Uncas's sake. She knew it was not his fault nor his desire to have attention like that placed on him, all the while doing his best to shield her from it. But who can unsee displays of affection like that for someone you love. Each one made her more self conscious, more irritable and much more insecure of herself. Throw that on top of her lack of understanding village life and what it took to survive as a community, she felt doomed from nearly the start. Last night had been the first time in, what seemed like ages, that she and Uncas had connected. And it was beautiful and she felt beautiful and perfect and all his. Aegel shakily took her first breath since Dyani walked off. What if any of them tell Uncas? How will he feel about how she's behaved? Aegel thought in a sudden panic.

Aegel's hand flew to her chest when suddenly the air around ceased in her lungs. Dizziness overcame her and she spun in a circle, her left arm stretched out wildly in search of anything that might stabilize her. Her legs felt weak and her feet wobbly as if every step was uneven ground. The sun was high in the sky and Mother Nature was unrelenting with her shiny toy, burning at her skin harshly as added punishment for idiotic actions. Aegel tilted her head back, gasping for air. "Stop! Stop it!" She yelled at the yellow haze above her, desperate to take her wild rush of emotions out on something or someone. "Please! Please stop!" She hoarsely breathed out. She stumbled forward, slamming her foot hard against a rock. The impact was forceful enough to send her reeling forward into the dirt, where she landed with a hard thump against a broken tree branch. Aegel winced and curled her body up into itself, tears flowing freely now. Oh Uncas…what have I done?

"Uncas!"

Nathaniel's feet were moving even before the last syllable of his brother's name had left his lips. His dark eyes focused solely on Uncas's splayed out limbs as they descended further down the falls. His head and heart raging with questions as he smacked Killdeer roughly against the smooth rocks that lined the riverbank and dove head first into the swishing white foam of the river. He flung his eyes open in search of his brother but saw only a watery tornado of silt and rocks. Frustrated, he shot back to the surface but instead of piercing the water line, he banged into something hard yet malleable. He grabbed tight to the slick surface and pushed himself up through the rapidly flowing current, as his catch desperately tried to wiggle free. Nathaniel broke the surface and quickly tilted his head back, gulping down the crisp autumn air.

"Nathaniel?" Uncas yelped, startled by his brother's presence.

Nathaniel turned around without looking or answering and began swimming back to the rocks, a firm hand still wrapped around Uncas's arm. Now was not the time to talk. The current had them moving faster than he liked down the river and Nathaniel had no desire to walk miles back to their village. He chopped down on the inside of his mouth and dug his fingernails into Uncas's arm, ensuring he stayed beside him and threw all of his anger and frustration into each powerful stroke back to the riverbank.

"Nathaniel, let me go!" Uncas hollered, trying to yank his arm away from his brother's death grip. "I don't need this right now!"

Nathaniel bit down harder on the inside of his cheek and continued to swim. Better to bloody himself he thought then to punch his little brother in the face, guaranteeing Uncas would never tell him what was going on. He furiously sliced through the water with his right arm, until finally he clutched onto a jagged outstretched piece of rock. He steadied himself and tugged Uncas towards the stone, shoving his body upwards until he was safely back on the riverbank. Only after they had both climbed the slipper rock and were back on solid ground did he finally respond. "YOU don't need this right now?" He said, dropping into a squat and shaking his long dark hair free of excess water. "What the hell was that?"

Uncas stared blankly back at Nathaniel. "I don't know."

"What the hell do you mean you don't know?"

"I mean I DON'T FUCKING KNOW!"

Nathaniel's eyebrows immediately shot up and he finally took in his brother's frazzled state. Uncas was sitting with his legs tuck into his body, arms wrapped tightly around them, while his left foot tapped vigorously against the rock. Nathaniel furrowed his brows at the sight of it. It was a tick he was only ever afflicted from when he was incredibly nervous about something. Nathaniel calmed immediately at the sight. This was not something stupid or trivial, whatever was going on with his baby brother was indeed serious. Slowly, he raised his eyes away from his brother's moccasin and up towards the features of his face, once youthful and serene now weathered by an unknown storm. His brow was etched into a deep crease and his usually soft eyes now filled with a terrible angst, even more so in this moment than when he thought he had lost Pru after she disappeared all big and pregnant from her bed. It was the worst he had ever seen and it did not take him long to figure out what or rather who was the reason behind it.

