A/N: Hi all!
Here is chapter 4, I hope you will enjoy it! I love reviews, they really keep me writing and truly are very appreciated!
DISCLAIMER: I still do not own anything.
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Chapter 4:
"Will you not eat anything at all?"
Her husband's concerned voice snapped the tired young woman out of her thoughts as she gazed out the top of the hut. The native placed a hand on her stomach, she feeling like she would be sick at any moment with the worry and intense anxiety she felt.
"I am not very hungry," she mumbled as she heard her husband's shuffling feet as he sat down beside her.
"What is wrong?"
He inquired as he gently tilted her face to meet his dark eyes. Nakoma tried to hide a yawn as she lowered her head only for it to be brought up by his hand.
"You do not look so well," he said in a concern tone, "Do you want me to fetch Tuka? You look as if you hardly slept at all. Why do you not just rest here I am sure my father will understand if you are not.-"
"I am fine," Nakoma hurriedly cut him off as she cleared her throat, "I thank you for your concern though."
The man sighed as he softly kissed her, "I am sorry if I was harsh on you last night."
This statement truly caused Nakoma to pause in surprise as she folded her hands in her lap, "Harsh, what do you mean?"
"Nakoma," Hassun gently scolded, "You are no fool. Listen, it is true I do not care for Pocahontas and Powhatan however I know she is your best friend and that she is dear to you. However, it does not excuse her for betraying her people and marrying that…"
Nakoma looked up as Hassun's voice had trailed off for the both of them could hear footsteps approaching from outside.
"Hassun," his father's voice could be heard as the couple got to their feet.
"Yes, father?" The man replied as he unsecured the door and allowed the chief to enter his home.
"The warriors have spotted movement of what looks like to be a party of some sort in the distance," the man said after he had entered, "I have sent Askook and Kanen and I want you to follow suit."
"Yes father," Hassun replied as he straightened, "I will be there in a moment.-"
"You will go now," the older man sharply interrupted his son, "We will go together. Grab a weapon just in case."
Hassun nodded while Nakoma's eyes never left the floor, she knowing exactly what was coming next as fear unlike the woman had ever known gripped her. The reaction was so sudden it caused her to stumble and if it were not for Hassun's steady hand on her shoulder she would have fallen to the ground.
"You are staying here," he whispered after gathering his things and following his father outside. The young woman watched them go, she rushing out of the hut not bothering to secure it as she darted behind the structure. Falling to her knees, the native woman emptied her stomach in to the damp earth as her body shook and tears streamed down her face. The native woman trying to keep her sobs quiet as her stomach heaved one final time and she fell upon the ground exhausted. Placing a hand on her abdomen, Nakoma hating the nausea as well as the fact she had no idea of what was to come between her old tribe and the Massawomack people. The cool wind through the trees slowly began to sooth her as she breathed in the fresh morning air. She knew she would need all of her strength and wit about her if she were to help John and the others prevent an all out war.
"Hey, hey, Koma?"
A small voice greeted her ears as the woman tiredly raised her head from the moist ground.
"Wow," the voice said as Nakoma blinked her eyes in order to see who was speaking to her. A tiny smile lit her face as a little girl peered down at her. She was the daughter of her friend Gaho who had been the first woman to introduce herself when Nakoma had arrived to the tribe.
"You don't look so good," the little girl said as both of them jumped when two horn blasts signaling the arrival of Powhatan and his party rang through the air.
"Did you hear? I think we are getting people to visit us!"
"Yes," Nakoma said slowly as she got to her feet, "Huyana, does your mother know where you are? I am sure she will be looking for you."
The little girl shook her head as Nakoma chuckled, "Let me wash my face and I will take you to her."
It did not take long for Nakoma to clean herself up and to gather in the center of the village along with everyone else.
"I heard our people want war with the whites," Gaho whispered to Nakoma as Huyana went to see some of her friends.
"I hope not," Nakoma replied as the chatter grew louder and Nakoma could see Powhatan and Pocahontas in the distance. The native folded her arms, shivering in the morning air that had so soothed her just moments prior.
"I will be right back," she said to Gaho as she slipped out of the crowd and dashed over towards the prisoner's hut. The woman did not even bother to announce herself as she quickly untied the strings to the door and went inside the structure.
"What is going on?"
Nakoma and John said in unison as Tuka glanced up from his work.
"Tuka," Nakoma said as she quickly recovered from being startled and smiled, "How are they doing?"
"I have given them some clothes," he replied after checking the wound on Thomas's arm, "These men will be fine in a few days."
