A/N: Hi all!
Here is chapter 2, I hope you will enjoy this! As always, all thoughts, comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated! They truly keep me motivated to continue this story through the busyness that is my life. *smiles*
Thank you for reading, please do not hesitate in hitting that little review button on your way out. Enjoy the chapter!
DISCLAIMER: I still do not own anything at all.
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Chapter 2:
He had lost all sense of time.
The captain had given up trying to check the sky in order to see how close dawn was closing in on him and his men. Though he was far from resigning himself to his fate, John could not be sure when the final blow or slash would come. The young man had simply lowered his head and thus made no sound as the torturing continued, the pain nearly making him numb to everything around him.
The only feeling he was certain of was the feeling of sorrow as he thought of the two young native boys that he, Jack and Thomas had brought with them. Though Jack Quinsy was one of the leaders of Jamestown, John felt more responsible to look after the young natives.
Nootau and Akando had recently past the tests that all young Powhatan warriors had to endure. The chief had thought it good experience in diplomacy that they accompany John and the others on this journey.
'Some diplomacy.' John thought as he watched out of the corner of his eye a hand rise towards his shoulder getting ready to inflict another wound.
"Drop it!"
It all happened so quickly that the captain was not sure of what had taken place until he felt a warm body lean against his cold one. Whoever was leaning against him hissed in pain as there hand now sported the gash that was meant for him.
"What are you doing?"
A male's voice inquired as John leaned his forehead against his rescuer's shoulder.
"What are you doing? What are all of you doing?"
The captive blinked in surprise as the voice reached his ears. It sounded familiar to him, though he could not place it.
"Go back to your hut," the man spoke, "You are not required here."
"All of you," the woman was shouting now as the crowd and music fell silent at her words, "I demand this treatment be stopped at once. Enough blood has been shed for the evening. These prisoners must be questioned and then there blood will flow in the morning."
Murmurs filled the air as the native glanced around her at the bound men, her heart quickly filling with hurt, rage and betrayal.
She could see two people from her own tribe, bound in the same way as the man who leaned against her form. The woman briefly closed her eyes, seeking to control her anger as she shook her head in disgust.
"Release them," Nakoma ordered as she swallowed the lump that was growing in her throat.
'Hassun.' Nakoma thought as she gritted her teeth in anger. The woman blinking in surprise as a person from the crowd spoke.
"What orders do you have to release these men?"
Thinking quickly, a plan began to form in the native's mind. If her husband and father-in-law were not interested in cementing the peace, it did not mean that she wasn't. Even though her actions were about to go against everything she knew and was taught, the native was certain of one thing at that moment.
She had to stop what would undoubtedly be a bloody and costly war.
"I have orders from my husband," she stated matter-of-factly, "He has ordered that they be taken to a hut and be allowed to rest until the morning when they are to be executed."
"Why didn't he come and tell us this himself?"
"He was tired so he sent me," was Nakoma's reply as she prayed it would go unchallenged, "Do you question your future chief?"
This inquiry caused more murmurs throughout the crowd as the woman bent to retrieve the knife that had fallen to the ground. Reaching up, the native cut the bindings that held one of the captive's arms to the torturing post.
"You must stand and walk," Nakoma said in English in to his ear as John leaned against her, "You have to walk and follow me."
It was then the prisoner raised his head, the native staring in to a face she had not seen in many moons.
"Nakoma?"
The man inquired as his good eye blinked at her stunned, "Well, I first get saved by Pocahontas and now you. I must have that affect on the Powhatan women."
A tiny smile tugged at his mouth before him wincing in pain as the man ever slowly brought down his freed arms. If ever there was an occasion where he wished he could yell out in pain however could not now was that time.
It took a moment for the young woman to recover from her shock before she gasped, "John Smith?"
The prisoner flinched as he gave a quick nod of his head as Nakoma helped him take a few steps forward. The throng of people around her seem to get the hint as one by one they released the other prisoners.
It was slow going for them, John and the others needing help as they slowly made their way towards the hut. Despite the strange, surprised and even some angry looks that Nakoma received they did not question her as one by one the men were laid on beds of fur.
To say it was difficult for Nakoma to gently lay John onto the warm sleeping mat was an understatement. Her heart went out to him as he gritted his teeth in pain in order to bring out his arm to keep his beaten back from hitting the earth.