Nathaniel pinched his lips together and shifted his weight beside Uncas, gently touching their shoulders together. He waited quietly, patiently following Uncas's gaze over to the rushing water and watched as the white foamy waves lapped against the rocks. One wild swell after another. The rhythm only broken by the tiny rainbow left in the cool spray. Long seconds turned into even longer minutes, just sitting and watching. They sat together in silence awhile until Nathaniel heard a whispered sigh beside him and he knew it was time. He turned his head back towards Uncas, nudged him slightly against the shoulder and calmly said, "Tell me little brother?"

Uncas squeezed at the hem of his shirt, twisting, turning and watching as water droplets escaped the dark green fabric. Escaping. Uncas slouched even further into himself. It had been irrational of him to jump from the waterfall. It was higher and the water below rougher than he was used to at the farm. The farm. He closed his eyes and pictured Pru and Martin running around the glade with the boys in their arms, laughing and squealing as the wind tousled their hair. Sampson on the porch, swaying back and forth in his rocking chair, a medical journal or book of sonnets in his hands. He wondered if it was cold there yet and how big Elijah and Ash had gotten. What new books Sampson had brought home or what wild tales Pru and Martin were telling the boys about him and Nathaniel. Uncas sighed. He missed them, more than he had ever before and no separation had ever been easy for him. He just needed the comfort of home. The sweet giggles of his nephews, Sampson's sarcastic quips towards Nathaniel, Martin's unyielding patience, Pru's ability to know exactly what to say and when to say it. It took him a moment to realize he was crying after he opened his eyes. No sound escaped his lips, no muffled whimper or snotty inhale through his nose. Only salty tears that slide slowly down his cheeks into the corners of his mouth.

"Uncas?" Nathaniel nearly whispered as he wrapped his left arm around his little brother's shoulders.

Uncas turned his head to face him completely overwhelmed with emotion, "I'm sorry I scared you. I would never want you to be frightened for me," he said, placing his right hand on Nathaniel's knee. He wasn't sure a moment ago what or how much he was going to say. He was so ashamed of himself, so embarrassed with the way he had chosen to act. And because of it he feared judgement. But when he looked into his brother's bright blue eyes, laced with only love and concern, Uncas opened up quicker than Pru when given a present. "I just feel like I've been so lost lately with who I'm meant to be in this world and who this world has meant for me." He sighed heavily and turned his face back towards the river, not bothering to wipe his tears before slightly leaning into Nathaniel's embrace. "My greatest fear is not being enough. As a warrior, as a brother, an uncle…a man. And now I feel that I have proven that exact fact to myself." He blinked his eyes and a few unshed tears slipped out. "That is why I jumped from the waterfall. I just needed to escape. To disappear into the water and let Mother Nature cleanse me of my failures." He gripped tighter to Nathaniel's knee. "I promise you I didn't mean to frighten you or hurt myself. I just wanted to wash it all away," Uncas sighed, relieved that he had let out at least some of his inner turmoil. It had been so long since they talked freely. Most of their recent conversations revolved around why he disliked Aegel and should distance himself as quickly as possible. Over and over again like an ugly chant of sorts and Uncas had long ago become nauseated by it. So much so that lately he found himself spending more time with Chaska alone, then with his own brother and that weighed on him to no end. It felt good. Uncas nibbled on the corner of his mouth, debating whether or not to continue, but in the spirit of the moment he went on, "I did something Nathaniel, something I think I regret. Something I knew was wrong and convinced myself that it was right."

Nathaniel furrowed his brow and squeezed Uncas' shoulder. "What happened?" He asked, making certain his voice remained calm and soothing even though he was certain he already knew what that something was. Especially since everything inside of him wanted to scream No! You better not have! She's not the one for you! But knew better of it. Uncas needed help, not to have his stupid I told you so thrown in his face. Instead, he squeezed Uncas's shoulder, encouraging him to continue.

