So as you saw in my little author's excuses note I've been very absent from writing due to being very pregnant. I still have a lot of fatigue, and sitting upright for long periods of time gets incredibly uncomfortable because the fundus of my uterus is right under the rib cage, so I get achy fast. I'll admit too to a bit of writer's block on this what-if series. I've gotten more child porn requests so I got pretty pissed off and stopped wanting to write for a while.
So once again I'm cheating and giving a new question an answer, but this is because Sunrise here went through this entire series. Thank you m'dear, seeing all those lovely reviews really made my day. I hope I answer your question adequately. It has been at least a decade since I've seen this movie, so I'll try my darndest to do a good job with it. I am aware the movie is on Netflix but I won't lie... it's a movie I really have to be in the mood for to watch.
Sunrise19: What if, after John Smith leaves in the end of Pocahontas she discovers she's pregnant? Would he be back in order to meet his son or daughter? Would they be able to become a family?
Side note: I don't know a lot about the Powhatan culture (the Native American tribe Pocahontas hailed from) but tentative research seems to show that unlike the European invaders, sex was not a horrifying taboo. Also the Powhatan's in the 1700s did not have written language. However, I would appreciate any corrections if people with more knowledge of the subject come along. I do always try to treat cultures with respect in my writing, and I hope I do well here. "Anoki" is a name I will admit I chose mostly at random. All I know is the name is Algonquin, I had a lot of trouble pinning down a 1700s Virigina Powhatan name so I had to make do with what I could find.
On the subject: This is going to follow Disney canon. Not the historical figure the movie butchered. So, yeah. This story is a nut-punch to history.
And I havent seen this movie in over a decade... I am very sorry if Pocahontas is out of character... but please tell me if she is.
Pocahontas had questioned the test twice. It's impossible. She thought to herself, worrying her bottom lip. She ran a hand through her hand, demanding the woman say again that she was absolutely positive. That there was no chance for error. Not that I think there can be one at this point. For all the signs are there.
"Pocahontas, you are pregnant" Every foul word the young woman knew flurried out of her mouth, leaving the woman with her mouth agape, staring at the chief's daughter in horror, chiding her for such language. But Pocahontas had much more on her mind than watching her tongue to play her role.
Do I tell John? How... how do I even send him news? She pondered. She had learned to speak his tongue, by the grace of the spirits; and he hers as well. But this did not mean she knew how to translate his words into paper. She knew his language came with symbols drawn on paper that translated into the same sounds. But her people had no such thing. They told their histories with stories, art, songs, celebrations. Perhaps she could enlist the help of the settlers. This would mean letting them in on a very intimate matter... She thought to herself. Is it worth having to tell another man about John's c hild before I tell John? Is there any other way for me to tell him? Do I try to take the next boat back to his England? Is it really worth leaving me people behind just to tell him this news in private? She battled with herself, ignoring the words of the woman she was sitting with.
"Thank you," she stated, her words empty of the sentiment. She left the shelter to ponder things. How would her tribe treat a child that only carried half the blood of her own people, the other half to a people most of her tribe still considered savages. She had tried to appeal to them. She had swayed her father, many others. But not all. She wasn't sure she could handle being shunned by her own. But how could she explain this child? None of the tribe had known her intimately. It would be fast news that it was one of these white savages. She could have spent her nights with any man she pleased, and none would raise a word to her. But a single night with a savage, and now she felt her world may crumble around her. My luck... one night of melding my soul with another and I am with child. She knew she should be excited she was blessed enough to be deemed worthy of bearing life. She had always wanted to be a mother, to have a family. To be like the kind gentle woman who used to make her father smile like nothing, and no one, could. And with the thought of her father, she knew what she had to do.
Pocahontas had convinced a friend to join her on the short trip to the white village. While most had seen treating her people like animals was to err from the moral path they seemed to so often quote, she felt the need for protection nonetheless. The animosity towards the 'white savages' that still existed in her own tribe left her sure than many of the white people would feel the same towards her.
"Thank you for joining me Anoki," Pocahontas stated as the village came into view. She felt unsure of herself, wondering how she was going to tell one of these white men her plight. They had no right to know about her and John's child. But her own shame was no reason to keep the child a secret from John. She had no right to deprive the man of the potential for a family. Even if the man never returned to her lands, never met this child, he had a right to know.
"I wouldn't feel right letting you come here alone. Not everyone left on friendly terms. Especially with John and most of his friends gone, they seem less motivated to follow his example," the man replied. She was glad Anoki wasn't judging her, or prying into why she wanted to send John a letter, very curious about their written language.