"All thanks go to Nakoma," John said as he smiled at the medicine man, "Thank you as well Tuka."
The old man gave a tiny nod in return, "You are welcome Captain Smith. I also agree with your plan and think it is a good one. However, I advise you to be extremely vague on your descriptions."
"We will keep that in mind," Jack said as John nodded in agreement. While near the doorway, Nakoma lowered her eyes feeling hurt that the men would not share their plan with her. Especially John Smith, her best friend's husband would not even tell her and now here he was divulging everything to Tuka.
"Powhatan is coming and some warriors went out to meet them," Nakoma said flatly as she swiftly exited the hut. The wife of the future chief made her way over towards the edge of the village, seeing her best friend in the distance she held up her hand in greeting. It did not take long for Powhatan, Pocahontas and some other men from both Jamestown and Powhatan's tribe to fully come in to view.
"I am surprised to see your daughter here," she heard Otaktay say as they neared, "Truly; this is man's business that we must discuss."
"We are here in peace," Powhatan replied back, "Besides; my daughter has not seen her dear friend in many moons."
"I see," the other chief replied as they approached Nakoma.
"Wingapo Powhatan," the woman greeted as she smiled at her former chief.
"Wingapo Nakoma," he greeted with a friendly smile in return, "I trust that you and John have done nothing but speak of my daughter since his arrival."
It was then Nakoma's breath caught in her throat as she saw Tuka leave the hut where the men had been housed and Powhatan's dark eyes sweep over the assembled crowd. The young woman lowering her own gaze as Pocahontas voiced the inevitable question.
"Where is my husband along with the men that have accompanied him?"
"That is what we wish to discuss," Otaktay began as Tuka walked up towards the small group.
"Ah," he started as he looked at chief Powhatan, "It is good to see you my friend. I was just visiting with your son-in-law and the others."
"Why are they not here?" Pocahontas asked again as Nakoma could detect the slight worry in her voice.
'If only you knew.' She thought as Tuka continued speaking.
"I have been treating the men since they have arrived."
"What are you talking about?" Hassun inquired as Nakoma cleared her throat.
"Hassun," she began slowly as Tuka took several steps back, "I have to tell you.-"
"I will go and fetch them," the old medicine man hurriedly cut her off as Hassun's glare turned on his wife.
"What is the meaning of this? What has happened?"
Powhatan questioned in a stern voice as he turned his gaze on Hassun and Otaktay. The older man was about to answer the other chief's query when the sight of John as well as Thomas, Jack, Akando and Nootau made everyone fall silent in shock.
Neither of them being surprised when Pocahontas gave a gasp of horror and rushed forward towards her husband, "What happened to you? What happened to all of you?"
"Who did this?" Powhatan inquired as he sent a scathing look over at the two leaders.
"Powhatan," John hurriedly interrupted as he and the others joined the group, "If it were not for this chief and his son I am certain we would all be dead."
"What?" Pocahontas and Powhatan inquired simultaneously speaking out loud the question that the others would not dare to udder.
"It is true," Jack began, "This other tribe attacked us near the border of the Massawomack's territory. If it were not for these people I am sure we would be dead."
Powhatan fixed his stair on Jack and the others, "Where did this other tribe come from? Did they say why they attacked you?"
"What did they look like? What did they want?" Pocahontas inquired as Hassun gaped in surprise.
"We are not sure of that," Thomas answered as Hassun cleared his throat.
"Perhaps," he began, "Would you all care for something to eat?"
"It is a little before midday," Jack observed as he glanced at the sun's position in the sky.
"Alright," the chief replied as one by one the group went farther in to the village leaving Pocahontas and Nakoma behind. Nakoma glanced at Hassun as he looked back at her, he trying to hide the bewildered look on his face at John's lie.
"I can't believe something like this would happen," Pocahontas said as Nakoma turned her attention back to her friend, "It is lucky that Hassun… I just, you can be certain I am going to talk with John and get every detail of information from him! Any tribe that injures another's people we need to deal with them! I mean, I, I do not want war but an explanation…"
Her voice trailed off as Nakoma sighed, "Pocahontas, can we go for a walk?"
"Do we have to go now? I really need to speak with John.-"
"Pocahontas," Nakoma began, "Please, this will only take a moment. I really need to speak with you."
The native princess paused as she gazed at her friend's uncertain expression before she gave a sigh of her own.
"Alright," she said, "Let's go."
The two friends walked in silence for a time, one wondering just what the other was up to and the other wondering how to tell her best friend that her new people had intentionally harmed her beloved husband and people.
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