Uncas paused for a moment, "I…I…I was with Aegel last night, in the forest." Then in a rush before Nathaniel could respond continued with, "I thought that if we were finally together it would put a rest to all my indecisiveness and everyone's low opinion of her. I couldn't stand to hear people talk badly about her. And I know it made her look even worse that I seemed uncommitted. So we went into the forest and…" He trailed off, deciding no matter what he thought of the reasoning behind the act, the act itself was no one's, not even Nathaniel's business to know. Something he thought, after overhearing Aegel's conversation with Dyani, she clearly did not understand.

"I see," Nathaniel began. And there was another I told you so moment. It took all of his will power not to react. He knew he had to tread lightly here. And while he may have wanted to scold him for his actions, it would be of absolutely no good. What's done is done. "And you regret it? Why?"

Uncas turned his head and faced him square on, not a doubt in his mind, heart or soul. "Because I know I don't love her. She is beautiful, sweet and kind." He paused again when Nathaniel let an eye roll slip and continued with, "She is brother. I know you don't like her. I know you blame her for almost getting Pru and the boys killed. But she didn't and it wasn't her fault what she did. Pru would have done the same thing…"

"Pru would have fought and died beside us," Nathaniel interjected before he could stop himself.

"Nathaniel…"

"Alright I'm sorry. I'll drop it," He said with a slight huff. "Continue…please."

Uncas shook off his brother's comment, truth be told, Pru probably would have fought and died trying to save any one of them. But thinking about Pru right now would only make his homesick heart feel worse so he continued, "Aegel is all of those things I said. And in the right place everyone would see it, this just isn't the right place and I'm not the right warrior to love her or be loved by her. I did…do like her. Talking to her, being with her but not in a way that makes my heart stop or my breath catch. Not like Pru and Martin or even you and Tanda."

Nathaniel instantly turned his head away, eyes narrowly focused off into the river, staring at nothing and everything all at once. The mention of Tanda's name struck him straight in the heart. The verbal knife stabbing at a still raw wound. Everyday since they returned to the village he had found himself wandering towards the little grave where Chaska had buried her. Everyday he sat beside her, he talked to her, confided in her. He even slept beside her several nights when he could not bear to walk away from her. She had opened his heart and as a result had been forced to endure the greatest of pains. He understood love, beautiful, painful, unconditional love. And he could not help but feel relieved that his little brother did too now, or at the very least understood the difference between what the heart desired versus the body. The body was its own beast, and while Nathaniel did not deprive himself he was wise enough to understand the difference. Quietly, he packed away his memories and turned his head back to Uncas. He swallowed down his sadness and said, "It's a hard truth you've learned, little brother. But a necessary one just the same."

Uncas could not help but smile softly at his brother's bluntness. Nathaniel could always be counted on for the unabashed truth and this moment was no exception. He stared back into his brother's eyes and wished they could go back hours, days, weeks or even months and have this talk together as peacefully as they are now. Perhaps it would have made all the difference. But they could not go back, he could not go back and as the thought faded away so did his smile. "Too late I'm afraid," he solemnly said as he deferred his attention away from Nathaniel and began picking a frayed seam on his left moccasin. Aegel's unknowing confession ringing in his ears.

Nathaniel eyed his brother's fingers, another nervous trait, and knowing more was yet to come asked, "What else?"

Uncas barely heard his brother's words, his voice seemingly too far away to be understood. But he wasn't too far away. He was right beside him and Uncas heard every word perfectly. He could feel his anxiety grow inside him, like a planted seed nurtured by his own sorrow. And without realizing what he was doing, began tearing harder at the well stitched seam, too hard. His determination was suddenly rewarded with a small hole. He pursed his lips at his destruction of a perfectly good moccasin and said, "She told people what we did." This was hard for him to speak of, even to Nathaniel. Not because he feared his brother's judgment but because he feared his own. And who was he to judge anyone after the mess he had just made. But the fact remained, Uncas did not gossip, did not speak ill of others ever, and he did not take kindly to anyone speaking ill of him. His frustration increased and with the once tiny hole in his moccasins grew until he could easily wiggle his finger between it.