"As long as everyone keeps the peace," Pocahontas replied. Her father and John had worked too hard to ensure there was no pointless slaughter. When the pair first arrived at the gate they were met with skeptical glances, until they explained in English (much to the guard's surprise) that they were here to visit a friend of John Smith's, and had brought the village a gift in exchange for receiving them peacefully. They were skeptical at first, but with winter approaching the blankets they offered gained them entry, though they insisted the last one was for the man they were here to visit. The guards told them where they could find Thomas. Once at his house Pocahontas requested Anoki stay outside, that she trusted Thomas with her life, and her friend obliged.
"P-pocahontas?" Thomas stammered when he opened the door to reply to her knock,
"Good to see you Thomas," She smiled. "Can we speak in private?"
"Uh, sure, come in," He looked up at the man who had accompanied Pocahontas, giving him a friendly greeting and excusing himself as he shut the door once Pocahontas was inside. "What's going on?" He asked.
"I need your help... I want to write a letter to John. I know it will be a long time until another boat comes here then back to England..."
"Oh. Umm sure. Actually a boat is due to come before the end of the month, last one before winter and the ocean gets too angry to sail, so you can get a letter to him sooner than you think. But it'll probably be a while before you get an answer," He explained. Once I get the return letter I'll have to ask for his help again to translate the symbols into sounds, she thought to herself. But that was another struggle for another day.
"Thomas..." She sighed, breaking eye contact. She knew that these folks considered intimacy to be taboo, and hoped she wasn't going to bring John a lot of shame by what she was about to tell him. "What I'm about to tell you is a secret. From anyone. For John's sake," She trusted Thomas, but wasn't sure maintaining just her own dignity would be motivation enough for him to keep his mouth shut. "I'm only here because I can listen to and speak in your tongue, but your 'written language' is beyond me, so I need someone to pen the letter for me,"
"Oh. Uh... sure,"
"You cannot judge," It was a statement, not a question. Thomas began to look very nervous, and Pocahontas realized she had forgotten the gift outside with Anoki. Perhaps the gesture would put the nervous man at east. "Oh! I nearly forgot..." she excused herself, returned to the door and asked Anoki for the parcel. He gave it, and she smiled to show things were still okay and he seem placated. Turning back to Thomas she handed him the thick blanket, "Here. For you. For hosting me, and helping me with the letter," she explained.
"Oh wow, this feels very thick, and warm!" He smiled genuinely. "I... don't have something this nice to give you in return," He frowned.
"You accepted me into your home, and you're about to help me write a very... private... letter to John. That is more than enough," She explained. Thomas nodded, thanking her again and making a mental note to thank the man outside as well for such a kind gift. It would keep him warm this winter, and did well at putting his mind at ease.
"Umm let me get the stuff I need," Thomas gestured for her to sit at the table while he gathered some paper, quill, and inkwell. "Okay, shoot!" He smiled.
"Hello John," Pocahontas paused, feeling unsure all of a sudden. Did she blurt it out? Did she waste time talking about nothing first? She looked at the paper, she knew the value of it. She didn't want to waste it with nonsense, or waste it by only writing one sentence. "I hope this letter finds you. If it does, make sure to thank Thomas. He helped me make it, I can't use your written language on my own,"
"You don't have to tell him to thank me," Thomas cut it, but Pocahontas held up her hand.
"I insist," He bit his lip, then dipped the quill into the ink to continue writing.
"Winter is approaching. It's so beautiful here in winter, I wish you could see it. What is winter like back in your England?" Winter could be harsh, but with proper preparation the season had a beauty beyond words. The stillness in the air, the cool breeze, the long dark nights that allowed the stars to dance in the sky. "I am writing to you..." She faltered. Wondering how to word it. "to tell you important news..." She paused again, kneading her fingers in thought. Oh just tell him like you would a member of your tribe. Your family. He can choose to accept it or not. How you state it won't change the facts She thought. Thomas was staring at her, seemingly caught between remaining silent and asking her if things were alright. "It seems I am with child,"
Thomas gasped, then slapped a hand over his mouth and glanced at the door. He forced himself to remain silent, trying to absorb the shock of the news his friend may have fathered a child then was forced to flee to England to lick his wounds. His eyes locked with the woman's across from him, and he saw the intense anxiety in her features. He mouthed her an apology, and put his head back down holding the quill over the paper. He could at least do her the honor of finishing the letter, letting her thoughts out before he questioned her. He knew John had developed strong feelings for the girl, but apparently they went far deeper than he had ever spoken about.
"I understand it will be time before you can send a letter back to me," she continued, not wanting to assume he would heroically swim across the ocean to get to her in person. If he returned to her people's lands at all. She dared not hope for such. A letter was a much more realistic dream she could hold onto without falling to pieces. "I am well. My people are taking good care of me. I have everythign I could need. Food, water, shelter, and the company of friends and family," In truth Thomas was the first other than her to hear news of the child. While her people always showed the greatest care for a woman with child, she hoped there would be no stigma because of who the father was. She carried on about nonsense, if only to soften the blow of the news. She wondered how to end the letter. Thinking of what she would say if he was here in front of her. "I love you," She finally decided. "Stay well, recover well."