"I'm sorry," Nakoma whispered as John's eye briefly clouded over before he breathed normally again, "I am so sorry…"
"D-Don't worry, not your fault," the man managed as Nakoma got to her feet in order to check on the other captives.
She saw in slight relief that the two men called Thomas and Jack were not as hurt as John. The young woman could not understand why such treatment was warranted on the captain as she neared the two boys.
"What are your names?"
The woman spoke in her language as one of them opened his eyes.
"I am Nootau," he replied, "The other is Akando."
"Chief Powhatan sent us," the other said as Nakoma surveyed there injuries. The woman noting that although all of them had gotten the same torture, nothing appeared to be broken or out of place. Her main concern was now the loss of blood and poison getting in to the deep wounds that lined there torsos, arms and shoulders.
"I will come back," she spoke as five pairs of eyes watched her movements as she neared the door, "Stay strong…"
Her dark eyes fell on the two natives, her own people as she quickly left the shelter. Her steps carrying her towards Tuka's longhouse that was placed some distance away from the torturing grounds.
To say that she was upset could not even begin to describe how she felt. Since the men were safe for the moment, the desperate feeling from earlier had slowly subsided. Leaving in its place fear and betrayal. Fear of the consequences of her and the Massawomack people's actions and betrayal of her and Hassun's reason for their marriage. Though Nakoma had grown fond of him over the months, the sting of his apparent rejection of her by inflicting her people with wounds and threats drove a deep pain in her heart.
Pain that she fought to ignore as she neared the medicine man's home.
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"Please," Nakoma now found herself standing in front of the old medicine man as his hard expression looked at her form.
"Please Tuka;" Nakoma tried again, "I am certain these men have done nothing wrong. Nothing to incur the treatment that has befallen them."
The old man raised his eyes towards the top of the hut before settling on her once more, "What has happened? Child, why are you covered in blood? Are you alright?"
Nakoma forced her tears back as she replied, "Tuka, have you not heard? The warriors, the warriors have captured some men that have done nothing wrong. They have tortured them; I did something I knew I should not have…"
Her voice trailed off, the woman sinking to her knees so overcome with emotion as a single tear slid down her cheek.
"I went against everything that I have ever been taught, I stopped the torturing. I told them it was Hassun's orders, however it was not."
The man's expression was grave as he replied, "Hassun will not like this when he finds out. Why did you act in such a way?"
"Tuka," Nakoma's eyes turned pleading as she wiped a hand across her face, "Tuka, I may not know all my people's rules for diplomacy, however I am certain of one of them. Just before Powhatan goes to a place he sends a handful of men before him. I have a feeling chief Powhatan will be here in a few days. If he sees not only two of his young warriors as well as his son-in-law tortured…"
Again her voice trailed off, the woman praying to the spirits that Tuka would see her reasoning. It took a moment for the man to reply as he sighed.
"Nakoma," he gently said as he knelt to her level, "There is nothing I can do about this situation. You know that Hassun and our chief Otaktay want to see war with the white settlers."
"Not my people," Nakoma answered, "I married Hassun to insure the peace and he goes and betrays me?"
Tuka sighed, "Nakoma, if what you are saying is true you best go and tell Hassun of what you have done."
"I will, I will take full responsibility for my actions. However, I need to treat these men. I know enough from my people's medicine man and from your training."
The young woman stood as she watched Tuka bow his head in thought. After a period of silence he also rose to his feet.
"Go on, I have seen nothing."
"I will take full re.-"
The old man swiftly walked away from her towards the other side of the longhouse. The young native waited as he kept his back to her. After a few minutes of gazing at the old man she hesitantly walked over to the place where the clean herbs and bandages were securely kept. It did not take long for her to gather what she needed the supplies making a nice bundle that she could carry in her arms.
"Thank.-"
"Where is your husband?"
Tuka interrupted Nakoma with a question as she neared the door, "He is sleeping."
"You have much to explain when he awakens," he replied as he nodded as if confirming his statement.
"I know," Nakoma quietly said as she exited the hut.
Her arms not the only things weighted down as she walked back towards the prisoner's longhouse in the dead of night. Though dawn was still a few hours away, her mind and body fought to keep her emotions in check. Others needed her now, possibly both sides as the peace of the land now rested precariously on her shoulders.
-…-….-…-End of Chapter 2…-…-…-…-