Nathaniel swatted Uncas' hand away from his moccasins. This whole situation had become one big beautiful disaster. He clenched his right fist at his side, fully prepared to rough up anyone that gave his little brother even the slightest of glances and said, "Enough of this. You've made mistakes. We all have. But because of them, you understand yourself better. And that little brother is most important. Nothing in this life can be achieved if you don't know and trust yourself. You have to believe in yourself, always . Do you understand?" Nathaniel grabbed Uncas by the chin, forcing him to face him and said once more, "Do you?"

Uncas stared back into his brother's bright blue eyes. These words, delivered this way, it was as if Pru were here with them. He wiped the tears away from his cheeks and slowly nodded his head. "Trust myself?"

"That's it, little brother. That's all there is to it."

Uncas reached over and pulled Nathaniel tight against him, embracing like he did when he was a little boy after waking from a nightmare. And neither then nor now did Nathaniel rush away from embrace. He just sat and let Uncas hold him for as long as he needed to.

Slowly, Uncas released his brother and with another wipe of his tears said, "I'm ready to go back."

Nathaniel slapped him on the back and said, "Well then let's get going, cause we've got miles to go." Complete with a smile and an eye roll. Uncas smiled at the endearing jab and led the way.

Chaska moved from wigwam to wigwam, discreetly scanning each one as he went in hopes of finding Uncas or Nathaniel. Hours had passed since Uncas took off in the forest and with no sign of either brother his concern began to grow. It was unlike Uncas to react in such a way, to try and escape. He was a problem solver, someone who assessed the situation quickly and accurately and proceeded accordingly. Though, as he knew, with matters of the heart even the wisest of men could lose their senses. He took a few long strides around yet another wigwam and immediately collided with a body. His arms flew out to steady the person at their shoulders and likewise he felt two tiny hands clutch onto his elbows.

"Dyani," Chaska said upon recognition of who he'd smacked into.

"Have you seen them?" She asked, eyes shifting slightly from side to side.

"No. And Aegel?"

Dyani met his eyes and nodded her head. "She is with her mother in their wigwam," she quietly answered. Then reluctantly added, "Distraught."

Chaska could see the guilt and unshed tears pooling in Dyani's eye. He knew she was regretting their conversation in the woods. She had spoken the truth to Aegel and it had stung, perhaps more than she had expected given the remorseful look in Dyani's eyes. Chaska grabbed hold of Dyani's hand and led her down the slope of land behind their village and towards a small, nearby clearing. Where he finally turned to face her. Large, white puffs of cold air pushed their way out of her body. Gone was the warmth of the afternoon sun, replaced by the biting chill of an autumn evening. He often forgot that not everyone had his kind of tolerance to the cold and quickly pulled her up against his body. "You're cold," he said, rubbing his hands up and down the back of her blouse.

Dyani leaned further into him, snaking her arms up the back of his loose linen shirt and let his hot skin sizzle against her own. Not feeling warm enough, she nuzzled her face into the V shaped patch of exposed skin on his chest and as soon as she did, a few unruly tears slipped out. "I should not have said that to her. I knew how fragile she was. You should have seen her with her mother. She could not be consoled."

"You did not say anything that she did not need to hear. And you did it with far more care than most would have," Chaska cooed into her ear. "You are not responsible for her actions or her reactions."

"Chaska…," Dyani began as she pulled her face away from his chest to meet his eyes.

"No. You are not responsible for her suffering," He whispered as he wiped the tears from satiny cheeks. She was so beautiful, even more so now under the moonlight, eyes glistening with unshed tears and her bright white teeth nibbling down nervously on her thick, pouty lips. Lips, he could not help thinking, that were just waiting to be kissed. Her heart was greater and more just than anyone else he had ever met. This moment is simply another testament to that. She was everything. He fingered the edges of her silky hair, taking a moment just to look at her. Often he wondered how he could have missed her all these years. Pru. Chaska silently reminisced. Pru, he knew, was a person he was always meant to know and have in his life and he would never regret his love for her. How could he, like everything else he has experienced, helped shape him into the man that now stood caressing this beautiful woman in his arms. A small smile crept across his lips as he looked down at her, happy that she was there with him and gently he tilted her head back as he leaned in, softly snatching up her lips in his.