"Want me to put your name at the bottom?" Thomas asked,
"My name doesn't have symbols for your writing," She explained. Thomas thought for a moment,
"I can just try to write how it sounds. It'll be good enough," He explained. Once sure the ink was dry he sealed it, and placed it carefully into his desk. "I promise I'll see it makes it on the first boat that will be going back to England,"
"Thank you,"
"You'll have to let me visit now and then. To make sure you're doing alright. It's what John would do if he was still here. Well he'd probably actually move to your village... but the best I can do is visit a lot,"
"You don't have to,"
"I can't call myself his friend if I just pretended I didn't know anything and kept my head down," Thomas explained. "I'll try to visit soon. And once I have a chance to send your letter I'll make sure to tell you right away!" He promised. Pocahontas felt tears in her eyes as she smiled at the man. She wished all of his people could share his heart. She knew why John had trusted and befriended this man.
"Thank you,"
True to his word Thomas had visited at least once every seven days to check on her. On the forth visit he came with news that a ship had arrived. He knew one of the sailors and trusted him to see the letter to John once the ship returned to England. By then, Pocahontas had found the courage to tell first Nakoma, who was her sister in all but blood; then she found the courage to tell her father. Much to her surprise they accepted the news happily. None judged her for carrying a foreign man's child. Rather they decided to celebrate the spirit's gift of a new life.
Pocahontas was cooking fish by the fire with her father when Thomas made his weekly visit. He greeted her with a clumsy hand gesture, trying to use the hand wave she had taught him but the presense of her father made him nervous.
"Sit with us," the chief insisted. The man obliged, and knelt by the fire asking what he could do to assist. "You're doing enough. My daughter tells me you are visiting our village so often because the father of this child cannot be here through circumstances none of us foresaw. Honorable man," the chief explained, his voice calm which clashed with his perpetually stern expression.
"It's the least I could do..." He stammered. He knew it was what his friend would want, and he felt bad leaving the woman alone during this time. Maybe it was a bias because of how his own people would treat a single unwed pregnant woman. Or maybe he just liked the warm way the tribe treated Pocahontas. Or both. But regardless of the reason he was drawn to the village his visits continued.
"I have a gift for you," The chief explained, and held out a necklace. A necklace with a simple stone carving of a wolf's face was wrapped in a cloth rope, "A totem," He explained, "The wolf. You are loyal to see to your friend's business even if he is not here to see it. Loyal to your friendship with my daughter to visit so regularly. We may fear their howls in the night, but all know the loyalty of the wolf," Thomas ran his thumb over the figure, and placed the looped thread around his neck,
"Thank you," He said quietly, a mingle of strong emotions overcoming him. While only partly understanding the gesture, he knew it was a strong one. He knew the gift wasn't a simple one thrown around to anyone who decided to just spend some time at the Powhatan village. "I'm honored," he answered honestly.
"No. Thank you," the chief said. The group ate the fish and talked, Thomas inquiring as to how Pocahontas was feeling and was given a polite dignified answer. He wondered how much longer before John Smith was able to send word, or better yet himself, but promised both himself and his friend he would continue to check on Pocahontas even after word finally arrived.
Winter came and went, and with it the dangerous storms in the sea. As spring arrived the settlers knew the latest shipment of men and supplies would arrive. And with it, Thomas hoped, John Smith. He hoped the man had enough honor to come himself, and not just write a letter. The time he was spending with Pocahontas showed him why John had fallen in love with the native princess. He just hoped the time apart hadn't made John fall out of love. Or to develop amorous feelings for a woman back home in England.
And arrive a ship did at the end of May, and with it a tall blonde man named John Smith. He looked jaunty, and ran down the ramp of the ship even more eager than the other sailors to get off the malodorous ship filled with men who hadn't bathed in far too long, living in too-cramped quarters, and grumpy moods. The letter had never left his mind. He couldn't believe it. A child. He wondered, as he did nearly daily, how his dearest Pocahontas was doing. He hoped she was being well cared for. His first impulse was to rush to the village and sweep her off her feet, and wondered if his child had yet been born. But much to his shame he realized the landscape no longer looked familiear. The settlement was larger, the trees looked different, even the coastline seemed to have changed shape. Thomas. He thought to himself.