Dyani moaned into his mouth, the taste of his smoky tongue made her want to devour him. She pressed her body flush against him, no longer feeling the chill in the air and deepened their kiss. His hands began roaming her body and she arched into each tantalizing touch. Mirroring his movements, Dyani slid her palms around his waist, lingering there for a moment before she grazed her finger tips down his bare thighs. The sweet sound of his breath hitching encouraged her further along her wickedly sweet path. And then…

"Well, well, well. What have we here," Nathaniel snickered.

Dyani instantly dropped her hands to her sides and groaned a bit too loudly at the interference. Chaska smiled into her mouth and lifted his head, seeing that both Nathaniel and Uncas were before him. "Found your way," he simply stated as Dyani moved to his side.

"Ummm…how long has this been going on?" Nathaniel asked, eyebrows high in his hairline as he casually wagged a finger between Chaska and Dyani.

"Since as long as we've been here," Uncas cut in before Chaska or Dyani could respond. "Probably longer." Nathaniel spun his head around to face Uncas.

"What?" Nathaniel said wide eyed, bewildered as to how he could have missed it.

"I'm clearly more observant than you are," Uncas replied with a small, sardonic smile.

"Clearly," Nathaniel said with emphasis while giving Chaska a hard congratulatory smack across his back.

"It wasn't meant to be a secret. We're just private is all," Chaska offered as a way of explanation.

Dyani's eyes crossed between them. Nathaniel and Chaska, caught in their own moment, two old friends silently reminiscing about love and life. As if they were sixteen year old boys all over again. Dyani cracked a small smile at the thought and shifted her eyes to a here and now sixteen year old boy. Uncas stood a few feet to the side and behind his brother, eyes staring blankly at a bunch of dead leaves scattered about the forest floor. She could only imagine what his day had been like, knowing the intimate details of your life had been spewed for all to hear. And by someone he had held so close. Her heart aches for both him and Aegel. Both so young and inexperienced in matters of the heart. Oh Uncas, she thought and crossed between Chaska and Nathaniel to him, swiftly gathering him up in her warm embrace.

Uncas was startled when he felt Dyani's arms wrap around him, lost in his own thoughts. Though without hesitation he gripped tight to her body, burying his farce in her shoulder and shutting his eyes tightly. He held her like that until the nervous thump of his heart steadied and his rapid breathing ceased. He had not realized how close to tears he had been, or just how much he needed positive affection from a woman. He squeezed Dyani tight, certain he was inadvertently cutting off proper airflow, but she did not move, not even an inch away from him. She just stood there silently allowing him to hold her. There was no rush in her movements. No soft back tap that told him she was through, just her tender commitment to the moment. Though after several long moments, he knew it was time to head up the hill to the village and face the situation. One at a time he opened his eyes, seeing Nathaniel and Chaska both watching him, not the slightest hint of humor etched in their features and slowly he felt stable enough to release his hold on Dyani, kissing her forehead in thanks as he backed away. Then turning towards Nathaniel said, "I'm going to go up now. I'll see you all later." And he took a step past Chaska on his way up the hill. Though was quickly thwarted in his solitary path when Nathaniel gripped his arm tightly.

"Not without me you're not," Nathaniel said with a reassuring smile and charged ahead of Uncas up the hill.

Uncas grinned at Nathaniel's show of brotherly love and turned back towards Chaska and Dyani. He stared at them both for a moment, wrapped perfectly in each other's arm. And for a moment all he felt in his heart was joy. Chaska was his closest friend and it filled him with immeasurable happiness to see his face now etched with quite euphoria. This was as it should be. Then as if understanding Uncas' private thoughts, Chaska covered his hand with his heart. Uncas nodded, mirrored his friend's action and quickly hurried up the hill, quietly preparing himself for whatever he might find at the top.

"Please, calm down and tell me what has happened?" Chingachgook calmly asked Kasa as he stood peering over her shoulder at Aegel curled up in a hysterical ball beside their little wigwam's cracking fire. He had felt it in his bones, that something was amiss. All throughout the village today his fellow villagers had been huddled in small packs having whispered conversations. Occasionally their eyes fall on him and held his gaze for a moment too long. That, combined with the absence of his children, made certain the idea that one if not both were somehow involved in whatever nonsense was going on. His first thought had been Nathaniel. His oldest son is the more likely candidate since he was a notorious pot stirrer. But there was something in the way the village moved around him, the shock in their eyes when they looked at him that told him it was Uncas. No one was ever shocked by Nathaniel's nature. "Kasa, please calm down and tell me what happened," he calmly implored again.

Kasa shot her arm back and pointed ferociously at her daughter, "Your son is responsible for this!" She yelled then quickly added so there could be no misunderstanding given Nathaniel's dislike, "Uncas is responsible for this!"

Chingachgook shifted his eyes from mother to daughter, and watched as the realization finally struck Aegel that she was no longer alone with her mother. Her dark eyes went wide and she made her way into a seated position on the floor, wiping the moisture away from her face as she went. "Mother," she peeped from behind the crackling fire.

"She has been like this all day, nearly inconsolable. Sporadically murmuring Uncas's name…"

"Mother?" Aegel tried interjecting once more when her mother made no acknowledgment of her.

"What has he done Chingachgook?" Kasa demanded. "What has he done to my daughter!"

"Mother! Stop!" Aegel yelled, suddenly desperate to be heard.

Chingachgook furrowed his brow and shifted his attention back to the fragile girl on the floor. He could not imagine Uncas having done anything that warrant this type of reaction. Uncas was one of the gentlest people he had ever known. Always caring for the feelings of others. A trait, he was certain, that his mother did graciously give him. But there was only one way to know for certain what had happened, Chingachgook went to side step Kasa when he heard a rustle behind him and he knew, even before turning around, what or rather who it was.

"Uncas…," Aegel quietly breathed.

Kasa immediately charged at him, hands waving wildly in the air. Shooting off Delaware so fast even Uncas had a difficult time understanding what she was saying. Just before she got within an inch of him, Nathaniel took a wide step to the left, shielding his little brother from Kasa's wrath.

"Thank you brother," Uncas said in Mohican, squeezing Nathaniel's shoulder. "But I deserve whatever she has coming."

Nathaniel stared Kasa in the eyes, "No. You don't."

"Nathaniel."

The familiar voice drew Nathaniel's eyes away from Kasa and towards his father.

"Please wait outside," he calmly said in Mohican.

Nathaniel wanted to refuse, but knew better of it. He nodded to his father, and turned to face Uncas, mumbling something in Mohican before giving him a quick reassuring wink and exiting the wigwam.

Uncas rolled back his shoulders, he had never cowered away from anything in his entire life and was not about to start now. Much of this mess was his doing and he knew he needed to be the one to fix it. He stared directly back into Kasa's eyes and slowly said, "I am here to speak with Aegel."

"What happened? Why is she like this?" Kasa urged, aggressively pointing at Aegel.

Uncas shifted his eyes around Kasa and peered down at Aegel. His heart instantly broke., so much so he reached up to pull out the imaginary object that he thought had been plunged inside him. She looked so small and young the way she stared up at him from her seated position on the floor. Her slender legs crossed and tucked underneath her, fingers twisting and turning nervously at the tassels on her skirt. Her perfect skin was pale, made so even paler in contrast to the redness encompassing the white of her eyes. She was sad and he could hardly stand it, no matter what had occurred between them. When she reached her long slender arm out towards him, Uncas could not help but rush over to her, desperate now to see her well. He gripped onto her fingers and dropped to his knees beside her, holding her tiny hand between his. She seemed so fragile, so lost. The pain in her appearance caught Uncas's breath in his chest. She seemed on the outside how he felt on the inside and instinctively he dipped his head down, pressing his forehead into hers. "I'm sorry Aegel," he whispered.