Ignoring the cursing of his fellow sailors he rushed off to find his friend's house, pounding on the door the moment he arrived. Thomas answered the door to find a very sweaty, out of breath, and unfortunately malodorous John Smith standing before him,
"John!" He shouted, glad his hopes had come true. He knew his friend had enough honor to make his way back to Virginia. He knew his friend wouldn't abandon his child, regardless of any circumstances that led to it's birth. "Oh God John... I want to greet you but... you need a bath," He chuckled, and recalled when he himself had first arrived in Virginia. John was feeling impatient, wanting to hurry to the Powhatan village. But Thomas managed to convince him that after such a long trip he should first wash, get into fresh clothing, then go to the village. He reluctantly agreed, a part of him knowing greeting his princess in such a disheveled state may not be the way she would want to see him again.
John returned to Thomas some time later, smelling much cleaner and in a fresh pair of brown trousers, and a simple linen shirt. The stagnant humid heat made any further layers impractical and uncomfortable.
"Now that you've had a moment to shower sit down," Thomas insisted. "Get your head together before you go rushing off. I'll get you something to eat,"
"I can eat later. I actually had some salted pork before getting off the boat. Pocahontas has been carrying my child for months. For all I know the child has been born, and she's been bearing that burden alone!" Forgetting about rank, respect, and dignity, Thomas moved to block the doorway.
"Use your head!" He yelled back. "You really think she's been alone this whole time? She has her whole tribe with her. They aren't like us, they don't make a lone woman deal with a pregnancy alone. And I've been checking on her regularly for you. You don't think I'd help her write you a letter like that then let her run off and never speak of it again?" This made John pause, and he sighed,
"Sorry Thomas. I didn't mean to imply-"
"Now sit down for a minute. Eat, gather your thoughts. We can head to the village together," he continued. John reluctantly sat down at the small table in the center of the room while the smaller man walked over to the hearth where he had a simple fish stew boiling. He brought John a bowl and a few pieces of local fruit which John ate with great enthusiasm despite his earlier insistence on lack of an appetite.
"So... how is she?" John asked. "Has the... my... baby been born?"
"She's doing very well! And no, the child has not been born yet," Thomas thumbed at the totem around his neck, still tucked beneath his shirt. "I've been going there once a week. She's very healthy, and well taken care of. The chief even gave me a totem for checking on her for you while we waited for a ship to arrive," Thomas carried on, excited to finally have someone to share this news with. He was proud of being given such a gift, but none of the other settlers could understand how much it meant to him.
"Thank you. You're a good friend Thomas," John replied, and finished the last bites of his food. "Now that I've washed and eaten can I go see the mother of my child now?" John asked impatiently. Thomas nodded, and the pair rushed off to the Powhatan village. John could feel his heart racing in his chest, as he tried to picture her. Her smooth skin, her ebony hair. Her dark eyes, long legs, and gentle hands. Being forced back to England had been one of the most heartbreaking experiences of his life. He had to leave behind the woman whom he loved. He hadn't quite realized just how much the separation had hurt him until he received her letter. He had refused to leave his home for nearly a week. He had no way of getting back to her, or sending her word. The wait for the first ship to the Virginia colony was agony. His thoughts were interrupted when Thomas announced the village was in sight, and John began to run, Thomas struggling to keep up with John's longer legs.
Pocahontas was with Nakoma, sitting together weaving together what was likely a fishing net. She was every bit as perfect as he recalled. She was laughing with her friend, her smile pulling at her eyes and he thought she had never looked so beautiful. Her hair was pulled back, and even in her hunched position he could see her swollen belly. Swollen with my child. My future. He thought to himself. Now that she was within sight his voice caught in his throat when he first tried to call her name. But she had seen him and Thomas running to her before he could find his voice.
"John?" He could see her mouth the words, but like him her voice caught in her throat. She tried a second time, this time he could hear that beautiful voice he had been dreaming of for months. She stood, and ran awkwardly towards him. The couple collided, wrapping arms around each other. Pocahontas found tears burning her eyes, John too stunned for tears. Nakoma was standing, clearly just as starteld at Pocahontas was, and a very winded Thomas struggled up to the small group. Others were gathering curiously around the sudden commotion, trying to discern what was going on.
"You came back! You came back John..." She whispered,
"How could I not?" John replied into her ear, and felt her embrace him harder. "Leaving was the hardest thing I ever had to do. I wish I never had to," He wanted her to know it wasn't only the child that brought him back. That he didn't return out of obligation. The news of the child only made the separation harder. "But I'm back, and that's what matters," He replied, pulling back from the embrace and smiling at her. He looked at her swollen belly, placing a hand over it. "I couldn't ask for a better homecoming gift,"
I hope you liked this reply to your what-if, I actually had a lot of fun writing this considering Pocahontas is one of my least-favorite Disney movies (hence why I haven't seen it in like a decade) I hope you enjoyed reading it!