"Sorry?" Aegel questioned as she raised her eyes to meet his. She was the one who was sorry. She was the one who had, at the very challenge, abandoned all reason and betrayed their unspoken trust. She is the one who needed to apologize. "Sorry for what?" She questioned him before he could answer and continued with, "Oh Uncas, I am sorry. I betrayed you. I was weak and tired of being laughed at by the village girls…I told them what we did. That we were together," She said, dropping her voice as low as she could to avoid the adults hearing more than she wanted them too. "Please Uncas…please forgive me."

Uncas gulped as he slowly pulled his head away from hers. His eyes grazed her features, taking in every last inch of her face. She was beautiful, delicate. She would make any warrior a handsome wife. Just not him. He went to reach out and push back several askew hairs behind her ear, but paused mid motion and quickly withdrew his hand. He could not do little actions like that again with her, he could not show her affection in that way anymore and the sooner he started the better. He glanced down at their clenched hands. And he would have to begin now. Slowly, he lowered their palms in her lap and even slower he drew back his own, resting them instead on his knees. He stared back into her questioning eyes and decided if he was not honest with her now, her sweet, sorrowful face might prevent him from ever being again. "Aegel it is me who should be sorry…and I am…eternally sorry. What happened earlier today…it is nothing compared to the way I have treated you." It was difficult, but he kept his gaze locked on her. Even though he could hear her mother arguing with his father in the background. The contrast in their voices like the ebb and flow of the river. He took a breath and continued, "I…I…I am not in love with you and am sorry that we did what we did last night. What you gave to me was beautiful and special and I will never forget it, but it was not meant for me. And I am so sorry for it. You deserve much, much better than what I could possibly give you. I promise I will not seek you out again. At least not in that way." He finished, not realizing that tears were dreaming down his cheeks.

Aegel sat completely still, an unreadable expression plastered like ice along her face. She suddenly felt like the wigwam was closing in around her, preparing to suffocate her in its thick rawhide walls. What was happening? She thought. How can this be happening? Had she not given him everything she had? Had she not been entrusted with his deepest inner fears to hold sacred? Had she not been kind and loving towards him and his family? Had she not given him pleasure? What was happening? More than a year of her life she spent loving him as completely as she could, being both friend and lover to him. And now, after the consummation of their love, he sat before her clawing mercilessly at her heart. Suddenly, she clutched at her hands over her mouth and began to heave. Though no amount of preventative action was going to stop her and quickly she turned away from Uncas and began vomiting all over the wigwam floor.

Uncas lunged forward to hold her hair but was physically shoved aside when her mother swooped in beside her. "Get Out!" Kasa screeched. "Leave us right now!"

Uncas stared helplessly as Aegel heaved again and again. Oh Great Spirit…what had he done?" He attempted to reach out to her but was yanked upwards onto his feet and rushed out of the wigwam before he even knew what was happening.

"Father?" Uncas stammered as Chingachgook hastily guided him to their wigwam. "Father…what have I done?"

Martin shifted into his right side, slinging his left arm around until it landed flat on the empty bed. He peeled back his lazy eyelids, confirming that Pru was no longer snuggled up against him in bed. His opened wider as they began to focus in the dark and quietly he wiggled out from beneath the blankets, cringing as he stepped onto the freezing cold floor. The day had started out beautiful, sunny and unseasonably warm, though by late afternoon the sky had become completely covered with clouds and the temperature had dropped to near freezing. He lifted himself from the bed, muddling around until he found his earlier discarded trousers and moccasins. He slipped them on and yanked the heavy quilt off their bed, wrapping himself tightly in it before meandering down the hall to his son's bedroom. Gently, he pushed open the already cracked door and peeked inside. Elijah and Ash were cuddled up together in the center of the bed, tightly swaddled under his patchwork childhood quilt. He chuckled to himself, only his father would have taken that much care with their swaddling. Those two could toss and turn all they liked, they were not getting free till morning. He pulled the door back to its original position and shuffled down the hall, stopping for a moment in front of his father's room and listening to his soft snore. All was well in the cabin with the exception of one.

Softly, Martin opened the cabin door and immediately saw Pru standing at the corner of the porch looking out into the forest. The night sky was completely devoid of stars, shielded by thick dark clouds that made the midnight hour nothing but blackness. He followed her gaze but saw nothing that would give him cause for concern. The trees were still, as were the nocturnal creatures that he knew were lurking about somewhere. He turned his attention back to Pru, wearing only a thin long sleeved nightshirt that didn't even fall to her ankles and nothing covering her feet. In three long strides he was behind her, pulling her back against his chest and tightening the quilt around them both. She sighed softly as she pressed her weight into him. He slipped off his moccasins and pushed them forward. "Put them on," he whispered into her ear.

"You'll be cold."

"As long as you're not," Martin said, tapping Pru's thigh with his finger tips. "Chop, chop," he ushered with a chuckle.

Pru nudged his stomach with her elbow but slipped her feet into his warm and fuzzy moccasins. "Thank you darlin," she said, tilting her head back and giving him a little kiss on his chin.

"What woke you?" Martin asked, pulling her tighter against him.

"A dream."

"About what?"

Pru stared off across the glade. Her bright blue eyes narrowed as she scanned the forest for the twentieth time since she woke sweating and agitated from a dream too fuzzy and far away to fully remember. At first she laid quietly next to Martin, curled up around his warm body, hoping the sweet rhythmic sound of his breathing would lull her back to sleep. When it did not, she slipped out of bed and stood by the bedroom window, gazing out in anticipation. Watching and waiting for what she did not know. The more minutes that ticked by, the more disturbed she became, nibbling on her nails as she tried desperately to remember. Eventually she made her way out of the cabin and onto the porch, in the hopes that the brisk autumn air would jog her memory. And when it did not, she just stood there. Unable to move as she thought over and over again about the one thing she could remember. "A fox," she whispered.

Author's Note: Since I was on a bit of a hiatus, I tried in this chapter to naturally recap some of the previous chapters wherever I was able. And I wanted to include as many characters as possible! (Sorry Sampson...all he got was a snoring mention!)

So we see that Chaska has finally found love again with Dyani! At this point in the story, Pru has not seen Chaska since she found out see was pregnant with Elijah and Chaska and Martin had that small but profound moment in the forest when they met. He knew at that moment that all his dreams of Pru were over. And slowly began the healing process. I chose not show Chaska and Dyani's romance bloom, it made more sense to me that after three years he would have moved on if the right woman came by and Dyani is the right woman. There will be more of them...

I mirrored Uncas's jump from the waterfall for Nathaniel the way he saw his brother fall from the cliffs in cannon. Of course this time Uncas lives! And Nathaniel, crazy worried, jumps into that cold water without any hesitation to save him. It was important to me for the brothers to have this moment together. Especially since Nathaniel does not like Aegel. It made it all the more important. Uncas is really struggling as he comes to terms with what he truly feels and he needed his brother.

I just want to make a note of saying: Aegel has been spiraling since she got to the camp, really struggling with her own feelings of being inadequate and with all the female attention Uncas gets because he's awesome and beautiful. On the farm she was happy, more herself. The only woman around beside her mother was Pru and Pru did her best to help Aegel understand what was needed to run a farm and household. In short, Aegel did not have worry about Pru or Pru's perception of her. The village was a completely different experience for her. And poor Uncas is a sixteen year old boy who makes the same mistakes many do and confuses sexual desire for love. And while is inner voice tries to tell him otherwise, he truly does believe that if he is intimate with Aegel that that will fix everything. He believes it will solidify his feelings for him as well as the village. And well...we all know how that goes! I do worry for Aegel...for what may come next...

There is more to come after Uncas and Chingachgook leave Kasa and Aegel's wigwam...so stay tuned!

And lastly, we get a peak at Pru and Martin. Pru was extremely worried for Uncas when he left the farm with Aegel and now, once again, her subconscious is quietly reaffirming her concern. Round and round we go...where we'll stop nobody knows!

A huge thank you to everyone who viewed/reviewed this chapter! Your support means the world to me! I am extremely relieved that you all remembered, especially after such a long hiatus, that A Binding of Souls was still out there! The next chapter is already in the works :)